HlCKSON,

G.C.B.

AND

K.C.H.,

DEPUTY ADJUTANT-GENERAL, ROYAL ARTILLERDIRECTOR GENERAL OF ARTILLERY.

1.12807

HISTOKY
OP THE

ROYAL REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY.

COMPILED FKOM THE OKIGINAL KECOEDS.

BY MAJOK FRANCIS DUNCAN, M.A.,

112801

D.O.L., LL.D.,

ROYAL ARTILLERY.
SUPERINTENDENT OF THE KOYAL ARTILLERY REGIMENTAL RECORDS;
FELLOW OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON,
AND OF THE ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.

L'liistoire

de 1'Artillerie est 1'histoire du progres des sciences, et partant de la civilisation."

NAPOLEON III. Chislehurst, Nov. 22, 1872.

IN

TWO VOLUMES

VOL.

SEEN BY

THIRD EDITION.
WITH PORTRAITS.

PRESERVATION
SERVICES
DATE.

LONDON:
JOHN MUBKAY, ALBEMAKLE STEEET.
1879.

UA

v.2.

LONDON

PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS,

STAMFORD STBKRT AND CHARING CROSS

TO

HIS KOYAL HIGHNESS

FIELD-MARSHAL THE DUKE OF OAMBKIDGE,

E.G., G.C.B., K.P., G.C.M.G.,

COLONEL OF THE ROYAL REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY,

THIS

HISTOEY OF ITS SEKYICES

IS

RESPECTFULLY,

AND BY

PERMISSION,

DEDICATED BY

THE AUTHOB.

PEE FAC E.
TNFORESEEN

circumstances having arisen since

the publication of the First Yolume of this work,

which rendered

it

possible that the

Author might be

unable to complete the narrative while holding the

appointment of Superintendent of the Regimental
Records,

it

has become necessary to modify the original

There were two alternatives, either to compress

the history between 1783 and the present date into one

plan

volume, sacrificing

many matters

of minor interest,

or to write, as fully as in the former volume, the history

of a certain period later than that already treated

leaving the subsequent years and their campaigns

to be described either by the Author's successor, or
of,

by himself at some future

with some of the senior

time.

After consultation

officers

of the Corps, the

of certain statistical

been adopted ; and the addition

tables, and of a copious index to

both volumes, will,

it

latter alternative has

hoped, render the work, as

far as it goes, a complete one.
Unless anticipated
an
AutLor
does
not despair of
abler pen, the
by
being able to avail himself at some future time of
is

a 2

Preface.

continued access to the Kegimental Records, now

systematically arranged, which has been promised to
tlu-

him

l>y

the

Deputy Adjutant-General of the Corps,

War

in

The almost unanimously kind reception given

to

with a view to compiling narratives of the

Crimea, and of the Indian Mutiny.

volume, not only by the press, but to a most

cheering extent by his brother officers, demands the
first

Author's grateful acknowledgments.

It has encouin
the
him
labours, the results of which are
raged

now submitted

to the public

and has

satisfied

that he did not err in the estimate he placed

Regimental History, as

him

upon a
a means of awakening and

intensifying esprit de corps.

CONTENTS OF YOL.

II.

PAGE

PREFACE

vii

INTRODUCTION

xi

CHAPTER
I.

II.

EEACTION

THE

NECESSITY, BIRTH, AND

PROGRESS

OP THE

EOTAL HORSE ARTILLERY

30

III.

WITH THE DUKE

IV.

1796 TO 1799

..

70

THE

..

88

V.

VI.

VIL
VIII.

IX.

X.
XI.
XII.

OF

YORK

IN

FLANDERS

..

CHRISTENING OF THE CHESTNUT TROOP

EGYPT

..

..

104

..

To 1803
THE EIGHTH BATTALION
THE NINTH BATTALION
THE SIEGE OF COPENHAGEN
MONTE VIDEO AND BUENOS AYRES
THE OLD TENTH BATTALION

WAR: EOL^A,

54

134

138
150
..

..

158
168
185

VIMIERA, CORUNNA..

195

XIII.

PENINSULAR

XIV.

WALCHEREN

223

PASSAGE OF THE DOURO, TALAVERA

BUSACO AND TORRES VEDRAS

262

XV.
XVI.
XVII.
XVIII.

XIX.

XX.
XXI.
XXII.
XXIII.

242

BAROSSA, BADAJOZ, ALBUERA

280

ClUDAD EODRIGO AND BADAJOZ

307

SALAMANCA AND BURGOS

321

VlTTORIA AND SAN SEBASTIAN

CONCLUSION OF THE PENINSULAR

338

WAR

..

..

373

THE SECOND AMERICAN WAR

392

WATERLOO

412

ttnts

of

Vol. II.
PAGE

APPENDIX A.

THE DUKE

OP WELLINGTON, AND THE ARTIL-

LERY AT WATERLOO

444

B.

THE ROYAL ARTILLERY, AND

C.

TABULAR STATEMENT, SHOWING DATE OF FORMATION AND FORMER DESIGNATION OP EVERY

THE-

MAGNETIC

SURVEY OP 1840-8

465

BATTERY or THE REGIMENT NOW

SERVICE

IN

THE

470

479

ERRATA TO VOL.

II.

At page 141, for "H Battery, 11 Brigade," read " H

Battery, 16 Brigade."
At page 282, 15th line from bottom, delete "7th;" and at 14th line from
" and 2nd Battalion
bottom, for
82nd, besides," &c., read " 2nd Battalion 82nd,

detachments 95th, besides," &c.

INTRODUCTION.

TJAVING

in the Preface stated the plan of this volume, it

incumbent on the Author now to acknowledge, with

gratitude, the assistance he has received during its execuis

tion.

Acting on a suggestion made by one of the reviewers

of the first volume, he has noted in the

authorities on

which the narrative

is

margin the various

based

and, as in

many

instances these are manuscript letters in the Eecord Office,

he has given the dates of such, to facilitate access to them

by any one anxious to obtain information in detail.

Among

those to

Sir Collingwood

of the

work

Kegiment

at

whom

Dickson

stands
large,

the Author

is

chiefly indebted,

for the reason stated in the

body
Not only the Author, but the
indebted to him for the generous

first.

is

confidence with which he entrusted the letters and journals

of his distinguished father to the writer of this

The labours

of Captain G.

in the tables at the

place

in

end of

E.

W.

this

Malet, E.A.

volume

the Author's acknowledgment;

history.

so visible

demand the next

and the Keader

how

great has been the value, to this

narrative, of the published writings of Captain H. W. L.
will be able to judge

Hime, E.A.
Sir J. Bloomfield, Sir E. C. Warde,
Burke Cuppage, Major-Generals W.

Eiddell, Colonel

Sir D. E.
J.

Wood, General
Smythe and C. J. B.

Lynedoch Gardiner, Major H. Geary, and

Introduction.

have contributed valuable information

hie,

connected with the history of the Regiment to which they

the Author's labours.
belong, and have greatly facilitated
The assistance of the Committee of the United Service Institution

of its Librarian, T. D. Sullivan, Esq.

Perrott, and of Captain H. W. Gordon, C.B.,

acknowledged.
To Mr. James Browne, the author of

'

is

Edward

Sir

also gratefully

England's Artil-

His labour produced

is owing.
volume ; and his published work has
been a mine of reference, the value of which became more

lerymen,'

debt

a double

the Index to the

first

apparent, the more

was explored.

it

adventitious aids at the

Begimental Eecords,
that,

it

when admiration

Written without the

disposal of the custodian

is

of

of the

yet so exhaustive and accurate,

has ceased, it is only because

it

that feeling has passed into envy.

The admirable Index

to the present

volume

is

due to the

and industry, eminently possessed by the

Assistant-Superintendent in the Eecord Office, E. H. Murskill,

ability,

These talents were generously placed at

the Author's disposal, with a view to this work being made

doch, Esq., E.A.

as complete as possible.

The conducting

a work of this description through the

press,
although the last occupation in point of time, is
not the least in point of importance. Careful comparison

with the MSS.,

much

and watchfulness,

patient and merely mechanical labour,

lest

errors of style

should be over-

looked in the anxiety to secure rigid accuracy, or lest the

latter should be sacrificed to attempts at literary embellish-

ment,

all

these are involved in the process.

And

all

these

have been displayed by one who has assisted in this operation,

the Eev. G.

Martyn

Eitchie, Chaplain to the Forces,

whose services the Author acknowledges with gratitude.

Not unfrequeutly the official letter-books differ from

xi

Introduction.

Kane's List of Officers in the spelling of proper names.

the correct reading is doubtful, that found in the

Where

letter-books

is

given in the body of the work, and both are

given in the Index.

History moves so rapidly, that even while this work has

been in the press, a slight alteration in the pay of the

non-commissioned

officers

and men of the Eegiment has

been made, making the rates given in the following pages

as those of the year 1873, accurate only

October in that year.

requisite corrections.

up

The reader can with

to the 1st of

ease

make the

HISTOEY
ROYAL REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY.

CHAPTER

I.

KEACTION.

pEACTION
*-*

and retrenchment followed the Peace signed at

and with them came dullness and

Versailles in 1783

despondency in the'Kegiment. Until 1787, when the state

of France caused universal alarm in Europe, and preparations
for possible hostilities already

commenced

in England, the

prospects of promotion had heen most disheartening. During

the American War, a large numher of subaltern officers had

been appointed by the Generals serving with the English

armies, and it was found, in 1783, that in this respect the
establishment of the Regiment had been considerably ex-

With somewhat

ceeded.

distorted ideas of justice,

it

was

ruled that the pay of the supernumeraries should be provided

by means of stoppages from the officers of all ranks on the

proper establishment, and that no new appointments should

be made until all the supernumeraries had been absorbed,
an event which did not take place until the 14th February,
1786.
Dullness,

Warren

at

therefore,

Woolwich,

reigned during these years in the

dullness in the

Academy,

dullness in

foreign stations, where the detachments were at times forgotten altogether, and dullness the most stupendous in tho
offices of

His Majesty's Ordnance.

VOL. n.

CHAP.

Reaction.

I.

Uneventful, however, as this period of the Kegimental

a
History undouhtedly was, it possesses to the student
Its domestic details invite attention, as
peculiar interest.
transition
stage of the Kegiment from a
representing the
had
been glorious, to a future which was to be
past which

more glorious still, the last act, so to speak, of a drama in

which Artillery meant many things, but rarely implied momuch internal
bility and a breathing-time, which admitted of
or
organisation being perfected, which had been forgotten
;

overlooked in the midst of war.

In the years between 1783 and 1792 there was much to

much to amuse, and not a little to cause pain but
the details, although necessary to be told, are wholly

interest,

domestic.

The strength of the Kegiment remained until 1791 at four

Service Battalions, each consisting of ten companies, and, in
addition, ten companies of invalids. In March 1791, two additional companies were formed for service in the East Indies,
but they belonged to no particular Battalion. The companies,
which had been reduced to a minimum in 1783, were raised
to a greater establishment in 1787, a year in which recruiting
on a considerable scale was ordered, and never was wholly

suspended until after Waterloo.

R. A.

Reg

1
,

Orders.

recruit

was

five guineas.

The bounty allowed

to each

The promotion consequent on the formation

of the East

India Companies mentioned above was as follows

1 Major,
3 Captains, 5 Captain-Lieutenants, and 9 First Lieutenants.
:

Letters to
er ~

Generaf
1783-92.

On the reduction in 1783, all men who were eligible were

transferred to the invalids, or to the out-pension list ; and
men who were not entitled to that privilege, but who were
ordered to be discharged on reduction, received donations
" If
going to his home in Ireland, 38 days' pay to Scotland,
2 g days pay
if
of Englandj 14 dayg
a]Qy
:

M.

s.

Reg

Orders.

>

>

"pay."'
Prior to the general recruiting which was ordered in 1787,
1

The Eegimental Band

sisted of a

Bandmaster at

at the date referred to in this chapter con-

per diem, and 8 private men,

borne on the strength of the
companies at Woolwich.
4s.

who were

CHAP.

Precedence of Ordnance Corps.

I.

a special company of artificers was raised in 1786

for service
in Gibraltar.
As these men were put under the officers of

Engineers, a Koyal Warrant was issued on the 25th April,

1787, to define the proper position of that Corps, the name of

which was then changed from the Corps of Engineers to the

"
Our aid
Corps of Royal Engineers. The Warrant said
"
Corps of Eoyal Engineers shall rank in our Army with our
"
Koyal Kegiment of Artillery and whenever there shall be
" an occasion for them to take
part with any other Corps of
:

" our
Army, the post of the Koyal Corps of Engineers shall
"be on the right with the Koyal Kegiment of Artillery,
"
according to the respective dates and commissions of the officers
"
belonging to the Koyal Kegiment of Artillery, and the
"
Corps of Royal Engineers."
The vagueness of this Koyal Warrant, and the inconveniences which might arise from it, were not lost upon the
officers of the senior Corps, who communicated their opinions
to the Master-General through Colonel Macbean, the Com-

mandant

at

Woolwich.

On

the 25th October, 1787, the

Duke

Kichmond, having taken His Majesty's pleasure, replied

commands to acquaint you that
"
His Majesty only meant the said Warrant to relate to the
"
circujnstance when officers have occasion to parade by

of
"

I have received the King's

"

themselves without their men, for a funeral or any other

"
military purpose but that the directions contained in the
;

"
"

"

said

Warrant are not

to

be understood to authorize any

the Corps of Koyal Engineers to take the comof any detachment of the Koyal Kegiment of Artillery,

officer of

mand

"

although he may be senior in rank to the oldest officer of

" the said
detachment, unless such officer of the Corps of
"
Koyal 'Engineers should be the senior officer of the whole
"
Garrison or Command, when, by virtue of his commission,
" he
of course take the command of the

would

"

Koyal Kegi-

am further
" to
that
when any
His
to
Majesty's pleasure,
you
signify
"
and
Artificers
of
Koyal Military
companies or detachments
" Labourers are to take
it is to be next to the
ment

of Artillery with that of other troops.

Koyal

post,

"

Kegiment

of Artillery,

and upon

their left.

And

the officers
13

'2

Duke

of

JJoSJJrt
F.Macbe:m.

CHAP.

Reaction.

I.

" of the
are on such occasions to
Corps of Koyal Engineers
" take
such
with
in
fall
companies or detachments
post and
" of
Labourers."
and
Artificers
Koyal Military
between
this
of
Prior to the raising
question of precedence
of
the
precedence
the two Ordnance Corps,
general question
in
over the rest of the Army had been raised at Gibraltar
the
directed
Artillery
1783, owing to the Governor having
Guards to parade in the centre of the others, on general
officer of Artilguard-mounting parades. The commanding
in
vain protested, referred
Thomas Da vies, having
lery,

Major

the matter to the Master-General, who ordered the four

Colonels-Commandant of Battalions to assemble at Woolwich,

and report to him on the origin of the privilege claimed and

The result was, that on
exercised by the Royal Artillery.
the 1st July, 1784, the Secretary at War wrote to the

wr
V 7 / 84

Office,
'

to

" The Duke of Richmond

Governor of Gibraltar as follows
"
having put into my hands your letter to him of the 24th
:

"
February last, together with the papers it refers to, touching
" certain claims of the
Royal Regiment of Artillery, first
" stated in a
representation of the officer commanding that
"
and His Grace having desired me to
at
Gibraltar
Corps
" take the
King's pleasure thereon, I have accordingly had
" the honour of
submitting them to His Majesty, and am
" commanded to
acquaint you, that as the privilege claimed
"
by the Royal Artillery of taking the right upon all parades
"
appears to have been acknowledged and confirmed by a
"
Regulation given out in public orders to the Army by His
"
the
;

late Duke of Cumberland, when ComRoyal Highness

mander-in-Chief and, as that Regulation hath not yet been
"
cancelled, His Majesty considers the same to be still in

"

"

force,

and

is

therefore pleased to direct that it shall be

all occasions, when the
compliance with it

" adhered to on
"

will not be attended with material

injury to the public
" service."

Next

in importance to these questions of

precedence,
the
among
Regimental events contained in the period of
which this chapter treats, comes the formation of a Head-

quarter

office

for

the

Regiment.

Prior

to

1783,

each

CHAP.

I.

Formation of Head-quarter

Office.

Battalion was ruled by its own Colonel-Commandant, whereever the companies might be serving
and details, which
should have been under the control of the senior Artillery
;

on the spot, were regulated from a distance. The

Ordnance Office was, in one sense, a Head-quarter office for
the Kegiment but a want existed of some one military and,
regimental channel through which the. wants and correofficer

spondence of the Battalions might reach the Board. In a

who was the first to hold this

letter to Captain Macleod,

much-needed office, the want was well expressed. " The

officers and men of different Battalions, that
generally

"

"

compose commands of Artillery abroad, make the post of a

"
Brigade-Major obviously useful to prevent a multiplicity
" of
returns to different Battalions, which must often fall
11
short of the information required at home.
The enclosed
"
for
that
will
show
we
have
officers here
instance,
return,
"
without a knowledge of what Battalion they belong to."

Officer
a

^"

Canada, to
Macleod,
7

The appointment

of Captain
afterwards Sir John Macleod
was a very fortunate one. He was styled Brigade-Major,
when appointed in 1783 ; and in 1795 the designation was

altered to that of Deputy-Adjutant-General.

Assistant-Adjutant-General was added

In 1806 an

to the office

and in

1859, a Deputy-Assistant-Adjutant-General. When Captain

Macleod was first appointed, he was under the orders of the

Commandant of Woolwich Garrison but in a very short

time he made himself so useful to the Master-General and
;

the Board, and was so conversant with all those details

which could not possibly be familiar to officers, who were so
frequently changed as the Commandants were in those days,
that most of the Eegimental correspondence soon passed
So delicate a position
direct between him and the Board.

required

great

tact,

eminently possessed.

and-

this

Appearing

Captain Macleod
under theo rders of

quality
to act

the Commandant, and courteously anticipating his wishes,

he really was the mouthpiece of the Board in controlling

the affairs of the Kegiment. His correspondence is a masterand clearness. " The

piece of courtesy, skill,

leading feature Memoir
" of
his character was the confidence he inspired in others,

of

CHAP

Reaction.

I.

"

and the unbounded trust they reposed in him; and thus,

whether called upon for counsel, or to act under unforegeen or gulden emergencies of service, he was ever ready
"
and prepared to meet its exigencies .... Of every soldier
'

ISM.

" he made himself the friend.

To his equals in rank he was
"
a "brother ; to those beneath him a father in kindness and
"
counsel; and to the private soldiers a benefactor, ever watch"
ing over their comfort and their welfare.
Through" out his
long career he was never known to act with the
"
slightest approach to severity ; and yet he never failed to
" maintain
discipline, to reprove fault, or to check irregu"
He animated zeal, excited energy, and aimed at
larity.
"
perfecting discipline by always appealing to the better
" and nobler
feelings that prevail with the soldier's character."
.

An

office,

which, with an ordinary man, would have remained

always subordinate, was raised by him so as to be the very

centre of the Eegimental life; and although there have
its history, when the progress and success of
the Kegiment have been rather in spite, than by means of
as in the case of
it, these occasions have been rare; and

been times in

of the Peninsular War

were forgotten
which followed them. In a Regiment so
large, and so scattered, the value of some central organization, not merely for routine, but also for maintaining and

the

commencement

in the exertions

encouraging esprit de corps, can hardly be overrated.

It has been said that Captain Macleod commenced to hold
the new office, as a Brigade-Major.
It may be added that
the ideas of a Brigade-Major's

From 1783

position were not

exalted.

1790, Captain Macleod conducted all his

business in one small room, shared by his clerks, two in
number ; but in 1790, offices having been provided for the
Adjutants of the Battalions, who had hitherto been made to
to

work together, the Brigade-Major was allowed the same

privilege, and drew lots with the others
according to custom for
a separate apartment. In a long official
correspondence, extending over a long lifetime, the only irritation displayed by
Sir John Macleod was at the official
delays of the Board for

which he laboured.

But, even then, his indignation took the

CHAP.

Captain Macleod.

i.

form of gentle irony. Whether writing, as he did in the

end of the year 1786, requesting that his travelling allowances for 1783 might be sent him with as little delay as
possible, or reminding the Board of a demand for stationery
sent in many months before, he was never disturbed into
"
I hope you will forgive me," he wrote, To B. of
strong language.
with reference to his last-named demand, " for begging you g^* 1106
" to
give orders for Us going through the different forms with 1784.
"
as much expedition as possible, the stationery of last year
"
being now entirely exhausted." An amusing instance of

way of answering criticism from underlings at the

Ordnance occurred in 1785. Many people who had assisted
the troops during the American War came to England, and
A negro,
generally applied for Government assistance.
named James Buchanan, presented himself at the Ordnance,
and requested assistance, on the plea that he had been
employed during the war as a labourer with one of the
companies on service. The case was referred to the BrigadeMajor, who replied that no such man was to be found on
his quiet

men

the rolls of the

to his statement,

was

so employed.
told to go to

The man, still adhering

Woolwich and endeavour

On doing so, he was at once recognized

by Captain Macleod as a man who had done duty with his
own company and he reported accordingly.
The opportunity could not be resisted and some official
of the Board wrote an offensive demand for explanation of
to substantiate

it.

the contradictory statements made by the Brigade-Major.

With quiet sarcasm, Captain Macleod wrote " The Board
:

"

understand

my inconsistency in disclaiming one

acknowledging the next, when I inform them that

will easily

"

day and

"

their petitioner has acquired the name of James

christened since his arrival in England"
~by ~being

"

The dullness
ment which had

Buchanan,

at the Board, consequent on the retrenchto be practised, was cheered by the genial

kindness of the Master-General, the Duke of Kichrnond, who

displayed the greatest interest in the military branch, down
to the humblest individual.

To the student

by exasperating anecdotes,

illustrating the

it is also

varied

perfection

of

CHAP.

Reaction.

official

doubt and criticism.

mpanies,

many

The return from America

men belonging

of the

to

I.

of the

which had been in

prison at various periods during the war, offered admirable

opportunities for the practice of virtues which were strongly

represented at the Honourable Board. To a man landing at

"Woolwich, the sympathy of the Ordnance took the doubtful

irm of a peremptory order to refund, it might be, certain

moneys which had been drawn for him while a prisoner of
their welcome home was a disallowance.
As for the
war,
Captains of the returning companies, they were allowed no
No consideration was given on account of their men
peace.

having been scattered over a whole continent; the same

minuteness of detail, the same superabundance of vouchers
for every charge, was demanded, as if their companies had
never left Woolwich Warren. One Captain, unable to give
the exact dates and sufficient proofs of the deaths of certain

men, who had been

on distant detachments, was rash

such a demand, and to point
which compliance with it involved. Miskilled

enough

to question the justice of

out the

difficulties

man
Little did he know the system of
which
in
the year of grace 1784. Argument
audit,
prevailed
was inadmissible; the full pound of flesh, in the form of
vouchers and authorities, was insisted on by the official
Shylocks; and if circumstances rendered this an absolute
guided, miserable

impossibility, their
Ordnance

Captain,
"

er

book i~784

to

'

st

we read
P

kis

remedy was simple. Of

order was sent

that " an

P av

until

tlie

sum

this

to

223 ^-

wretched
the agent

k ad

been

"
paid."
In the correspondence of the period, this officer's name
does not appear again for some weeks, but then in a start-

In a letter to the Commandant of Woolwich

ling manner.
from the Surgeon of the 4th Battalion, we find that the illfated Captain " was so violent last night that I had to
put a
"
strait waistcoat on him."
Had he received notice of a
fresh disallowance from his unfeeling auditors ?
This, indeed, does not appear ; but from the fact that he had been

perfectly sane before this correspondence, and recovered his

sanity afterwards, it almost appears as if his reason had

CHAP.

i.

Official

Doubt and

Criticism.

tottered under the admirable system of audit, which

made

no allowance, and would listen to no argument.

The consistency of these examiners was as admirable as
their pertinacity or their indifference.
They were no less
reluctant to part with money except on abundant evidence,
than they were determined to have it refunded unless similar
evidence could be shown for its retention. From the dull
pages of the Brigade-Major's letter-books we learn of a just
and lawful claim made by a gunner on his return from New
York.

It

does not appear that the claim was denied, but

officials was to doubt the

the line taken by the suspicious

man's identity.
The difficulty of proving this may be
from
what
followed.
The usual evidence which
imagined
the

man

himself

could produce

was,

like

his

assertion,

from an officer under

scornfully rejected.
whom he had served, and who was then at Woolwich, was
not considered sufficient, even when followed by a second
and third of the same description, and from different officers.
certificate

According to their own documents, the examiners said

the man had died in New York and they would hear of no
The matter reached the Commandant, who
resurrection.
;

took

it

up warmly.

little

alarmed, but not convinced, the

Bath to ask General Pattison, who had

commanded at New York at the date of the man's supposed
But they mistook
death, whether it had not taken place.
He replied that he had no means of
their correspondent.

auditors wrote to

"
answering their question, but he added, I should hope that
" certificates from three
respectable officers, accompanied

"
"

with a recommendation from the Commanding Officer of

the Battalion, who I am very confident would not have

" offered
any but on the very surest grounds, will be
" sufficient vouchers of the
poor man's pretensions."

deemed

From

the subsequent cessation of the correspondence, it is presumed that the claimant's identity was at last admitted.
At no period of the Regiment's history was the paternal
rule of the

Board more

veriest trifles.

detailed,

The incessant

made by the Commandant,

and more inclusive of the

references which had to be

before he could

make

the slightest

Read ion.

io

CHAP.

I.

change in the Garrison, and the constant petty collisions

between the civil and military departments, picture to the
student an intolerable regime. Nor was the overbearing of
the civilian

confined to offensive correspondence.

officials

handed down of a mighty servant of the Board,

story
"
Clerk of the Cheque," who paid
rejoicing in the title of
to
visits
Woolwich, and evinced his scorn for the
periodical
in
branch
every way. On one day, the Commandant
military
had ordered the troops to parade for his inspection; and
sentries were placed at various points to keep back the crowd
Just as the Comof sightseers, which had assembled.
mandant came on the ground, a scuffle was observed taking
The Garrison
place between a sentry and one of the crowd.
Sergeant-Major was sent to ascertain the cause and on his
arrival he found the Clerk of the Cheque insisting on his
is

The Sergeant-Major
right to ignore any military control.
the
intruder
success
said he was Clerk
but
without
argued,
;

demanded admission. From verbal to

the next step and loth the military
was
physical persuasion
individuals flung themselves on their civil rival.
It was

of the Cheque, and

without result

strong in the majesty of his office, the Clerk

held
The disturbance at length
his ground.
Cheque
drew the Commandant himself to the spot, and he took up
;

of the

the discussion; and, like the Sergeant-Major, resorted to

the argument of physical force. It was an awful moment ;
as he reads of it, the student's blood runs cold ; for the

was now condensed into a fight for the superiority of

the civil over the military branch of His Majesty's Ordnance.
And for the moment the Clerk of the Cheque prevailed
pushing the Commandant on one side, he swaggered across
battle

the enclosure.

was reported

But
to

his

the

triumph was short-lived; the matter

Master-General, who ordered

the

Woolwich and make

a public apology.
the
humiliation
he
Doubtless, however,
avenged
by some of
the many ways of paper irritation, which he had at his

offender to proceed to

disposal.

in executing repairs and meeting demands was

Twelve months were not considered too long a

The delay
excessive.

CHAP.

I.

1 1

Official Delay.

period to answer a requisition, and much longer was geneA fence happened to require repair in front of
rally taken.
the harracks, and its dangerous state was repeatedly pointed

out hy the Commandant.

and an

officer

had

But not

until years had passed,

and broken his own collarthe Board to remedy it. Even

killed his horse,

hone, did any steps occur to

then, while they were brooding, accidents continued, coming
" the
to a climax one night, when
Chaplain, in walking
"
home, fell in and broke the principal ligament of his leg."
temporary chapel existed in the Warren, and, although

General
e

to

Bf

Ordnance.

the duties of the Chaplains will be discussed hereafter, it

may be mentioned, while considering the Board's delays,
that in 1783 the Chaplain applied for " a cushion and furni"
ture for the pulpit, a surplice, Bible and prayer-books,
"

"

and a few hassocks, those in use having been purchased in

1753."

After patiently waiting for four years, the Chaplain again 1787.
sent in a demand, stating that it was impossible to use those jone s

to

he had any longer.

The procrastination
to

many

of the

inconveniences.

Board

led, as

company

may

in the

be imagined,

Bahamas was

ordered to be in readiness to return to England, and no

clothing was sent to it for the year 1784, as the Board

promised to make immediate arrangements for its transport

but 1784 passed, and also 1785, and then 1786, and no
;

transport was forthcoming, nor was any clothing sent for

these three years.

turn from the Board and its

and
to
the
shortcomings,
study
purely Regimental details of
the period.
and
Tame,
uninteresting, as they ma.y appear
beside the terrible seedtime in France, where the dragon'steeth of discord, licence, and rebellion were being scattered,
to bring forth a thirty years' harvest in
Europe of armed
men, they cannot be passed by in any work pretending to
It is a relief, however, to

the story of the Kegiment.

They speak of an interior
economy which has utterly disappeared, of a time which
might fitly be called "the age of the Colonels-Commandant."
tell

So completely honorary has that rank now become in the

Colonel
t(

Mastere

el al >

9'
178*7.

CHAP.

Reaction.

12

I.

Kegiment, that the exercise of one small piece of patronage

the nomination of the Brigade Adjutant and Quartermaster is the only link which connects those who hold it
with the active duties of the Corps.
On the 30th January, 1873, the Colonels-Commandant
were invited to leave their retirement, and to meet their
brother officers once again at the Eegimental mess. This

marked contrast to the days referred

Then, the Colonels-Commandant of the

rare reunion formed a

to in this chapter.
four Battalions were entitled

to

live

in

barracks in the

and an attempt was made to place them on the

same roster for duty as the Colonels. Thanks to the conscientious and far-seeing judgment of the officers who then
The following
held the rank, this order was cancelled.

Warren

protest,

submitted by them to the Master-General, will

sufficiently explain the situation

"
With respect to the proposition of
:

Letter to

"
clTneraf^"
Sept. 1785,

MajorGenerals

is
'

the

1st

and 2nd

Battalion quartered at Woolwich to take

"
the duty alternately of being always on the spot, and
"
commanding there, we beg leave to say (if by 1st Colonel
Colonels of

"

tlie

meant Colonel-Commandant)

that, as

General

Officers,

We

we

are under the necessity of dissenting from it.

1 "
* s^ *
w
U P ^ vour race as ^ ne guardian and proGodwin*
"
tector, under our gracious Sovereign, of the Corps of
"
Artillery, as well individually as collectively ; and, there"
fore, as this measure would be derogatory thereto, we
"
trust that your Grace, having condescended to ask our
"
Your Grace is
opinions, will be pleased to relinquish it.
"
sensible that by the custom of the Army immemorially
Pattison,

^^

"

established,

"

and confirmed by the Koyal sanction, Colonels

having the rank of General Officers are exempted from

"
being stationary with their Kegiments ; and that, by a
"
late regulation, even Lieut.-Colonels having the rank of
"
Major-General are not required to be with their Eegi"
ments any further than they may judge necessary for
"
becoming responsible for their being in good order and
"
discipline, the care and command devolving upon the
"
Major or senior Captain. However faint, my Lord, our

en

\i>.

Colonels-Commandant.

I.

"

with other
prospects may be of deriving equal advantages
" General
honour to
the
have
rank
we
the
from
Officers,
"
and
to
believe
reason
expect that
hold, we have yet every
" the
be
it
will
equally preserved to
privileges annexed to
" us. In the
year 1773, the late Master-General was pleased
" to
the residence of
give an order, which seemed to require
" the Colonels-Commandant at
the

Woolwich, whereupon

" late Generals Belford and

Desaguliers had an audience of
" His
feet a memorial praying for
at
his
laid
and
Majesty,
"
redress, which His Majesty was graciously pleased to
"
grant."
Although, however, relieved of a duty beneath their rank,

the connection of

the

Colonels-Commandant with

their

No officer
Battalions remained of the closest description.
was allowed to be promoted, under the rank of Field-Officer,
without a recommendation from the Colonel-Commandant of
the Battalion in which he might be serving; nor was any

exchange allowed without the consent of both the ColonelsCommandant concerned. The recruiting, clothing, and discharges of the

men were under

the same control

and the

private affairs of the officers were also frequently the subject

of their official consideration. It has been already hinted, at
the commencement of this chapter, that for some reasons the

period between 1783 and 1792

is

is

a painful one to study.

It
but as to the fact,

impossible to give a sufficient reason

no doubt that there was then a bad spirit among

some of the younger officers, which manifested itself not

there

is

unfrequently in acts of open insubordination. The pages of

the Ordnance letter-books of this time bristle with accounts
of courts-martial on officers, an occurrence most rare before
or since.

Nor were they due

to

any

stern, unforgiving dis-

cipline, visiting slight offences with heavy punishment. The

offences were all of one description,
distinct and grave

Whether

had not been taken

American War, or
whether this war had engendered among some an unruly,
ill-disciplined, and impatient spirit, it is impossible now to
Nor was tragedy wanting. One case occurred, in
say.

insubordination.

sufficient care

in the appointment of officers during the

CHAP.

Reaction.

i.

1785, of an officer who had been commissioned in America

during the war, and who, on his return to England, had

A prolonged
been repeatedly guilty of minor offences.
absence without leave brought matters to a crisis. He was,
after some difficulty, traced to a low lodging-house in London,
and, after

was at

unavailing orders to return to Woolwich,

A general courtbrought down by escort.

many

last

martial was assembled for his trial at the Horse Guards,

where all such courts were then held ; and from the official

can be traced that he was convicted. Before,

the
sentence was promulgated, we learn from a
however,
letter in the Brigade-Major's correspondence that he was
registers

it

No explanation is
the
a
brief
of
occurrence, leaving the
given,
merely
report
to
the manner and the
as
reader to his own conjectures

found one morning dead in his room.

cause.

is

But, painful as it is to come across such passages, the pain

almost forgotten in the pleasure which the same corre-

spondence affords, when treating of the earnest fatherly

interest displayed by the Colonels-Commandant in the young
In later days, the life and proofficers under their control.
gress of the Eegiment have been, as a rule, in the keeping of
younger members ; but, at the time now spoken of, it was

its

emphatically the devotion of the fathers of the Corps, which

tided it over the shoals of discontent, stagnation, and despair.

A jealous
had

love of their noble traditions animated

them

they

and the honours, which had so welded

the Eegiment into a glorious unity and they laboured with
an unselfish love to inspire the younger members with an
esprit, which should make them worthy channels of their
all

shared the

toils

own deep feelings.

They expressed in

the earnestness of their lives that which

was said in words by one of the Colonels-Commandant at the
reunion in 1873, mentioned above " The glory of our Eegi"
ment has been in our keeping but we are now old and
passing away, and we commit it to you." How much of
the noble spirit which animated the Corps in the commencement of this century was due to the unwearying teaching of
:

Generai B.

Cuppage.

CHAP.

i.

Testing

New

Inventions.

15

the older officers at the period now treated of can never be

told
but the student of the correspondence still preserved
cannot but attribute to it an abundant share.
;

One

of the duties always performed at this time

by the

Field-Officers of the Corps was the testing the value of

The list of such during this period is long
inventions.

new
and

The inventors were both professional Artillerymen

quaint.
and amateurs although it must be confessed that the latter
;

It seems
received greater encouragement than the former.
in
of
the
but
it
a
that
is
fact,
grace 1790
year
hardly credible,
the Field-Officers of Artillery were repeatedly assembled to

examine into the merits of a 3-pounder leather gun, invented

by Sir John Sinclair. Nor were rifled guns unknown at this
One of the most persistent inventors was a Mr.
time.
Wiggins, who produced rifled guns to fire belted spherical
shot. He succeeded with the smaller guns, 1 and 9-pounders
but was not successful with the larger. An 18-pounder
;

which he produced 'before the Board was certainly not a

success for, on firing two rounds with common proof-charge
and one shot, " on the second round it burst into a great
;

"

inspector

f Ar "
of pieces."
Although, however, the Field-Officers
were available for this duty, any interference with the manu- Command-

number

facturing departments in the Arsenal by the Garrison officials

was not allowed nor tolerated. There were repeated attempts

made by

successive

Commandants

to

assume a control over

the Arsenal, but without success.

Another duty which occupied the senior officers at this

time was connected with the Kegimental Hospital and the
medical officers of the Ordnance. Complaints were repeatedly
made by the Surgeons, and not without reason and complaints were often made of them, but generally without
;

The system

making the Surgeon find medicines

and inadequate money allowance
led to much correspondence
and attempts made to extort
from the military surgeon any charges made by a civil praccause.

of

for the sick, out of a fixed

titioner for

men on furlough led to very

the other hand, the varying rate
from the pay of the sick led to discontent

attendance on

stormy remonstrances.
of stoppages

made

On

ant<

CHAP,

Reaction.

l6

I.

by tlie Board to
ptrt It WM whuOly proposed
in hospital, lest
when
Uke away the whole of a man's pay
to send men
induced
be
should
the Captains of Companies
to appropriate the balance
when in debt into hospital, and
resented by the
This unworthy suspicion was
hail pay
words:
Colonels-Commandant in the following dignified
a
induce
which might
regard to the temptation
them
and
keep
to the hospital,
(tpUin to send his men
clear their debts by
to
order
'
in
he
as
could,
there as long
,

"

there
we hope, and, indeed, are confident, that
as
mind
illiberal a
no Captain now in the Corps of so

stoppages

"

is

to his own interest

unworthily attentive
and
His
of
that
to
Majesty's service;
preference
" should there ever be hereafter any one of such bad prinmust take place between him, the
plea, a collusion
the Soldier, before his base purpose could
irgeon, and

" to

l>e

be thus

accomplished."

the Ordnance Medical Department

were embodied in a distinct form in the years 1786 and 1787,

The Regulations

for

much meeting of committees and examinof witnesses. Much of the labour and expense which

but not without

ation

upon the medical

officers at

Woolwich were caused by the

of 150 men of the Invalid Battalion,

presence in that Garrison
who were incessantly under treatment. It cannot be said

that

men were

driven out of the service in those days without

From the lists
effect a cure.

to
every endeavour being made

men recommended for discharge in the year 1791, which

are deposited in the Record Office, we find that one had been
.-k in the country for four years;" another suffered from
rheumatism, loss of sight and of hearing; another had
of

" an inveterate sore

leg of many years' standing
and burthensome to the Battalion
was "
insane,

"
hectic,

and subject

" otherwise infirm

to fits ;" another

"

;"

;"

another
another

hurt in the back, and

while a very common epithet was

;"
worn
out."
There were other grounds, howcompletely
for
One man
ever,
discharging men, than mere medical.
has been handed down as having been discharged because
"he was unsightly," another was "unpromising," a third

"

CHAP.
"

Regulations for Medical Officers.

I.

17

irregular," while of a fourth the curt characteristic placed

"

against his

name

is

the word

History frequently repeats

thief."

itself in

small matters as well

as large. The legislation suggested by the present Secretary

of State for War, with reference to men who have occasion to

go to hospital on account of their own indiscretion, was in

a fine of
force in Canada for many years prior to 1791,
10s. 6d. being levied from every Artilleryman in such a
A commanding officer, however, went to Canada
position.

who

declined to enforce this fine

and the question as to

was therefore referred

the origin and duration of the custom

to the Commandant at Weolwich.

He

"
replied

From

" the
Brigade-Major I learn the custom has long been abo" lished in
Woolwich, and in other places, as tending to
" induce the soldier to conceal his
complaint, or apply to
"
both
of
cure
which
for
a
may be prejudicial
cheaper
quacks
;

" to his constitution."

The

decisions arrived at

ence to

by the Board

in 1786, with refer- Whitehall,

The
officers, may be briefly stated.
officer at Woolwich was to be called

principal medical

Surgeon-General, and was to receive half-pay of 10s. per

diem, while he was to be relieved of the expense of finding

any medicines for the hospital. The Surgeon of the Battalion at Woolwich had to provide all the medicines for his
"
Battalion,
excepting bark and wine," in return for which
he was allowed 120?. per annum. The Surgeon of the Battalion detached in England remained at Woolwich with such
companies of the Battalion as might be stationed there,
providing the medicines required by them, and by the
in Scotland, as well as all the companies of the
Battalion when on the line of march, receiving in return

company

remuneration at the rate of

12Z.

per company annually.

Tho

recruits of the Battalions abroad were also under his care,

and he received
men,

the medical

12/.

annually for each detachment of

in return for the medicines he

had

So

to provide.

fifty
far,

Surgeon had little to complain of. But the next burden

was always greater than he could bear. He had to take
charge of the men of the Invalid Battalion, not merely those
this

VOL. n.

ay>

78

CHAP L
-

Reaction.

lg

them

those on detachment, furnishing

*t Woolwich, but also
When
the annnal sum of 7QL
with mcMlic-inos, in return for

entered the Invalid Battalion

one bears in mind that no man
and that his daily medicine
until he was completely crippled,
as the air he hreathed, the
was probably as necessary to him
remuneration in this item
inadequacy of the Surgeon's
of the Battalions, to which
becomes apparent. The Surgeons
in Canada respectively
the companies at Gibraltar and
received
went on service with these companies, and
belonged,

to their paycompany, in addition

to provide all medicines
in 'return for which they had
"
allowance was paid for
same
The
wine."
and
except hark
to the Ordnance
detached companies of the various Battalions
in the
labourers
and
artificers
Civil
Surgeon on the spot.
attendance
medical
to
entitled
were
employ of the Ordnance
and one
and medicines, by paying at the rates of one penny
Ordnance
the
to
the
year
halfpenny per week throughout
to
medical officer on the station. The rule with regard
the
that
is
"It
expected
officers was worded as follows:
12/.

"
"

per

annum

for each

and Ordnance at the different

Surgeons of the Artillery
should give their attendance to the military and
places

Incers

without fee; hut, with respect to supplying

it is recommended to the military and

medicines,
"

vil officers to subscribe 2 guineas a year each, for which

otherwise
the Surgeon is to supply them with medicines
as they use."
medicines
such
for
to
are
pay
hey
;

Such were the regulations for the medical officers of the

Ordnance, revealing a system which was faulty and has
in a
disappeared, but which it is interesting to reproduce
But
other
non-combatants
the
there
of
were
Corps.
history
no longer represented in the Kegiment, but who
also
These
deserve to be mentioned the Regimental Chaplains.
gentlemen, at the period treated of, did not belong, as now,
to one department for general Army service, but belonged
to the various Battalions of the Corps.
This, however, did
not imply that they did duty with their Battalions ; far from
Excellent men, they drew their pay with a punctuality
worthy of all praise, but it was not among their congrega-

CHAP.

19

Regimental Chaplains.

i.

Warren, but away in quiet rural rectories in

which they held. They were pluralists; and
they clubbed together to pay a curate in Woolwich to perform their joint duties. It is sad to have to say, also, that
tions in the

fat

livings

They
they did not pay their substitute very liberally.
paid him each eighteen-pence a day a sum so inadequate
that

it

drew forth the remonstrances of the Commandant,

"
the Master-General that,
considering the
reverend gentleman's constant residence and attendance,
" his
dress and appearance, which are always obliged to be
"
decent, and the disadvantage of having no surplice fees to
" add to
it, it will not permit him even to eat at the mess
" the
cheapest and best mode of living here." The sum of
two shillings and sixpence a day from each Chaplain was

who wrote

to

"

requested for their substitute ; such as was given in other

Garrisons. It will thus be seen that the system was officially
and, indeed, was but one of the many vicious
have disappeared before public opinion.
There were certain occasions when the attendance of the

recognised

customs which

Chaplains was insisted upon, although they were few and

far between.
One such occurred in 1785, when the King

announced

coming to Woolwich to review

The Chaplains were hurriedly written for,

his intention of

the Eegiment.
" in

"
that you may be
order," wrote the Brigade-Major,
" at
Woolwich in proper time to march by with the Kegi"
ment." One of the number replied, that on account of the
distance at which he lived, and the fact of his being 86 years
of age, he would be unable to attend,
which he greatly
regretted, as he would have much liked to march past again
before he died.
The others obeyed the summons, one only
a
little
on the ground that the Battalion to
protesting

which he belonged was at that time scattered in the West

A few years later, in 1792, when a
Indies and Canada.
camp was formed at Bagshot, the Chaplains were ordered to
attend and encamp with the companies and from that time
;

more and more every year, to be so

as
purely honorary
they had been.
to
the combatant part of the Corps, there
now
Eeturning

their duties ceased,

c 2

Caster.
(Jenerai,
1

1737.

CHAP.

Reaction.

20

I.

are certain details connected with the dress of the officers

fail to be interesting, and which
find a natural place in a chapter like this.
Owing to a
circumstance arising out of the American War, we are fortu-

and men, which can hardly

nately in possession of very circumstantial accounts on this

After the Convention of Saratoga, many of the
point.
officers

of Burgoyne's

army remained

On

their

prisoners of war for

return

to England, they
years.
nearly
claimed compensation for loss of their equipment, &c.,
"
The subscribers wish to
stating their case as follows
"
and
constant
unavoidable
loss they sustained
the
represent
" in the mode of
their
subsistence, as the impayment of
"
of
the

three

possibility

" laid
"

Convention

supplying

them under an absolute necessity

of

Army with specie

drawing their pay

at very extravagant rates, being paid by public bills, in

" the
negotiation of which, from the Congress paper cur"
rency, they suffered a discount which in the 1st year may
" be estimated at 20
per cent.
beg leave to observe
"
that, in conformity to the wishes of the Generals command"
ing the troops, we were under the necessity of building
" huts at
our own cost and charges, in order to take the
" more effectual
care of the men, to attend to their wants
" and to
.

alleviate

"

"
"
"

their

incurred on this score.

We

Much expense was

have also to observe that the

distresses.

We

Congress at different periods obliged us to remove to most

of the provinces in America ; and in those several marches
of at least 1500 miles, it must
naturally occur that many

" and
heavy

On being
charges were sustained by us.
exchanged, we were unavoidably obliged to come to New
" York
individually, and there being no public conveyance,
"
we were necessitated to purchase horses, to
our-

"

"

transport

and baggage, from people who took

every advantage
" of our
distresses."
On the claims of officers on this
selves

account reaching the Ordnance, the first

step was, simply, to
refuse to admit them ; on their
being urged again in
stronger terms, the next was to refer them to some one
else to ascertain the truth of the claimants'
statements, it being
an official axiom that any one
demanding money was probably

CHAP.

i.

21

Equipments.

an impostor, and to be treated accordingly; and, lastly, on

being satisfied of the accuracy of the claim, the invariable
course was to offer something considerably less than the sum
demanded. From a remonstrance made against the offer in
this case we learn what was laid down by the Board of
Ordnance in the previous year, 28th June, 1782, as the
equipment of an Artillery Subaltern, and the cost at which
it

was

to be valued in

or imprisonment.

compensating for
was as follows

It

its loss

by shipwreck,

s.

I suit

Regimentals.

of full uniform

1 frock suit of
1

uniform

laced hat

regimental great coat

hat

1 plain

12 shirts
12 stocks
12 pairs of stockings
6 linen waistcoats and breeches
12 handkerchiefs, at 3s. Qd

3 12

regimental sword,
sash

belt,

..440

1 pair of pistols
1

and clasp

Bedstead and bedding complete

Equipage.

1 pair

of canteens

2 hair trunks
1

case with bottles

cask with kitchen utensils

Saddle and bridle
1

The contents
this time

2 12
11

6
6

12 12

96 17

140
880
300
220
.330
440

of the knapsack of an Artillery soldier at

the knapsack itself being made of
;

were as follows

painted canvas
4 white
1 check

shirts.

shirt.

1 razor.

6 false collars.
canvas frock.

canvas pair of trowsers.

poicder-lag

and puff

s'uaving-box.
pair of shoe brushes.
1 cloth brush.

twin screw and worm.

brush and pricker,

leai her

cap.
2 pairs of shoes.
pair of black cloth gaiters.
pair of white stockings (thread).

3 pairs of shoes

Camp

770
330
300
110
900
220
.740
220
2 13

2 pairs of boots
1

d.

12 12

leather stock,
1

roadie.

CHAP.

Reaction.

22

1 pair of knee-buckles.

1 pair of worsted stockings

3 pairs of Welsh yarn socks.

shoe-buckles.

1 pair of

stock buckle.

large

and

small comb.

issues of clothing were settled by the Master17th March, 1788, to be as follows.

The annual
General on

Each sergeant was

to receive annually

1 coat.

1 white cloth waistcoat.

1 pair of

white cloth breeches.

1 frilled shirt.
1

black leather stock.

pair of worsted stockings.

1 gold laced hut.

Black cloth with 3 dozen buttons

5.

for

a pair of gaiters.

3d. in lieu of a pair of shoes.

The same articles were supplied to the other ranks, with

the exception that while the corporal's coat had two epaulettes, the bombardier's had only one ; and that the hats of
The drumthe drummers were plain, instead of gold-laced.
mers had
the

West

them when required. In

received white linen waistcoats and

also fur caps supplied to

Indies the

men

breeches, instead of cloth

instead of black.

The men

of

and wore white gold-laced hats

the Invalid Battalion received

the same

those of the Marching Battalions, with this

that
their coats were lined with red instead of
exception,
white, and their waistcoats and breeches, instead of being
articles

as

white, were Hue.

So much for the clothing of the Kegiment at this time ; a
few words must now be said as to its drills. And perhaps

done most easily by describing a field-day, which

took place on the morning of the 9th July, 1788, before the
King. On the arrival of His Majesty, a salute of 21 guns,

this can be

at intervals of

Order by
General,
17*87*"'

8 seconds, was fired by a company, which

immediately afterwards fell in on the left of the line. It

was not until the preceding year that the Kegiment had
been ordered to fall in in two ranks, when under arms. The

King having ridden down the ranks, the Kegiment broke

*n^
P en c l umn an d marched past in slow and quick time.
>

CHAP.

Drills.

I.

23

having been reformed, and the Manual Exercise

practised, the following marvellous evolutions commenced
Two rounds were fired horn flanks to centre of each Battalion

The

line

the

then

line

retired

one

hundred

yards

towards

the

Barracks, and fired two rounds from centre to flanks of each

Battalion ; and returned to its former ground. Here it
fired

two rounds by grand divisions from flanks

then one round by wings
Battalion

of each

Battalion

to centre

of

each

and, finally, each Battalion fired a volley.

so rung the changes on small-arm firing, a certain

Having
number of the men were detached
line

to allow these

to

man

12

come up.

to

guns, the

field

As a contrast

opening
guns
modern Field Battery drill, the solemn orders issued to
" Lieuthe officer commanding these guns may be quoted
u
tenant-Colonel Walker will advance towards Woolwich
"
Common with his 12 guns, 4 in front, and in three lines.
"
This column will incline to the right, so that the right-hand
to

"

When they have

the
front
of
the
about
between
Barracks and
got
halfway
"
the sunk fence, the 4 guns in the front line are then to
gun may be near the right-hand hedge.

"

"
"
"

halt, while the

the front line.

4 guns in the centre line form the left of

The 12 guns then in one line will fire

two rounds from flanks

to centre, then change their front

on
the centre, and in that position
by wheeling
"
The 6 guns on the
fire two rounds from centre to flanks.
"
right will then fall in with the rear of the 2nd Battalion,

"

to the left

"
and the 6 guns on the left will
" 4th Battalion."
It requires

fall

in with the rear of the

the reproduction of such elephantine moveto realise sufficiently the progress made

ments as the above,

This most wooden style

and we owe the change
which followed to the wars of the French Eevolution, which
taught that a General, to win battles, must be something
more than a drill-sergeant, and that an army must learn
not merely to fight, but to move, and to move with rapidity.
The only element in the field-day just described which
gives the student the slightest relief, is a mention made that
since that time in Field Artillery.
of drill was the fashion in England

CHAP.

Reaction.

24

I.

the Gentlemen Cadets were employed as Light Infantry

towards the end of the day. Of course this was all wrong,

and one would rather

find that

they had been employed on a

but it is a relief
public occasion like this, as Artillerymen ;
to read of anything implying rapidity of movement, after
the dull, ponderous description of the line moving solemnly
backwards and forwards, firing from flanks to centre, and
centre to flanks.
this style of drill our want of success in Flanders, in
the campaigns shortly to be described, was mainly due.

To

Our Generals had

their brains so saturated with the drill-

book, that on active service, if they encountered an enemy

who violated its rules, they were utterly nonplussed. Had
a victory by ignoring the regulations under which
had
been
so strictly exercised, their satisfaction would
they
have been but a doubtful one. They had yet to learn that
although drill and dogged courage are admirable qualities in

they

won

troops, they will not compensate for the lack of those qualities in a General which are necessary to ensure success.

Only one or two points remain to be noticed. First, the

amalgamation of the Koyal Irish Artillery was contemplated
as early as 1788, although it did not take place until after
the Union in 1801.
The delay was mainly caused by the
of
the
officers
of the Koyal Artillery, who would
protest
have suffered greatly from supersession, the promotion in

the Irish corps having been

from which

much more

rapid than in that

sprang. Amalgamation must always produce

this supersession to a certain extent
and the Board listened
to the remonstrances, and deferred the incorporation of the
Irish Artillery for some years.
About the same date
as when this question was being discussed, a long petition
was forwarded from Gibraltar, in which the officers of
it

the Royal Artillery there stationed pointed out how much

better the position had become of officers in the Eoyal
Engineers of the same standing as themselves, than their

own.

The wording

of the petition was faulty, and its

were
unsound
thus giving the Master-General
arguments
an opportunity, of which he availed himself, to administer
;

CHAP.

Changes in Rank.

i.

rebuke to the

dignified

malcontents.

25

On one

point,

admitted the force of their complaint. The

rank of Major had been abolished in the Eoyal Engineers, its holders being made Lieutenant-Colonels, and thus
obtaining a decided advantage over their contemporaries in
Jiowever,

lie

the Artillery. " This difference," wrote the Master-General, p u k e

"
and there being no rank of Major, is, I admit, an advan"
The 1788.
tage in point of rank in favour of the Engineers.
"
reason of the rank of Major being suppressed in the Corps
"
of Engineers was that there were no troops belonging to
"
them to be commanded in Battalions, and therefore there
"

could be no use for an officer of that description."

Of

In the

year 1827, the rank of Kegimental Major was abolished in

the Koyal Artillery, its holders being made Lieutenantand in the year 1872, the
Colonels, but with Majors' pay
;

rank of Major was substituted for that of First Captain, on

account of the responsibility attached to the command of
a Battery of Artillery.

was during this period that a blow was struck at the

custom, which had hitherto prevailed, of buying and selling
the appointments of Adjutant and Quartermaster.
On the
24th February, 1783, the Master-General ordered that no
such appointment should in future be sold, with this exception, that any officer who then held an appointment which
he had obtained by purchase would be allowed to sell it
when he relinquished it, but must accept 100Z. less than he
gave for it and that his successor must also sell for 1007.
less than that purchase-money; and so on until the price
should be extinguished. It was ruled, at the same time,
that a Captain-Lieutenant, holding an Adjutancy, should
vacate it on being promoted to a Company; and that as
"
"
warrant of a Quartermaster should become
soon as any
"
some meritorious non-commisvacant without purchase,
"
officer
should
be
recommended
for the same."
sioned
A privilege which the Eegiment had hitherto enjoyed was
Prior to that
abolished, and with good reason, in 1785.
date no charge was ever made for the subsistence of either
It

officers or

men

of the

Eoyal Artillery when being conveyed

Colonel
Miller

ises.

26

CHAP.

Reaction.
to foreign stations,

by transports

I.

an exemption which was

not accorded to the rest of the army. Doubtless the custom

arose from the fact that the Board of Ordnance, which in
one capacity governed the Artillery, in another capacity
hired the transports but the case had only to be stated to
ensure a remedy. On the 27th August, 1785, it was ruled
"
that a
stoppage of 3d. per diem (being the same as is made
" from the
rest of His Majesty's troops) be made from the
;

11

officers, and privates of the

time they shall be on board
the
Eoyal Artillery during
"
the
same
individuals would be glad if,
Doubtless,
ship."

non-commissioned

officers,

"

in the year 1873, they could continue to travel on board ship

at the rate of 3d. per diem.
Perhaps of all the letters which the student finds in the
official

correspondence of the period, the following

most amusing.

It

already to

ought

is

the

have been mentioned

when

the Captain of a Company retired on his pay,

a
awaiting
vacancy in the Invalid Battalion, his CaptainLieutenant received certain allowances connected with the
that

command

of the

Company. Apparently, the regulations were

on the subject; or, as is very probable,

decisions had been given in individual cases, which had not
been promulgated to the Eegiment a pernicious custom
not very clear

which existed in the 18th century, and even since.

A
William
had
in
retired
this
and
Captain
Houghton
way;
from his retirement the following cry of agony reached the
2 April,

Commandant
"
"
"
"

"

"

Ever since the day your

Kegiment in getting me
leave of absence to retire from duty till provided with an
Invalid Company, I have never had a moment's peace with
my Captains-Lieutenant. Their first claim was for one
I gave it
non-effective
the next was for both I gave
them and was then told they had a right to the 67.
of his Battalion

goodness was made known

to the

"

"

per

annum

allowed for

this I gave up also.

stationery
share
of the stock purse,
my

"

They have now demanded

"

and the

"
"

20Z. per annum granted by His Majesty's warrant,

27th July, 1772, to the Captains of Artillery, on account

of the slowness of promotion in the Eegiment.

Had

CHAP.
"
"

Increase of Establishment.

I.

known

27

these were to be the hard conditions of a little rest

before death,

it

would have been

all fair

"

I certainly should have remained with

"
vided I had done duty upon crutches."

but in that case

my

Company, pro-

Only one point remains now to be mentioned before turning to the causes which led to sudden augmentations in the
Eegiment, combined with the commencement of hostilities.
On the 26th August, 1792, volunteers were called for from
the Companies at Woolwich, to form part of a guard ordered
to attend His Excellency Viscount Macartney, who had been

appointed Ambassador to the

China, and

also to

Court

Emperor of
gunnery to the

of the

act as instructors in

The strength of the party was

troops of that potentate.
as follows
One sergeant, 3 corporals or bombardiers, 1
drummer, and 15 gunners, under the command of Lieutenant
:

Parish.

An

advance was made to the detachment of a year's

subsistence to purchase necessaries, and a second suit of

clothing was given -to the non-commissioned officers and

men.
It has

been

difficult to confine this

chapter to these purely

domestic, although necessary, details, because, after 1787,
the whole firmament of history has been lurid with the
events in France, which were ripening into a state of things
such as has never been seen before, or since. In 1792 it
became apparent that war between England and France was
inevitable.
Eecruiting had been brisk since 1787 ; in 1790
a free pardon had been offered to all deserters, who should
return to their Kegiments; in the first month of 1793 an

augmentation to the Artillery was authorized, which will

form the subject of the next chapter ; and in October 1793,
the following increase
viz.

to

the establishment was ordered,

30 Gentlemen Cadets.
1

To each

of the

40 march-

Sergeant.

2 Bombardiers.

ing Companies of the 4

10 Second Gunners.

Battailous

1 Sergeant Conductor on
Sergeant's pay.
10 Drivers upon Second Gunner's pay.

To each

of the 4 marching}

Battalions

H BwgWrt

Mate.

28

Reaction.

CHAP.

I.

Every Officer, without exception, had been ordered to join in

1792 and, although it was not until the beginning of 1793
that the French Ambassador was dismissed from the Court
of St. James's, it was evident that a sufficient casus belli had
been found in the operations of the French army in the Low
Countries, and the menace to England implied in France
;

obtaining the control of the Eiver Scheldt.

A sufficient casus belli, it has been said ; but the student of
history must indeed be blind who fails to see that this was
but a secondary reason. A panic had seized upon the most
stable European governments, a dread lest the revolutionary
principles which animated the
beyond the confines of France.
reason.

French people should spread

Nor was their fear without

Even England had been penetrated by Republicanism

were formed, ostensibly for Parliamentary Reform,

and under the title of Friends of the People, which desired
undoubtedly the overthrow of the monarchy. An Englishman,

societies

the author of

member

of the

'The Rights of Man,' had been elected a

Assembly

political opinions

in Paris,

on account of his advanced

and, after his trial for sedition in

Eng-

land, an English mob showed their sympathy by taking the

horses out of his advocate's carriage, and drawing it themselves to his residence.

disturbance
Annual
^

61

179-2!

That unfailing barometer of

political
told also a tale of great uneasiness.
Cents., which stood in January 1792 at

the funds

The Three per

93 J, fell before December in the same year to 74 ; and all

other Government securities were at a corresponding discount.

The
most

state of

indifferent.

France was, indeed, enough to appal the

In the powerful language of the chronicler

French Revolution, France, roused by many causes,

the world " in that terrible strength of Nature which
"
" no man
has measured ; and " whatever was cruel in the
"
whatsoever was
panic-frenzy of twenty-five million men
"
in
the
simultaneous
death-defiance
of twenty-five
great

of the
Cariyie.

face(j

" million

men stood there in abrupt contrast, near by one

" another." France was
now "seeking its wild way through
" the
Chaotic
where
Force is not yet distinguished
New,

CHAP.
"

State of France.

i.

29

Bidden and Forbidden but Crime and Virtue welter

unseparated, in that domain of what is called the Passions."
"
The Gospel of Man's Eights was preached abroad with
"
the fearfullest Devil's Message of man's weaknesses and
"
"
sins
and a whole nation was drunk with revenge, and
terror, and blood.
into

"

Penetrating with different

every class of

effect into

men

in England, the tale of the French Revolution penetrated

even the recesses of the Ordnance. Eaising their eyes from

and gazing across the Channel, even the members of

moved and on the first day of
the New Year they resolved on a step, which should bring
Field Artillery more into accord with the era in the history
of war which was now to commence.
Nor was it an hour
too soon; for in three weeks' time, on the 21st January,

ledgers,

the Honourable Board were

"
there was in the streets of Paris a silence as of the
1793,
"
grave eighty thousand armed men stood ranked, like
" armed
statues of men
cannons bristled, cannoneers with
"
match burning, but no word or movement ; it was as a
"
one carriage, with
city enchanted into silence and stone
" its
escort, slowly rumbling towards the Place de la
"
The last of the dragon's
Revolution, the only sound."

Carlyle.

teeth was about to be sown, and a crime to be committed

which should bind the governments of Europe together
against France, as one man to whom France should answer,
:

"
"'

coalesced Kings threaten us we hurl at their feet, as Danton.

the gage of battle, the Head of a King."
Of a truth, the Honourable Board had not moved a day

The

Let us trace in our next chapter the development

of that portion of the Corps which dates its origin from that
too soon.

terrible

month

of

January 1793.

CHAPTER
THE

NECESSITY,

all

OF the

II.

AND PROGRESS OF THE EOYAL

HORSE ARTILLERY.

BIRTH,

the so-called Battalion Eecords, which were kept at

various Head-quarter offices at Woolwich up to the

year 1859, and the details of which are, at the best, of the
most scanty description, perhaps the most meagre and most
disappointing are those of the Koyal Horse Artillery.
From the well-known esprit of this branch of the service,

might have been expected that its earlier history would

have been treated almost with effusion by those in whose
custody was a book purporting to contain a record of its
But it may be said with truth that for one item
services.
it

of information obtained from the written

records

of this

have been obtained from the traditions

handed down verbally, and fondly treasured by successive
and even a greater part of the
generations of officers
brilliant arm, ten

required information has been obtained from works of general

military history, and from extant official letter-books.

The first section of these old Kecord Books professes to

treat of the circumstances of the original formation of the
In the Eecords
particular part of the Regiment concerned.
of the Eoyal Horse Artillery this section is compressed into
two lines. " The Eoyal Horse Artillery was formed as an
"
additional corps to the Eegiment of Artillery on the 1st

"

February, 1793." Eemarkable for its brevity, this account

the formation of the Eoyal Horse Artillery is also

of

remarkable for

its

inaccuracy.

It

was not an additional

corps to the

Eoyal Artillery, but from the very commencement an essential, integral part of it. The Driver Corps,
formed in 1794, was an additional corps to the Eoyal
Artillery

but

its

officers

were, until after Waterloo,

drawn

CHAP.

Necessity for Royal Horse

ii.

A rtillery.

from a different source, and its men were never Artillerymen.

The Royal Horse Artillery, on the other hand, was invariably
officered hy the Royal Artillery, and was recruited from its

Of the wisdom, or otherwise, of this policy, it will

be necessary to treat hereafter but of the fact there can be
no doubt. Yet again, in the brief record quoted above, are
ranks.

compressed other inaccuracies.

The Horse

Artillery did

not spring into existence, as a corps, on 1st February, 1793,

Two troops were authorized in
as the words would imply.
not
for twelve years of straggling
but
January of that year,

augmentations of staff-officers and troops, can it be said to

have attained its proper maturity. The earlier wars of the
French Revolution were the boyhood of the Royal Horse
Artillery, as the Peninsular campaign was its glorious manAfter Waterloo, until the Crimean War, its history
hood.

was a blank page.

an

the Regiment has been

and so patient in tracing out the
circumstances which impressed on the world the necessity
of this arm, as the author of the papers on The Mobility Captain
L
of Field Artillery, Past and Present.'
According to this ^j^writer, England was the last among the leading nations in Royal
Europe to adopt the use of Horse Artillery. As early as
1788, the subject had strongly attracted the attention of in g s R -^It is fortunate that

officer of

found, at once so capable

'

'

<

"

the Master-General of the Ordnance

referred

it

to a committee.

The

but, unfortunately, he
period of gestation, so to
;

speak, in committees on military subjects is very great ;

in this particular instance the winter of 1792 had arrived
without any result from their labours.

Horse Artillery into the Prussian

and in 1792 this arm was introIn other
duced into the French and Swedish armies.
had
been
made
in Field
countries
improvement
European
the
of
mounted
system
Artillery, without, however, adopting
detachments ; but this latter is the distinctive mark of Horse
It has been asserted, and on good authority,
Artillery.
that Horse Artillery was used in India prior even to its
adoption by Frederick the Great and dating as far back as

The introduction

of

service dates from 1759

Royal Horse Artillery.

32
1756.

CHAP. n.

If the existence of an Artillery without mobility was

to impress on the authorities in that country a

sufficient

tary^Transactions of

Nation in

Hin

o~i

PP/312

sense of the necessity of some improvements, the argument

was not wanting. In an engagement between the English
" the
and French troops near Trichinopoly in 1753,
English,
" or more
f
expedition, marched without any field-pieces;"
an ^ wne n the infantry advanced against the French in an
"
the artillery, in the hurry,
action fought shortly afterwards,
" could not
The advantage of a
battalion."
Jceep up with the

must certainly have been apparent

exhibitions.
melancholy
It has already been mentioned in this work that rapidity

more mobile

artillery

after such

of

movement, more

especially

under

fire,

was rendered

hopeless by the frequent employment of peasants to act as

The formation of the Eoyal Horse
drivers to the batteries.
Artillery did not free the Field Batteries from this evil.
quaint circumstance in proof of this is narrated by the
" In
author already mentioned.
1798, the Commandant of

Hime.

" Woolwich
inspected some guns
"
E.A. The

manned by gunners of the

guns were each drawn by three
horses in single file, which were driven by contract drivers
on foot, hired for the occasion, dressed in white smocks
with blue collars and cuffs, and armed with long carter's
whips of the ordinary farm pattern. When this formid8th Battalion,

"

"
"
moire to

"
ences,'art.

nance.

" able
array had been reviewed, the Commandant, General
"
Lloyd, and the Garrison Adjutant, expressed their joint
"
opinion that field artillery movements could not be per(
formed quicker." The increase of mobility over that old
*

which the above is a real, although, perhaps,

which followed the introduction of
Horse Artillery can best be shown by another and later
At the battle of Fuentes d'Onor, Bull's troop of
instance.
Horse Artillery now D Battery, B Brigade was surrounded
and cut off by the French cavalry. It was at the time
under the command of the 2nd Captain, Norman Eamsay.
"
Guns thus dealt with are almost always lost, and con"
sequently the army ceased to think of Eamsay and his
system

of

exceptional illustration

Gleig.

"

men, except as prisoners.

Presently, however, a great

CHAP.

1 1.

Necessity for Royal Horse

A rtillery.

33

" commotion was observed

among the French squadrons
" men and officers closed in confusion towards one
"
"
"

where a thick dust was

rising,

and where loud

point,
cries and

the sparkling of blades and flashing of pistols indicated

some extraordinary occurrence.
Suddenly the multi.

Napier.

" tude became

violently agitated ; an English shout pealed
"
high and clear ; the mass was rent asunder, and Norman
"
Kamsay burst forth, sword in hand, at the head of his
"
stretched like
his
horses,

troop,

breathing

grey-

fire,

" hounds
along the plain the guns bounded behind them
"
like things of no weight, and the mounted gunners followed
"
close, with heads bent low, and pointed weapons, in
"
desperate career." Between the crawling peasant-driven
;

team on Woolwich parade, and this glowing description of

a Horse Artillery battery but a very few years later, there
is a contrast, which shows at a glance the immense stride
in the direction of mobility, which had followed the introduction of that branch of the Kegiment to whose story this
chapter is devoted. Much of this improvement was due to
the fostering care of the Master-General, and of the DeputyAdjutant-General, afterwards Sir John Macleod much also
;

encouragement of General Officers, who found

to their amazement a force of Artillery, which could conform
and not a little was due to
to their most rapid movements

was due

to the

the practical school of experience opened in the Peninsula ;

but, to their honour be it stated, the rapid progress towards

standard of perfection attained by the Eoyal Horse

Artillery was mainly due to the labours and the devotion of
the

the officers belonging to it, who were inspired by the same

conscientious regard for their duties, as
esprit and the same

have continued to animate the

officers of that brilliant

arm

to this day.

While the Committee, appointed to decide the question of

Horse Artillery in connection with our service, was
according to wont babbling harmlessly and fruitlessly in
the fourth year of

its existence, a virtual

rupture took place

The Duke of Eichmond,

between England and France.
then Master-General, immediately took the matter himself
D
VOL. II.

34

Royal Horse Artillery.

CHAP.

II.

in hand ; and of three schemes, very dissimilar, over which

the Committee had been debating, he selected the following,
as the basis of the organization of a troop of Eoyal Horse
Artillery.

CHAP.

ii.

Formation of A,

B,C

&D

Troops.

35

other troops subsequently formed

great care was taken to

none
but
officers of well-known ability.
This fact,
appoint
combined with the permission given to the Horse Artillery
to select the best recruits joining

immediate

effect of

as a corps d' elite

causing the
as,

the Regiment, had the

to be looked on

new branch

indeed, was the case in every other

country in Europe, except Austria.

Whether

this has proved

a benefit, or otherwise, to the corps, will hereafter be considered.

The esprit generally to be found in a corps d 'elite

was fanned by other and minor considerations. It must be

remembered that the gunners of Field Artillery other than
Horse Artillery, and of Garrison Artillery, were, and still are,
But in the Horse Artillery " the men were
interchangeable.
"
magnificently dressed, they were amply paid, and they
"
were not haunted by the constant dread of being suddenly
"
and forcibly torn from the Field Artillery service, which
"
they loved, and thrust into the Garrison Artillery service,
"
which was strange to them." Only 4 guns per troop were
granted at first and the establishment consisted, in addition
to the officers, of 8 non-commissioned officers, 49 gunners,
and 35 drivers. On the formation of C and D Troops, on

Hime.

November, 1793, the armament of each troop was raised

to 6 guns, and the establishment per troop was 14 non1st

commissioned

The

officers,

85 gunners, 45 drivers, and 187 horses.

appointed to command the new troops were,

E. Howorth, afterwards Sir E. Howorth, who subsequently
commanded the Artillery at Talavera, Busaco, and Fuentes
officers

d'Onor, and J. M. Hadden, who afterwards became SurveyorGeneral of the Ordnance.

The reader will continue to

observe the selection always made of able officers to command

the troops of Horse Artillery. In 1794, E and F Troops
were formed, and the command given respectively to Captain

W. Cuppage, an

officer who afterwards held for twenty-six

the
years
appointment of Inspector of the Royal Carriage

Department, and to Captain J. Butler, an officer who afterwards became Lieutenant-Governor of the Royal Military
College at Sandhurst.
In 1794, the number of guns per troop was augmented to
D 2

R. H. A.

Records

Royal Horse Artillery.

36

CHAP. n.

this remained the establishment until 1804, in which

the
numher was reduced to 6 at which it continued
year
In 1794,
until the reductions after the hattle of Waterloo.

and

the number of guns was raised to 8, the following

was the establishment 15 non-commissioned officers, 97
gunners, 71 drivers, 246 horses per troop. This was reduced
in the following year very considerably, and became 15 noncommissioned officers, 85 gunners, 51 drivers, and 170 horses.
The next variation in the establishment was caused by the
formation, in Ireland, of G- Troop, from detachments serving
The command of the new troop was given
in that country.

when

afterwards Sir G. B. Fisher, an officer who in

1827 was appointed Commandant of Woolwich. For two years

to Captain

after the formation of

Troop, the establishment of the

troops was as follows 8 guns, 16 non-commissioned officers,

96 gunners, 58 drivers, and 190 horses. An augmentation
of 1 non-commissioned officer and 1 gunner per troop took
:

place in 1803.
In 1804, the

number

of

guns per troop having being reduced to 6,

Troop was formed at Woolwich, and the command given to Captain A. Macdonald, a smart officer, who
subsequently had the good fortune to command the Horse

On the reArtillery of the Cavalry Division at Waterloo.

duction to 6 guns, the strength of each troop was, 14 nonofficers, 75 gunners, 46 drivers, and 142 horses.
In 1805, an augmentation of four troops took place I, K,
and the commands were given respectively to
L, and

commissioned

W.

Millar, an officer who subsequently became Inof

Artillery, and Director-General of the Field Train
spector

Captain

to Captain C. Godfrey, an officer who went on

;
half-pay a few years later, in 1811 to Captain N. Foy, who
died in 1817 and to Captain the Hon W. H. Gardner, who

Department

died as a Colonel-Commandant in 1856.

For the few years following this augmentation, the establishment remained virtually the same; but, in January
1813, 194 officers, non-commissioned officers, and men were
added to act as Rocket Detachments, and also as a depot to
supply the troops on service. A depot for the Royal Horse

CHAP.

IT.

st

and ind Rocket

Troops.

37

Artillery has existed under various names, and in somewhat

chequered circumstances. It] commenced as stated above
in

1813

it

existed

for

Adjutant's Detachment

many

years in the form of an

it was trans-

Woolwich in 1859
on a somewhat larger
at

ferred to Canterbury ;
scale it was
transferred to Maidstone after the amalgamation of the Royal
and Indian Artilleries ; for a short time subsequently, the

Horse Artillery Batteries at home acted as a depot for those

serving abroad ; and, at the date of the publication of this
work, the last-mentioned arrangement is supplemented by
the existence of two Horse Artillery Batteries in the general
depot for the Eegiment.

In 1814, the various Eocket Detachments were combined,

those at home becoming the 1st, and those abroad the 2nd,

Eocket Troop. The officers appointed to command these

were Captain W. Gr. Elliott, an officer who retired from the
Eegiment in 1828, and Captain afterwards Sir E. C. Whinyates, an officer whose ability, zeal, and services have hardly
been surpassed in the Eegiment. He ultimately after a
long and active care'er became Commandant of Woolwich,

where his kindly manners were long remembered. He comat Waterloo, where he was severely

manded the Eocket Troop

wounded.

the many heart-breaking reductions which exasthe

Artillery student, perhaps none are more disperate
than
the reduction of the 2nd Eocket Troop in 1816.
tressing,

Among

The 1st RocJcet Troop had never been out of England ; the 2nd
had done good service at Leipsic and Waterloo. Neither of
them had had a long existence but one had had a stirring,
On the 16th May, 1815, the following
glorious history.
" His
order had been issued
Eoyal Highness the Prince
"
Eegent, in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, has
;

" been
pleased to command that the Rocket Troop of Eoyal
"
at the Battle of Leipsic, be
Artillery, which was present
per"
mitted to wear the word Leipsic on their appointments,
"
in commemoration of their services on that occasion." And
'

'

to the

same troop the reward

at the Battle of Waterloo.

given to those who had been

when the pruning-knife came

fell,

Yet,

CHAP. n.

Royal Horse Artillery.

38

to be used, the troop which had earned these honours was

selected for reduction ; and, as if adding insult to injury,

came actually to be worn by the surservice at all

viving troop, which had never been on active
On its reduction, the officers of the 2nd Eocket Troop were
'

the word

Leipsic

transferred to the Corps of Koyal Artillery Drivers.

Up to this point, we have traced the growth, numerically,
Horse Artillery. The conclusion of hostilities
of the

Koyal
Waterloo led to very extensive reductions. In 1816,
besides the 2nd Kocket Troop, D, K, L, and
Troops were
of
the
designation in the
reduced, with
consequent changes
after

Vide vol.
p 394
*

f.

From

a total, of all ranks, amounting to

2675, in 1815, and 2621 horses, the Horse Artillery fell in
Of the six troops in
1816 to 1181 men and 959 horses.

surviving troops.

Army of Occupation, the following was the

establishment per troop, each troop having 6 guns
5 officers, 14 non-commissioned officers, 85 gunners, 56

France with the

168 horses.
troops on home service were allowed only 4 guns, and
an establishment of 5 officers, 11 non-commissioned officers,
drivers,

The

56 gunners, 24 drivers, 102 horses.

was merely a beginning. In 1819, B and Gr

Troops were reduced; the troops in France were brought
on the Home Establishment, and the number of guns per
The strength was then 5 officers, 10
troop reduced to 2.
non-commissioned officers, 47 gunners, 18 drivers, 36 horses,
per troop and the total strength of the Koyal Horse Artil1
lery did not exceed 616 of all ranks, and 317 horses.
At this miserable establishment the troops remained for
some years. In 1828, the two troops on service in Ireland
were raised to 4 guns, and remained so the relieving troops
taking over 2 guns, and a suitable proportion of men, from

But

this

those they relieved.

In 1848, all the troops were raised to
4 guns, with the required increase of men and horses and
;

The Duke of Wellington, being at this time Master-General of the

Ordnance, invariably selected the artillery for reductions rather than the
1

cavalry and infantry.

CHAP.

A ugmentations.

II.

39

this lasted until 1852, when each troop was raised to 6 guns,
the present establishment.
In 1847, the Eocket Troop became I Troop and rocket
:

1
carriages were added to the equipment of the whole.
The 4-gun Troops in Ireland had 2 ammunition waggons, Communiby
1 forge and 1 store waggon.
On the augmentation to 6 cated
Sir

D. E.

guns in 1852, there were allowed to each troop 6 waggons,

1 forge and 1 store waggon, and 1 captain's cart.
The augmentations after 1847 were due to " the foresight
"
and determination of Lord Hardinge, who was one of the

Wood.

Sir E. C.

Warde.

"

best friends the Corps ever had, being utterly without

jealousy, and fully appreciating the value of an efficient, Reports to
"
and of sufficient, artillery." But he was warmly aided by House of

"

Commons,

one within the Corps, whose motives were as single as his

arguments were sound, whose voice was ever ready to plead
for the corps in which he had spent a long, pure, and illustrious

Kobert Gardiner.

Sir

to these

Owing
augmen42 guns of Horse Artillery were available for service
and the total strength of the Brigade
in the field in 1854
stood at 1175 of all ranks, and 1054 horses.
life,

and to Lord
Pa'nmure,

by Sir R.
Gardiner,
in 1 848,
1849, and
1856.

tations,

The following was the establishment

of a troop of

R. H. A.
Records.

Horse Communi-

cated by
Artillery when sent on active service to the Crimea in the Sir D. E.
Wood,
Spring of 1854
:

K.C.B.,
Officers

N.-C. Officers

Gunners
Drivers

Equipment

15

80
77

6-pr.

12-pr. howitzers

6-pr. rocket carriage

Forge

Shoeing smiths

Store-limber

Collar-makers

Store cart

Spare gun carriage

Wheelers

Horses

Officers

Troop

waggon
.

12

192

204

Total

Colonel
G. T. Field
R.A.

ammunition waggons

Trumpeters
Farriers

Captain
Gordon,
C.B., and

Light 6-prs
12-pr. howitzers

These were withdrawn about 1861.

(not horsed).

Royal Horse Artillery.

CHAP.

II.

the 29th November, 1855, the following was laid down

as the detail of a troop of Horse Artillery with the army in

On

the Crimea
Officers

20

N.-C. Officers

Gunners
Drivers

4 9-pr. guns.
2 24-pr. howitzers.

Equipment

97
123

6 gun ammunition waggons.

5 howitzer waggons.

Trumpeters.

store-limber waggon.

Total

247

spare

gun

carriage.

forge.

rocket carriage.
.

Shoeing smiths

Collar-makers

Farriers

store cart.

medicine

Wheelers
Total

Total

259

..

cart.

2 forge waggons.
3 water carts.
.

28 carriages.

No. of Horses.

Riding

92
180

272

Draught
Total

Of the troops which had been reduced after Waterloo, B was

reformed as a reserve half troop in 1855, and completed in the
following year and Gr and K Troops were reformed in 1857.
:

The highest point reached between the reductions

after

Waterloo, and the year 1857, was in February 1856, when

the total of all ranks reached 1950, and the number of horses

The amalgamation of the Eoyal with the Indian

brought the strength of Eoyal Horse Artillery
available for service to an unprecedented standard at the

was 1370.

Artilleries

present moment

there are in the regiment thirty-one service

and two depot Horse Artillery Batteries. But this chapter
relates solely to the old Eoyal Horse Artillery.

As yet the numerical

tillery

variations in the Eoyal Horse ArBut there are many other

have alone been treated.

mainly of interior economy, which will doubtless be

interesting to the modern representatives of the arm, and
details,

which may here be

briefly stated.

CHAP.

At

Precedence of Royal Horse Artillery.

ii.

41

was directed that recruits might be taken who

6 J inches in height but before six months had

first, it

were 5

feet

the
passed, the standard was raised, at the urgent request of
There was often difficulty in
Captains, to 5 feet 8 inches.

Maj.-Gen
r

fh e

of Rich-

obtaining a sufficient number of suitable recruits, and even

when the troops were complete, it was customary to attach
to each, when in the field, a few of the Driver Corps, with
additional horses or mules.

the

first

to

the

officers,

Extra pay was granted from

non-commissioned officers, and

Lefroy.

gunners of Horse Artillery.

The exact relative status of the new branch of the service

was speedily settled. On 21st February, 1797, the Board of
Ordnance granted the same allowance for forage to the offiand so early had
cers, as was allowed to officers of Cavalry
it been decided that the Horse Artillery should take the
;

right of all Cavalry, that, as will be seen by the following

letter, the Master-General would not in 1804 allow the

point to be disputed.
"

"

Woolwich, June

9,

1804.

DEAR COLONEL,

"
I submitted to the Master General your letter of D. A. Gen.
" the 5th
instant, relating to a conversation which took Colonel
"
General Sir David Dundas, when the Horse Cu PP a g e
with
place
"
Artillery marched past with the Cavalry, on the King's
"
birthday, in which Sir David, though the Horse Artillery
-

"
"

then led, expressed doubts as to the precedence

the Horse Artillery on such future occasions.
"
not

Lord Chatham

and rank of

being aware upon what circumstances

and not considering the

"

Sir David's doubts have arisen,

"

communication from you in any other light than as a wish

"

to

know how

far, as

" are
justifiable in
"
"

"

"

commanding officer of Artillery, you

making a claim to the right for the Horse

Artillery when paraded with Cavalry, his Lordship has

desired me simply to say that he considers the privilege so

well established by practice, as well as opinion, that he

is

unwilling to suppose it can be disputed.

"
His Majesty has never seen the Horse Artillery in any

Royal Horse Artillery.

42
"

CHAP. n.

they were encamped on the right of all the

and in all parades of
the
Cavalry (of
Blues) at Windsor
"
the
on
and
honour, placed
right of the Cavalry.
ceremony
"
dear
I am,
Colonel,
"
Your obedient Servant,
"
other place

"

J.

MACLEOD."

Both by custom and regulation this precedence continued

to the Koyal Horse Artillery until July 1869,
when it was ordered that the Household Cavalry, when the

to belong

Sovereign, should le present, should have the precedence

awarded to a body guard.
It was laid down as a rule, that no officer should be appointed to the Horse Brigade, who had not been on foreign
but as this rule was occasionally broken, it was
service
decided in July 1805 that any officers who had been appointed to the Horse Artillery, prior to having been on
:

"
foreign service, should
(to avoid any officers being confined
"
to one species of duty) be liable after three or four years'
"
service in the Horse Brigade to be exchanged again into
" the
Battalions, so that they may take their share of duty on
"
foreign service, and obtain that experience which is neces"
sary to an Artillery officer, as he advances in the Kegiment."
For the information of the general reader it should here be
stated, that prior to 1861,

when

the amalgamation of the

Imperial and East India Company's armies took place, the
Koyal Horse Artillery never went abroad except on active
Since 1861, however, India has opened a field of
foreign service for this branch of the Eegiment and fifteen
batteries of service Horse Artillery are to be found in that
service.

General
rd rS

R H A
Records,

Notefof
Genevai

Ud

country, against sixteen at home.

The changes in the dress of the Horse Artillery may be
a
ere ^- fr
the following statistics.
An order dated
S

November, 1806, lays down the following rules for the

"
f officers
Except at dress parades the blue Kegimental overalls are to be worn till dinner-time in place of
"
the blue pantaloons, which is to be the afternoon dress
"
when at home. At all parades, whether mounted or dis1st

dress
"

CHAP.

II.

Changes in Dress.

43

"

mounted, and during the day, the black velvet stock is to

be worn, with an inch of shirt collar over it
no other
"
white to be shown. In the evenings, it is requested that
"

"

black silk handkerchiefs

"

may

be substituted with the same

When officers are

proportion of shirt collar over them.
" dressed for
a ball, evening party, or dine out, they are to
"
wear the jacket open, white pantaloons, plain white waist"
coat (with sash over it), light sword, regulation sword"
In common
knot, black belt, with cocked-hat and feather.
"
a white leather sword-knot is to be worn.
Spurs with
" horizontal
rowels to be worn at all times."
Prior to 1812, gaiters and knee-boots had been worn but
on the 14th January in that year his Royal Highness the
Prince Eegent issued the following order
"
The officers of the Eoyal Horse Artillery are to wear
"
In
jackets similar to the private men, with an aiguillette.
"
parade dress, they are to wear white leather pantaloons,
"
and Hussar boots, with gold binding. On ordinary duties
"or on march, they are to wear overalls of a colour similar
:

"

to the private men's, and a short surtout, which is calculated

" to
be worn likewise as a pelisse on service. When attend"
ing a drawing-room or levee, they may appear in long
"
coats, with lappels and aiguillettes, the same as are worn
"
with the jacket, but without lace on the seams or in the
"
Eegimental jacket, as they may prefer. The officers of the
"
Horse Artillery are likewise to wear cocked-hats, with
"
the star loop, with their dress regimentals."
:

By General Order of 5th August, 1823, leather pantaloons

and Hessian boots were abolished, blue-grey overalls and
Wellington boots being substituted.
By General Order of 22nd December, 1827, helmets were
abolished, and chakos with ta.ssels substituted.

1827

By General Order of 15th March, 1831, drivers' jackets

were assimilated to those of the gunners.
By General Order of 20th December, 1831, steel spurs for
officers were abolished, and brass spurs substituted.

issi

General Order of 26th May, 1834, cross-belts were

abolished, and waist-belts substituted.

1834

By

1831

Royal Horse Artillery.

44
1837.

CHAP.

The

In 1837 bearskin busbies were substituted for chakos.

plumes were altered in 1839.
Sealskin

1853.

The

were substituted for bearskin.

busbies

1 1.

officers, however, continued to wear the bearskin until 1855,

when the sable busby was adopted. The plume was shortened

from 12 to 8 inches.
1854.

1855a

The
The

was abolished in this year.

full-dress jacket was altered by reducing the amount
of lace.
cross-belt of gold lace with pouch was instituted
officers' pelisse

as also a plain blue stable-jacket in place of

;
the undress frock-coat and red embroidered waistcoat.

for the officers

In this year booted leather overalls were instituted and

steel spurs for all ranks were substituted for the

1857.

swan-neck

brass spurs of the officers, and the straight steel spurs of the

men.

A
the

more important thing, however, than the dress has been

armament of the Eoyal Horse Artillery. Its greatest

deeds have been wrought with the 6-pounder but that was
not its invariable weapon. Talking merely of the pre- amal;

the days which belong to history instead of

gamation days

ordnance was unknown in Horse Artillery

there were even then not unfrequent changes of armament.

to-day,

One

when

rifled

troop, as

we shall see hereafter, went on service with

on the eve of Waterloo, owing to the want of

12-pounders
guns of position, three troops received 9-pounders, instead
of the 6-pounders which they had brought from England ;
and coming to later days, at the commencement of the
Crimean War, the two troops, C and I, which first left
England were armed with 6-pounders but, on reaching
;

ordered to exchange them for 9-pounders ;

and I Troop would have been left behind, for inability to do
the same, had it not been that Lord Kaglan yielded to the

Yarna,

C Troop was

urgent entreaties of
it

its

commander, Colonel Maude,

accompany the expedition.

During the Peninsular Campaign, the

to allow

to

was

as follows

I. e.

9-pounders,

or 2

armament

of a troop

heavy 6-pounders

Amalgamation of Roval and Indian

Artilleries.

CHAP.

Armament of Royal Horse

ii.

Artillery.

45

1 heavy
5J-inch howitzer 3 light 6-pounders 6 ammunition
waggons 3 reserve waggons, and 4 other carriages. Compared with the simplicity of modern Horse Artillery armament, the presence of three different guns in the same troop,
;

Lefroy.

with the consequent necessity of a variety of ammunition,

seems a very complicated and undesirable arrangement.
This was frequently felt at the time and at the change of
;

armament made before Waterloo, a foreshadowing of the

*modern harmony of weapons might be detected in the arming
Bull's
with 5^-inch howitzers only. And right
noble was the service done by that troop on the 18th of June.
During the season of starvation between 1819 and 1848,
the guns attached to the skeleton troops were 6-pounders.

of I Troop

With

the augmentations, a proportion of howitzers

made

its

re-appearance.

The proper armament

for

Horse Artillery, in the days

before the substitution of rifled ordnance put an end to the

discussion, was exhaustively treated by Sir Eobert Gardiner.

His arguments are interesting even at the present day, when

the perfection of Field Batteries, and their ability to carry
more gunners into action by means of the new-pattern
carriage, have combined to make not a few question the
necessity of so expensive an arm as Horse Artillery being
If we substitute the 9-pounder rifled gun for the
retained.

old 6-pounder, and the 16-pounder for the old 9-pounder, in

Sir Robert's remarks, we shall find his arguments as appli"
cable to the later as to the former controversy.
There can Report on
"
be no greater mistake than to put rivalry or comparisons, i er y by
"
"
r
or to expect the same results from the employment
of Horse ?! R> Gar
v
*

"
"
"
"
"

diner,

Field) Artillery.
Though one 31 Mar.
li
the same arm, they are equipped and intended for

Artillery as of Brigade

and

(i.

e.

totally distinct purposes. The necessary quick movements

of the Horse Artillery could not be attained by 9-pounders ;

the telling effect of 9-pounders could not be expected from

Horse Artillery. One is intended to act with Cavalry, and,
"
from the nature of its equipment and the lightness of its
"
metal, is expected to maintain at all times, and under all
"
circumstances, of bad roads, of rough, hilly, or broken

"

CHAP. n.

Royal Horse Artillery.

46
"

ground, the same pace as Cavalry and, in short, to bring

can act
artillery into action wherever Cavalry
" I can name two instances in
which, while acting with
;

"

"
cavalry,

any other than Horse Artillery would have been

"

One, the affair of Morales, in Spain ;

perfectly useless.
" the
other, the movement from Quatre Bras to the position
" of Waterloo.
Both were specially movements of Horse
"
tried the wind and speed of our horses.
both
and
Artillery,
" In the latter movement
cross
a
particularly, through

"

deep

differently equipped would have

11
hands of the enemy. In all light
into
the
fallen
inevitably
" movements of the
Infantry of an army, Horse Artillery is

country,

any Artillery

" as
indispensably necessary and as exclusively effective, as
"it is with cavalry. I have myself, in cases of reconnois"
for the
been withdrawn from the
sance,

"
"

to cover

movements

no part

moment,
Cavalry
which heavier Artillery could bear
On the other hand, if Horse Artillery

in

"

has its distinct advantages over heavier guns, so likewise

" the latter have their distinct
purposes, for which the
"
of
Horse
Artillery would be wholly inapemployment
"
I have known Briand
inadequate.
plicable

....

"

gade Artillery as perfect, in its way, as

Horse Artillery

"

but no more comparison can be drawn between them than

" between
Cavalry and Infantry."

Then

follows a remark, which shows

how

the writer anti-

cipated the changes which have come, and which have done
"
Our present
so much to improve our Field Artillery
"
Brigades would be greatly advanced in efficiency if, like
"
the Horse Artillery, of the Brigades with the Duke of
"
Wellington's army in the Peninsula, they were placed
" under the command and the
responsibility of their captains.
"
be
to become effective Field
should
:

They

"

also,

Artillery,

placed on the same footing as the Horse Artillery, for their

"
contingent share in all garrison and general duties. They
"
should march to and from the outposts in relief in the same
"
manner as the Horse Artillery ; they should combine, like
" the Horse
Artillery, the knowledge of the duties of Cavalry
"
with those of Artillery. They would thus gradually attain

CHAP.

Progress of Field Artillery.

II.

47

" that
perfection in their own distinctive service, which I
believe to be unequalled in the few skeleton troops we
"
possess of Horse Artillery."
At the time these words were penned, Field Artillery had
"

reached a point of degradation which had hardly been surOf the six
passed even in the old days of peasant drivers.
batteries or brigades nominally at Woolwich, two existed on
"
Two others," wrote
paper, having neither men nor horses.
"
are so little advanced in their necessary
Sir E. Gardiner,
"
drill and training as to be quite non-effective for the pur"
poses of service, or even the common movements of parade
" and
review. Two only might possibly move without causing
"
interruption or confusion to other troops they might be
"
acting with ; but that is as much as can be said of them.
"
The riding and driving of our Brigade drivers

....

moment very bad. With the exception of the

in Dublin, where they have occasional
stationed
Brigades
"
of
moving with other troops, they are unopportunities
"
and
skilful,
ignorant of Artillery movements at Woolwich
"
are
they
employed in carter's work in the civil departments
"
of the Arsenal and, of course, as long as such a system is
"
pursued they can never become Artillery drivers.
"
The Brigades in Ireland are more efficient, and fitted to
"is at

this

"

"

move with other

" But
"

it

troops, than the Brigades in England.

is a delusion to say that England has a Field

There is not a single 9-pounder horsed in the

Artillery.
"
an astounding fact. Nor will it be believed,
British service
"
"

except by those who know the truth, that the English

army has been for years without Artillery attached either

"
to^

"

Cavalry or Infantry, for the

common

purposes of

drill

and exercise in their combined movements."

The progress

may

of Field Artillery to its present excellence

Already, before 1856, the

be said to date from 1848.

Light Field Artillery had regained what it had lost during

the economical era which followed Waterloo and since 1859,
when the new brigade system put an end to the incessant
;

change of batteries from field to garrison service, the proBut this progress would have
gress has been continuous.
been impossible had it not been that a standard of Field

sir R. Gar-

diner

'

Royal Horse Artillery.

48

CHAP. n.

Artillery excellence had been maintained, even under the

most adverse and depressing circumstances, by those un-

equalled skeleton troops of Horse Artillery, whose officers

have, by their influence and exertions, done so much to make
what may be called medium Field Artillery the admirable
service

which

it

now

It has

is.

been said that the influence

of the Horse Artillery, during the period between 1816 and

1848, was injurious to the Field Batteries. If it were so, it

was in the most indirect manner

possible.

Economy

in our

military administration being peremptorily demanded, the

only alternative left to the Board of Ordnance was between
a very small force of admirable Field Artillery, and a larger
force of batteries starved in equipment and incapable of
The officers of the Kegiment, whose
service in the field.
position entitled

them

to be the advisers of the Board,

were

men whose sympathies

lay with the Horse

had
all
in
served
but they were also
which
;
Artillery,
they
men who had seen, during the campaigns in the Peninsula,

undoubtedly

Belgium, and France, what was possible with a well-equipped

Field Artillery of less mobility. In deciding on a small but
perfect force, rather than a larger and indifferent one, it
must be admitted that they acted wisely.
The brilliant
Field Artillery of the great war would have otherwise be-

come

mere

under the system adopted,

and a standard. The adoption
of the other alternative would have vitally injured the
Horse, without much benefit to the Field Artillery and it
would have rendered the reorganisation of both a more diffiThat the Field Artillery
cult, and a more tardy operation.
it

remained a

tradition, whereas,
reality, a model,

suffered terribly during the period mentioned, is too true ;

but dispassionate study of the Regimental history proves, not

what has often been

asserted, that the suffering was due to the

of
influence
a corps d'elite, but merely to an unwise,
blighting
an unprofitable, and a singularly short-sighted economy. 1
1
It is but just to say, that much that is good in the care of the horses
in the Koyal Artillery in the field comes traditionally from the Horse
Artillery attached to the German Hussars in the Peninsula: and the

was

first

from Hanover by George

III.

riding of the Corps

taught by a

German riding-master brought

Communicated by Sir

]).

E. Wood.

CHAP.

Corps d* Elite.

ir.

49

A much

larger question arises when the policy of a corps

as a part of a larger body on which it feeds, has to be
considered.
No subject has been so fruitful of discussion in
the Eegiment ; and nowhere can a decision be more safely
d'elite,

arrived at than in a careful study of the Eegimental history.

There are strong arguments in favour of, and also against, the
policy which has existed since the formation of the Koyal

Horse Artillery; and the best way of arriving at a conclusion is to state these arguments, and to weigh their
respective values.
It has been said that the existence of a corps ft elite produces " Fenervation de la masse au profit des groupes." In Trochu.
"
The more ruth- Hime.
stronger language it has also been said
:

"

carried out, the more

system
"
do
the
from
amongst whom the selection is
troops
rapidly
" made lose their
self-respect and become at first apathetic,
" and at last inefficient.
The corps d'etite, the insatiable
"
must
degenerate in precisely the same degree as
parasite,
lessly the

of selection

is

" the
body which feeds it and the end is, that in the lapse
of a few years the whole edifice crumbles, totters, and
"
the
that killed it must
When the oak
;

"

falls.

"

falls,

ivy

fall too."

But those who apply such language

to the existence, in

the Koyal Artillery, of a corps $ elite such as the Koyal Horse

Artillery, forget several important considerations which dis-

from such a corps as the French Chasseurs a pied,

was said that everything that was good, everythat
was
efficient, everything that was soldierlike in
thing
the Infantry of the Line was seized upon with unsparing
hands, and remorselessly drafted into it. In the first place,
tinguish

of

which

it

it

the selection for this branch of the Kegiment is only made

The field battery which
for the purpose of officering it.
rejoices in

smart non-commissioned

officers

and men

is

in

no

dread of losing them to feed a favoured corps. From the

day a recruit joins the Horse Artillery, his efficiency and his
education depend on the officers of that arm ; and therefore
to them is the credit due if their efforts are successful.

There have been occasions when the Horse Artillery was

E
II.

VOL.

Royal Horse Artillery.

50

CHAP. n.

permitted to select from the recruits of the other battalions;

but these days have passed away. No service battery of
Field or Garrison Artillery has to minister to the wants of

our corps d'elite, and therefore the language employed in

another place by the able author quoted above, in reference
to the Guards, the Infantry corps d? elite in our service, is more
applicable than that used by him in reference to our Field
" The
recruits are selected with care ; but they
Artillery
"
are selected from society at large, not from regiments of the
" Line and the result is that this noble
;
body of men, the
"
are
a
source
of
wholesome
Guards,
emulation, instead of
:

" contentious
rivalry, to the rest of the army."
The whole question, therefore, may be condensed into one
the wisdom

point

or

otherwise of

officering

the Horse

Such petty conArtillery from the Kegiment at large.

siderations as higher pay, special privileges, &c., which are
apt to embitter the minds of some, must be put aside as
unworthy. In a question affecting not merely the Kegiment,

but our whole military

life as well,

we cannot be

too careful

in clearing the ground of all but the purest argument.

opposers of the existing system have always been

The
able

argue with great force, because there are undoubted

anomalies which can easily be described in such a way as to
to

appear ludicrous. As selection for employment in the Horse

Brigade has always been conditional on previous zeal and

reward for activity and knowin

the
it may be, Siege and Garrison
of,
ledge
performance
is
often
Artillery duties,
employment in a service totally dissimilar.
This may be compared with rewarding an Infantry
efficiency, it follows that the

by giving him a troop of

while
the
Yet,
anomaly, it is impossible
admitting
to suggest a better test, if both branches of the Eegiment

officer for skill in battalion drill,

Horse

are to be officered from the same

list.

The only

test of

effi-

It
ciency which can be trusted is efficiency already proved.
must be believed that a man who has been faithful and
zealous in one line of duty will display the same zeal and
conscience in another and if selection has to be made,
if
;

there are

many

candidates for any employment, their pre-

CHAP.

Esprit de Corps.

II.

vious history, even under very different circumstances, is the

best witness for or against them.
But another argument employed against the existing

system

is,

that an

officer,

who has once

served in the more

with reluctance, on promotion, to

restless and dissatisfied until he is re-

brilliant branch, returns

the others, and

is

In other words, that esprit for the particular

appointed.
branch drowns that for the Kegiment. History is the best
witness here.

Excluding the many living men, who have proved that

Horse Artillery service has not affected their Kegimental
esprit de corps, let us recall the names of the men who have
been most distinguished for professional talent of every
description since the formation of the Eoyal Horse Artillery.
Sir John Macleod, Sir Augustus Frazer, Sir Alexander
Dickson, Sir John May, Sir Eobert Gardiner, and Sir E.
C. Whinyates, all served in the Horse Artillery, but never
allowed themselves to be blinded, by their love of that service,
to the interests of the Kegiment at large.
Their letters,
>

their very lives, are witnesses of their devotion to the whole

Corps ; and while serving with the Siege or Garrison
Artillery, their performance of duty was inspired by the
same zeal as when serving in what may be called the more

attractive

branch.

They

all

saw and

felt

that

the less

that Garrison Artillery was

the backbone of the Regiment, and that, under favourable

showy was the more

circumstances,

mounted

it

batteries.

scientific,

would

dwarf,

even in popularity, the

The Peninsular and Waterloo campaigns

were conducive to the efficiency and popularity of Horse

Artillery but let Siege Artillery have as many years of such
service as it went through at Sebastopol, with the mounted
batteries acting merely as carriers of ammunition, and its
efficiency and popularity would be quite as great.
;

History therefore does not support the theory that service

in the

Horse Brigade injures the capacity, or the esprit de

an officer who returns to the other branches. The

corps, of

question at issue therefore condenses itself into a still narrower field; viz., admitting that the present system does not

E 2

Royal Horse Artillery.

52,

CHAP. n.

prevent Artillery officers from being generally efficient, would

they not be much more efficient if they belonged to Field
or Garrison Artillery during their whole career, without the

power of interchanging their services? If ability in field

battery service were rewarded by appointment to the Horse
Artillery, and skill in Garrison Artillery service were
rewarded, either by special employment or by appointment
to some such corps as was recommended by Sir Kobert

Gardiner an Artillery of the Guard would we not have

better officers of each branch than we now have ? Logically,
there can be but one answer; and were this the only conargument would terminate in favour of a

sideration, the

separation of the officers of the various arms, similar to that

already existing between the non-commissioned officers and

men.

We

should then have probably more skilled artil-

lerists, in point of number, in each branch ; although perhaps

no individual more skilled than those who have appeared

under, or in spite
hitherto existed.

of,

the

anomalous system which has

But would the Kegiment in the end be a gainer by the

change ? Has not the system of interchange been the best
school possible for familiarising the Artillery officer with the
duties and movements of other arms, and thus qualifying

him
Foy.

for

commands

in the field ?

General Foy, in writing

of the days when such a thing as a command being given to

a General of Artillery was unknown, owing to jealousy of the

Ordnance, said: "On a trop en horreur les avancements hors

"
de la regie pour permettre qu'un artilleur qui se trouverait
"
trop a 1'etroit dans son arme s'elanpat dans le service
"
Jamais de 1'ecole de Woolwieh ne
general de la ligne.
" sortira un
Bonaparte." The days of the Ordnance have

passed away public opinion points more surely every day tothe employment of Generals who are not merely soldiers,
:

but

scientific

soldiers as well;

policy which would

and

it

would be a suicidal

recommend

a change which, if carried out

logically, would inevitably result in the certain production of
admirable officers of high but narrow professional training,

and in the

impossibility of procuring

any whose experience of

CHAP.

ii.

Notes on Pay^ and on

the Style

of Horse. 53

general service would qualify them for a mixed command. The

Garrison Artilleryman who in his battery had attained a skill
in his particular groove, hitherto but rare, would feel
every
day his association with the other arms getting less, and his

consequent inability to command them getting greater. If

this consideration be carefully borne in mind, even those

who

most strongly on the subject and they are many

hesitate
ere they precipitate a result which would
will
inscribe on the walls of the Academy the dismal prediction,
"
Jamais de Fecole de Woolwich ne sortira un Bonaparte."
feel

Note.

The

extra rate of pay to non-commissioned officers and gunners

of the Royal Horse Artillery is based on the following General Order,

dated 21 January, 1793

"
The Master-General directs that an allowance of twopence per day, in
" addition to
their Regimental pay, shall be made to each non-com" missioned officer and
gunner of the Brigade of Horse Artillery, when
" and so
long as he continues mounted, and having the care and manage" ment of an
horse, in consideration of the extraordinary and constant
" attention
required of such persons for the due performance of this par"
ticular service, which must deprive them of the occasional advantages
"
arising from their being employed in works for which additional pay is
:

" The dismounted

non-commissioned officers and gunners of this

Brigade not being in the same circumstances, nor deprived of their share
" in the
works, will not be entitled to the said allowance nor will the
"
drivers of this Brigade, as they are to be enlisted merely for that
special
"
service, and will have but little of other duties to learn or perform."
Note 2. The style of horse considered suitable for Horse Artillery at
first, may be ascertained from the following instructions, dated Woolwich,
"
March 1810
The horses to be from four to six years old (when bought),
" to be
short-legged, open-chested, and broad- winded ; not to exceed
"
15 hands 2 inches, nor four years old under 15 hands \ inch; to have
"
good bone and action, the colours to be bay, brown, and dark chestnut."
"

The

price allowed, after a month's trial,

was thirty guineas.

54

CHAPTER
WITH THE DUKE
causes of a

province of
Hist. R. A.
1

voMi.
Stephen's

the French
Kevolu-

OF

III.

YORK

IN FLANDEES.

war are to a certain extent beyond the

work which has mainly to deal with

In the present instance, allusion has already

but it is very difficult
;
" From the
to arrive at the exact truth.
guilt and odium
" ^ *^ s
new an ^ disastrous conflict the ruling parties in
" both nations
anxiously endeavoured to vindicate themits

history.

keen ma(ie to the ostensible reason

"

There

selves."

is

no

doubt

that

in

1792

England

war, unless France should renounce

her views of aggression and aggrandisement; or, in other
"
words,
relinquish all her conquests, and confine herself
"
within her own territory."
The answer given by M.

threatened to declare

ibid.

Chauvelin to Lord Grenville, on the 13th January, 1793,

was " We will fight the English, whom we esteem, with
:

"

but we will fight them without fear." Matters

were precipitated by the execution of the French King and
on the 24th January M. Chauvelin received notice to quit
regret

Once again the French atthe

pacify
English Government, but without
They therefore took the initiative declaring war,

England within eight days.

tempted
"^\

success.

to

name of the French Kepublic, against England and

Holland on the 1st February, 1793 and this was followed
on the llth February by a counter-declaration on the part
of England.
On the 17th February the French army took the field, resolved to carry the war into Holland
and speedily captured
and
Breda, Klundert,
Gertruydenberg. The siege of Williamstadt was not so successful and here good service was
rendered by the Royal Artillery on board bomb-vessels. Severe reverses having befallen another French army, employed
in the

CHAP.

Battalion Guns.

III.

elsewhere in the

Low

Countries, the whole of the French

troops were withdrawn from this

Holland.

55

first

expedition against

Space prevents any description of the operations

between the Imperialists and the troops of the Republic

the losses and defeats of the latter under Dumouriez, and
subsequent defection. The movements of the Army
under the Duke of York will be all that it is necessary to

his

study, to ascertain the services of the Corps in this war.

Although the main Artillery force for this expedition did MS.

Corre-

not embark until the 10th May, 1793, Woolwich was much
MaJ or
disquieted after the end of February with incessant demands

guns and the requisite detachments for the

orders for the Low Countries. In no English
under
regiments
war was this pernicious system of battalion guns more systeOccasionally as will be
matically urged and practised.
seen presently the guns were brigaded; and during the

for battalion

to

ordnance.

siege operations, as at Valenciennes, the Artillery did duty

by companies but, as a rule, the guns were attached in pairs
to the different battalions.
Only one waggon accompanied
:

each pair of guns ; and the following was the strength of

the Artillery detachment viz., 1 subaltern, 2 non-commis'

ibid.

8 gunners, 3 drivers, and 9 horses. The faults

of this system have already been alluded to, but are most
sioned

clearly
"

officers,

shown

in the following

words

"
:

To prevent

these

Captain

guns from impeding the movements of the infantry to Himl R"A

" whom
on M they belonged, their weight was reduced to an extent
"
which made their fire under the most favourable circurn- Field ArtllleiT-'
"
stances all but useless. Secondly, as a matter of fact, they
'

" did
"

For, infantry
seriously encumber their infantry.
compelled to drag guns along with them could not be
"
expected to march, even on smooth and level plains, with
"
the same order and rapidity as infantry who marched free
"
from such an encumbrance ; and in a cultivated country,
"
intersected with ditches, hedges, and walls, the guns had to
"
be abandoned altogether. In this latter case they not only
"
failed to fulfil the very object of their existence, but left a
"
gap in the line which, as they were generally placed in
"
the centre of the battalion, might produce fatal conse-

With

56

the

Duke of York

in Flanders.

CHAP. in.

"

quences.
Thirdly, as it was necessary for them to take
part in all the manreuvres of the battalion, the necessary
"
time was not afforded to the gunners for placing, loading,
" or
No guns could have been
laying their guns carefully.
"
effective under this system, which violated both the funda"
mental principles of Field Artillery tactics, viz., that the
"
movements of a battery in action should be minimum in

"

"

should be made at a maximum speed.

their
constant presence with their infantry led
Fourthly,
"
the latter to look upon the guns as necessary to the safety
" of the
battalion, and thus diminished that self-confidence

number, and

"

"
"
"
"
"

"
"
"
"
"

which infantry must possess to be successful. Fifthly,

as these guns were practically useless, not only was the
money spent on their construction wasted, but the regular
columns or trains of Artillery were deprived of a correspending number of guns, which might have been turned
to good account by their own officers.
In fine, this bad
the
weakened
without
system
Artillery
strengthening the
and
raised
a
Infantry,
general prejudice against the use in
the field of what was regarded as a complicated and useless
mechanism."

At the

Duke of York, Major afterwas

Congreve
appointed to command
the Artillery of the expedition.
He embarked in May with
the main body of his force.
A party under the command of
special request of the

wards Sir William

left England earlier in the

spring of
1793, to take part in the siege operations with which the
English share of the campaign commenced. Its strength

Brevet-Major Wright

arid the

Ordnance

names

of the officers were as follows

Brevet-Major Wright, in command.

3 Sergeants, 7 Corporals, 4 Bombardiers.
Lieutenant Thornton,
5 First Gunners, 94 Second Gunners.
Kobe.
2 Drummers,
,,
*enwick.
"

Letter-

Capt.-Lieut. Borthwick.

books and

i st

the 1st
Battalion.

De

Ginkle.

Watson.

2nd Lieutenant

J'ans.

Total of

all

ranks, 123.

Major Wright's Company, which formed the chief part of

CHAP. in.

Artillery Force embarked.

this force,

was No. 2 Company,

1st Battalion,

57

now B Battery,

1st Brigade.

The main

Artillery force, which embarked at

the 10th May, 1793, was as follows

Woolwich on

Major

W.

Congreve, in

command.

W.

Captain Trotter.
Wilson.
,,

Surgeon,

Cnp tain-Lieutenant Broadbridge.

Commissary
audj c tain Williamson.
./
Paymaster
Commissary of Horse, Mr. Ea staff.
Clerk of Stores, Mr. Meek.

Surgeon's Mate, Hearsley.

Cookson.
First Lieutenant Eoberton (Adj.)

Wilson.
,

Conductor of Stores.

Depeyster.

Bentham.

3 Wheelers.
1

Cooper.

Downman,

Carpenter.
3 Smiths.

Foy.

2 Collar-makers.
1 Farrier.

Phillott.

Srrgcants

Corporals

Bombardiers
First Gunners
Second Gunners

114 Military drivers.

84 Horses.

....

Drummers

The

MS

192
3

total of the military branch, exclusive of the drivers,

was 236.
There was

also

an extraordinary addition to a force prowomen and 23

ceeding on active service, in the form of 21

children.

Yet a third detachment left Woolwich for Flanders, on the

26th August, 1793, as follows
:

Major Huddlestone, in command.

11 Non-Commissioned Officers.
Captain Laye.
232 Gunners.
Capt.-Lieut. Boag.
Lieutenant Lawson.
3 Drummers.
4 Waggoners.
Geary.
18 Women and 7 children.
Shrapnel.
,

Beevor.

Lacy.

Mann.
Waller.

Various other

among whom

officers joined the Army during the war,

can be traced Lieutenants Schalch, Lefebnre,

re-

turns to
B. of OrdU

Hooke.

Fead.
Second Lieutenant Kudyerd.
,

Sinyth.

Ibid.

With

58

the Diike

of York in Flanders.

CHAP. in.

The force of Koyal Artillery in

Boger, and Spearman.
Flanders reached its maximum in February 1794, when it
was

as follows

There were

3 Field Officers.

also 224 Gunner-drivers

for

with the Field Brigades, the

Driver Corps having been formed in
1794 for that purpose, the men being

7 Captains.
14 Subalterns.

service

61 Non-Commissioned Officers.

Hitherto,
regularly attested soldiers.
called
the Drivers were
generally

478 Gunners.

Waggoners.

An additional expedition, under Lord Moira, sailed for the

Low Countries during the war and the Artillery portion of
;

the force comprised a field-officer in command the 5th Company of the 4th Battalion now B Battery, 9th Brigade
MS. Returns to

with 110 of

all

ranks, and also 114 sergeant-conductors and

gunner-drivers.

The present designations

to have been with the

Duke

of five of the companies

of York's force are

known

(No. 4 Company, 4th Battalion, which was

also present, has since been reduced.)

Battery, 1st Brigade.

No. 4 Battery, 5th Brigade.

No. 4 Battery, 7th Brigade.
B Battery, 9th Brigade.

The 6th Company, which was with the Army, cannot be

it was
probably No. 7 Battery, 2nd

traced with accuracy, but

'

There were two bomb-vessels, the Terror and

Vesuvius,' which did good service, and on board of which
were Lieutenants Suckling and Eamsay, 2 non-commissioned
officers, 18 gunners, and 2 artificers, of the Koyal Artillery.
'

Brigade.
'

MS. Reto
t^urns

The

total strength of the

O f aii ran k s
follows

was 4857
end of 1794 was as

at this time

Home
,

Stations

Colonial Stations

Total

It will be

6 Troops of Horse Artillery.

.18
.22

....

Holland
Toulon and Corsica

Vol. i.
p. 405.

Eegiment

an(j its distribution at the

Companies.
, ,

.1

.53 Troops and Companies.

remembered that the

first five

companies of a

CHAP. in.

new

Maj. Wright's Compy. of great

Service.

59

Battalion, the 5th Battalion, were raised in this year.

In this estimate of the strength of the Regiment, the Invalid

The companies on colonial
Companies are not included.
included 2 in the East Indies, 7 in Canada, Nova
and
Scotia,
Newfoundland, 9 in the West Indies, and 4 at

service

Gibraltar.

Returning to the war, it may he observed that it was at

the blockade of Conde that the English troops first took the
field, forming part of the Allied Army under the Prince de

The French

Cobourg.
Quievrain

ceived special

suffered reverses

at

Famars and

occasion on which the Artillery remention was on the 8th May, 1793, at St.

but the

first

when the Brigade of Guards was engaged in

support of the Prussians, and contributed greatly to the
The Battalion guns attached to the
success of the day.
Guards on this occasion were of great service, succeeding in

Amand,

silencing the enemy's artillery, and so breaking his infantry

that the charge ultimately made by the Guards was doubly
effective.

The wording

of the letter to the Master-General,

in praise of the conduct of the Artillery on this occasion,

seems to imply that the guns were brigaded, from the fact
of

Major Wright's name being mentioned as in command

"

Tom-nay,

May

10, 1793.

"

MY

"

" I
have the utmost satisfaction in informing your
Grace that the zeal and ability of Major Wright and

LORD,

" of Lieutenants Watson and Fenwick have done them the

"
highest credit. The guns commanded by these officers
"
were the only ones brought into action. I was myself a
"
witness of the promptitude with which Mr. Watson's were
"
served, and know that they had great effect.
" I have the
honour, &c.,
"
" To His
Grace the

On
killed

OF RICHMOND, &c.

JAMES MURRAY.

cfec."

French General Dampierre was

cannon-shot from the English batteries. On

occasion

this

by

DUKE

the

Kane's
u>t
'

With

60

the

Duke of York

in Flanders.

CHAP. in.

enemy was driven from his camp at

and
Valenciennes
was invested by the Allies. Conde
Fainars,
was taken three months after the commencement of the
blockade. Valenciennes, having been approached in a methothe following day the

dical

manner, according to the

any serious attack until the

strictest rule, did not suffer

forty-first

day of the

siege.

On

the 25th July the outworks were taken, mainly through

the exertions and gallantry of the English under General
Abercromby; and on the following day, in answer to a

second summons, the place surrendered to the English and

their allies.
The Siege Artillery used on this occasion was
considerable in quantity, and of its effect the following
extract from the Duke of York's despatch will be the best
"
The batteries were allotted at different times to be
proof
" worked
by the Koyal Artillery, and every commendation
"
is due to Major Congreve and to the officers and men of
"
that Corps, who have upon this occasion fully supported the
"reputation they have so long enjoyed." For his services
:

on

this

occasion

Major Congreve received on the

21st

August, 1793, the brevet rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.

One or two minor actions took place before winter put
an end to hostilities. At Lincelles, on the 18th August,
1793, the Artillery attached to the Brigade of Guards under
General Lake again did good service and on this occasion
;

the

first

his life

who fell during the war

Lieutenant Depeyster. The official account of
officer of

the Corps

lost

this

engagement, after lauding the gallantry of the Guards,

went on to say " Equal praise is due to Major Wright and
" the officers and men of the
Royal Artillery attached to the
:

" Battalions."

The siege of Dunkirk by the Duke

York proved a failure. He was badly supported by his
allies, and received little or no assistance from the navy.
He had therefore to retreat certainly in good order but
leaving behind him 32 heavy guns intended for the siege.
At Lannoy, on the 28th October, Lieutenant Thornton
Ill-success followed.

of

Royal Artillery, afterwards Sir Charles Thornton,

A.D.C. to King William IV., lost an arm. It was by this
of the

CHAP. in.

Artillery thanked by

Duke of

York.

time apparent to the Allies that the war, so far as they were
concerned, must be a purely defensive one ; and they found
it
The
extremely difficult to hold Austrian Flanders.
darkness of their situation was

lit

up

at the

end of October

by a successful attack on Marchiennes, made by General

Kray under the direction of the Duke of York, in which the
enemy lost 12 pieces of cannon, and 2000 killed and
wounded. In spite of this success, however, winter came
upon the Allies, finding them in a very different frame of
mind from that in which they had commenced the campaign.
They did not, however, despair, but resolved and prepared
to commence with greater vigour than ever the campaign of
1794.

Their united strength on the 16th April amounted to

187,000 men; but it was injudiciously divided into eight
columns, to march on different points the fourth and fifth
;

being under the command of the Duke of York. The object

of these two columns was the attack and capture of the
village of Yaux, which they undertook, and in which they
succeeded on the 17th April, 1794. Major-General Abercromby and Sir William Erskine commanded the columns,

Congreve in person commanded the Koyal

Artillery, whose well-directed fire on this day has been
acknowledged by all writers. The French lost 30 pieces of
One of the companies of the Corps received on
Artillery.
this day an honour, unprecedented in the previous or subse-

and Colonel

quent annals of the Regiment.

No. 1 Company, 4th Battalion

now No. 4 Battery, 7th

Duke of York to
and skill, that he made the

attracted the admiration of the

Brigade
such an extent by its gallantry
whole army form up on the field of battle while this company
marched past him. He also published a General Order,
"

His Eoyal Highness desires that Captain Boag

and Lieutenant Fead of the Eoyal Artillery (the officers

saying
"

"
"

with the company) will accept his thanks for the very
and able manner in which they conducted the

spirited

"

battery intrusted to their care." If history is not utterly

powerless, the story of the 17th April ought to stir the

MS. Re

62

With

the

Duke of York

in Flanders.

CHAP. in.

hearts of this battery, and make every man in its ranks

strive to be not unworthy of those who proved themselves
worthy of so rare and honourable a distinction. To be
singled out for bravery on a day when all were brave, and
to display a spirit and an ability which, amid all the confusion of battle, attracted the observation of a preoccupied

commander, surely these are traditions which should fire

the most generous emotions, and awaken the most noble
It is in such a belief, and with such a hope
resolves.
as this, that

men have been found

to record such tales in

Kegimental records, and others to transcribe them fondly

from faded pages, and give to them a new life and a wider
circulation.

Encouraged by the

success

at

Yaux, Landrecies was

besieged by. the Allies, the

English troops covering the

Twice between the 23rd and
operations towards Cambray.
26th April did the Duke of York's force defeat the French
;

and on the 26th

was mainly owing to the well-directed

fire of the Koyal
Artillery, under Colonel Congreve, that the
French were dislodged from their position in the village of
Troisvilles, with a loss of 35 guns and 300 prisoners.
Landrecies surrendered on the 29th April but this advantage, even when combined with the Duke of York's successes,
did not atone for the severe defeat, which had been experienced on the 26th April by the Allied Army under
General Clairfayt at the hands of a French army under
General Pichegru. There seems from this time to have been
a want of harmony among the Allies.
Their armies melted
into
more
isolated
columns
away
every day and the system
of incessant attack, irrespective and regardless of frequent
defeat, which was pursued by the French forces, seems to
have produced a nervous effect upon their opponents, under
which each commander seemed to play, so to speak, for his
own hand. The representatives of the old school of war
were bewildered by the activity of those of the new. They
found themselves fighting, confined by strict and wooden
and
rules, by which their adversaries refused to be bound
it

the consequences proved fatal.

CHAP. in.

Retreat throiigh

Enemy s

63

Troops.

The English army continued to achieve minor successes

Lannoy, Eoubaix, and Monveaux but met with a serious
reverse on the 18th May, 1794, when Major Wright's Battery
was nearly cut to pieces. The French succeeded in completely surrounding the English, who had actually to effect
at

retreat through the enemy's troops, in doing which

Major Wright's battery, now B Battery, 1st Brigade, Eoyal
Artillery, was charged by the French cavalry, and suffered
the loss of its commander, 5 men and 31 horses killed, and
2 subalterns, Lieutenants Boger and Downman, 45 men,
and 70 horses wounded. In fact, the battery was placed
completely hors de combat, as might have been expected
when guns were so hampered as to allow a charge of cavalry
to be possible.
Surrounded as they were on all sides by
friends
and foes, it was impossible to come into
mingled
action on the advancing hussars; and the many acts of
individual bravery failed to save them from virtual an-

nihilation.

Fortune was more favourable a few days later

22nd May

when

on the

the English successfully resisted a general

attack of the French under General Pichegru; and their

obstinacy on this occasion was the origin of the barbarous

order issued by the ruffians

in Paris, forbidding
" of
King George."

of York,

who

any

who held

the reins of government

"
to the slaves

quarter to be given

This was nobly answered by the

Duke

in a General Order, dated 7th June, 1794,

urged his troops to "suspend their indignation, and to

"

"

remember that mercy

gem

to the vanquished is the brightest

In the repulse of the enemy Gen.

in a soldier's character."

on the 22nd May the conduct of the Artillery was such that
"
His Eoyal Highness the commander-in-chief begged to
" thank
Captain Trotter, with the Artillery under his
"
command, for their great display of intrepidity and good
"
conduct, which reflected the greatest honour on themselves,
"
and at the same time was highly instrumental in deciding
" the
important victories of the 22nd."

From

this time, however, the Allies experienced nothing

The capture of Chaiieroi and the battle of

but disaster.

J
CO

Order,

With

64

the

Duke of York

in Flanders.

CHAP. in.

Fleurus proved the increasing merits of the French army,

while the welcome from the Belgian cities, which one after
another, including Brussels itself, fell into the hands of the
French, proved that the sympathy of the people was much
It is difficult to
more with them than with the Allies.
overrate the value of such sympathy in war.

In the course of these disasters the Duke of York's communications with Ostend were interrupted, and the English
Government, becoming seriously alarmed, fitted out the
expedition already referred to, which left Southampton for
After
the Continent, under the command of Lord Moira.

many

vicissitudes this second

junction with the

Duke

army succeeded in effecting a

of York, after defeating the French

The continued advance and repeated

attacks made by the French army compelled the Duke to
The surrender of
retire across the Meuse into Holland.
at Alost

the

and Malines.

frontier

fortresses

followed;

French armies were detailed

and then, while other

pursue the Continental part

of the Allied forces, Pichegru himself, with a much larger
force than that under the command of the Duke of York,
to

resolved to invade Holland, and exterminate the English.

From this moment the Duke, being completely outnumbered,

was compelled steadily to retire. An action took place on

the 15th September, between his advanced guard and the
French troops, at Boxtel, the result of which was a further
retreat, and the abandonment to their own resources of
The first-named
Bois-le-duc, Breda, and Bergen-op-Zoom.
of these places was invested by the French on the 23rd
September, 1794, and surrendered on the 10th October.
Without waiting to take the other two, and leaving them in
his rear, Pichegru, with the energy which characterised the
French armies of the Eevolution, and with a contempt for
the laws of war which paralyzed his opponents, pushed on
in pursuit of the English, whose retreat in face of superior
numbers was it must be confessed by every one very
The Duke of York was in position at
skilfully managed.
the
French
came up, and on the 19th October,
Pufflech when
1794, a severe engagement took place, which ended in the

CHAP. in.

Retreat of English

Army.

65

English army being compelled to retire behind the Waal,

while the French undertook the siege of various garrisons.
On the 28th October, Venloo was taken followed, on the
;

5th November, by the capture of Maestricht; and on the

same day the siege of Nimeguen was commenced. Here

gallant service was rendered by the English, and, among
but the
others, General
Abercromby was wounded
that
the
of
French
such
Duke
the
was
of York,
impetuosity
;

finding his intercourse with the garrison cut off, retired a

little farther to take up a fresh position, and, on the 8th
November, Nimeguen surrendered. The Duke of York was,

many reasons, anxious to escape an engagement, and he

intrenched himself strongly in the lines of Nimeguen. The
for

French commander, however, having received peremptory

orders from his Government not to desist from hostilities, notwithstanding the lateness of the season, prepared to cross

was prevented by the fire of the Allied

Artillery.
gave up the idea for the time, and confined
himself to making the necessary dispositions for invading
Holland in the spring
no easy task, when one reflects on
the Waal, but

He

the facilities with which the whole country could have been
flooded.
Most fortunately for him an exceptionally severe
frost set in,

freezing the rivers and canals so that they

could support troops and artillery. Hostilities were at once

recommenced by the French, and, after taking several

strong places in the end of December, fighting in a temperature lower than it had been for thirty years, on the

llth January, 1795, Pichegru, with his whole army, crossed

the Waal. In the attempt made by the British to prevent

was met with, and, among others, two

subalterns of Artillery, Lieutenants Walker and Legg, were
this, considerable loss

wounded.

From

this time

commenced a

retreat which, for misery,

discomfort, and losses, has been compared with the French

retreat from Moscow, although on a much smaller scale. The

English Government, having resolved on the withdrawal of

the army, directed it to retire on Bremen, there to embark for home. This order rendered it necessary for the
VOL. n.

66

Cust.

ibid.

With

the

Duke of York

in Flanders.

CHAP. in.

troops to traverse the district called the Weluwe, a perfect

desert, over which the wind was drifting the snow into

almost impassable ridges where the few scattered villages

had been rendered hostile by French emissaries, and where
" numbers of
English soldiers perished through want and
"
weakness, and many were frozen to death." The hardships borne

by the army did not

interfere with their dis-

of all
cipline; and they were soothed by the sympathy
classes in England, and ultimately by a hearty welcome
home. With the exception of a small force under General

Dundas, which remained on the Continent until the following

It
year, the whole army reached England in May 1795.
was on the 8th of that month that the six companies of
Artillery disembarked at Woolwich, from which station they
were speedily removed to Chatham and Portsmouth.
The barbarous order given by the French Government
with reference to the English soldiers, which has been
mentioned above, was almost atoned for by an act of chivalry
on the part of the French troops at the end of the campaign.
retreat of the English, the 87th Kegiment had
The
part of the garrison of Bergen-op-Zoom.
Dutch Government, dismayed by the continued successes

During the
been

left as

and urged on by a party in the country,

no
means
inconsiderable, which sympathised with the
by
Republican cause, came to terms with the French Commander, and consented to the surrender of the various
of the French,

Cust.

Considerable anxiety naturally existed as to the

garrisons.
of the 87th Eegiment ; " but, compromised by the
"
defection of an ally, it was generously permitted by the

fate

"

conquerors to separate itself from the garrison, and to be

"

sent back to England."

One or two facts remain to be mentioned.

It

was during

campaign, at the affair at Boxtel, that the Duke of

Wellington, then in command of the 33rd Kegiment, first
this

was under fire, and displayed the same coolness and inIt was also
trepidity which afterwards characterised him.
the
months
of
the
after
the
war
during
concluding
resignation of the Stadtholder

that the singular military episode

CHAP. in.

Defence of Toulon.

67

more singular even than that mentioned in the

annals of the American War, when a fleet was defeated by
occurred

Vol.

The Dutch

i.

372
the capture of a fleet by a charge of cavalry. p
fleet was lying ice-bound at the Helder
the
'

a field battery

'

and was in this position captured by

body of Dragoons who had penetrated to that place in
relentless pursuit of the French Koyalist emigrants, who
had fled thither for refuge.
harbour frozen over,
a

This chapter would hardly be complete without a short

notice of an event which occurred at Toulon in 1793, and
which deserves special mention, because then for the first

time was the Eoyal Artillery brought face to face with a

young French

Artillery officer,

who was

destined to become

Toulon was held by the

famous, Napoleon Bonaparte.
British on behalf of the royal family of France and part
of the force employed was a company of the Koyal Artillery
;

from Gibraltar, under Major Koehler, the Captain-Lieutenant

of the company.
Among his subalterns were Lieutenants
John
Lemoine,
Duncan, Newhouse, and Alexander
Brady,
Duncan; and although in December the town had to be
evacuated, this was not done until the greatest gallantry
had been displayed by the British troops. The loss in the
Artillery was very great and the following order by General
Dundas, dated on board the Victory on the 21st December,

Browne.

'

'

" Lieutenant-General London

1793, speaks well as to their skill
Z
*'
" Dundas
reports, that after a most gallant defence of Toulon, i7 j an
" he was under the
1794
necessity of evacuating it, from the very
"
great superiority of the enemy's army, and the report of
" the
and
officers that it had become
'

Engineer
Artillery
" untenable.
After destroying the enemy's men-of-war and
"
stores in the Dockyard, the army embarked on board our
" men-of-war.
As the security of this operation depended
" much on the
protection afforded from the happy situation
"
commands the
which so
Fort La
of
effectually
Malgere,
neck of the Peninsula, and the judicious use that should
"
be made of its artillery, this important service was allotted
"
to Major Koehler with 200 men, who, after seeing the last
"
man off the shore, and spiking all the guns, effected, from

"

F 2

With

68
"

the

Duke of York

CHAP. in.

in Flanders.

and intelligence, his own retreat without loss.

At Fort Mulgrave, Lieutenant Duncan of the Koyal
"
Artillery was so essentially useful that to his exertions
" and abilities that
post was much indebted for its preservahis activity

"

" tion for so

long a time."

The officer last mentioned was Lieutenant John Duncan,

who was promoted in the following year, and was mentioned
as

follows

for

his

conduct at the capture of Bastia, in

service in which the Toulon garrison was

Corsica,
"
I cannot but express in the strongest
next engaged
"
Duncan and
the meritorious conduct of

the

Admiral
Hood's
Despatch,
Gazette,'

UQe '

i794

terms

Captain
Lieutenant Alexander Duncan of the Koyal Artillery, and
" Lieutenant de Butts of the
but my
Koyal Engineers
;

"

Captain Duncan, as
" more
zeal, ability, and judgment were never shown by any
" officer than were
displayed by him, and I take the liberty
" of
mentioning him as an officer highly entitled to His
obligation

"

is

particularly great

to

Lieutenant Alexander Duncan, who

mentioned in this dispatch, afterwards commanded
the Koyal Artillery during the defence of Cadiz in 1810-12,
at the battle of Barossa, and at Seville, at the last-mentioned
of which places he was accidentally killed.
Majesty's notice."

is also

During the service in Corsica, which resulted in its

surrender by the French, the Koyal Artillery did duty with
1
Nelson's seamen, and received great credit for their exertions at the capture of Bastia and Calvi.
A fatal fever
played havoc with the men and it was found necessary to
;

send an additional company from England, which absorbed

the remnant of Major Koehler's.
That officer was made
Quartermaster-General to the forces in the island on its

surrender to the English, and Major Collier was sent to

command the Artillery with the title of Inspector of
Artillery.

This garrison remained until the evacuation of the island

by the English in 1796.
1

In the year of Trafalgar, some artillerymen under Lieut. Robertson

served on board the Victory with Nelson, in the West Indies.
'

Old and New Systems of Fighting.

CHAP. in.

69

early, and in spite of much inexperience on the

their
of
commanders, the French armies of the Kevopart
lution had evinced merits, zeal, and courage of no ordinary

Even thus

description.

The new system of fighting had already

and when organized, as it eventually was,

defeated the old

by a master hand, Bonaparte, it was an engine hefore which

the old system, with its pedantry, sluggish precision, and
winter-quarters, was sure to go down like a house of cards.
Happily

men

England, there were in her army in Flanders

Wellington and Abercromby, who could see the

for

like

faults of the school in

which they had been trained, and at

the same time not be ashamed to

own

the

superiorities

which might be possessed by an enemy,

men, in fine, who, Major

rac "
" conservative of
while
glorious traditions, were fearless of ^'u f
" all
necessary changes endeavouring to catch the meaning R.A., at
" of
present progress, or, with prophetic eye, reaching for- tution.
'

"

ward to anticipate future developments."

Without such men, the glorious stories of Egypt and the
Peninsula would have been but repetitions of this futile war
in Flanders.

CHAPTER

IY.

1796 TO 1799.

THESE

years represent a period in the history of England

of which Englishmen must always be proud.

Standing
almost alone against the French Eepublic, before whose victorious armies almost every other nation in Europe suc*

cumbed, her Government and people never hesitated to

protest, both by word and deed, against the unlawful ambition of the French Directorate. Blinding the French people
to a sense of their hardships and their rapidly-increasing
debt by the glare of military success, and attributing these

same successes to the sudden development of martial spirit

and liberty which followed the downfall of the monarchy,
the selfish and dishonest leaders of the Eepublic were enabled
not merely to encourage their own army, but to sow doubt
and dissension in the ranks of their opponents. By flattering
the people they ruled, they were enabled to sin against
every rule of good government, and by creating discontent
with existing authority among other nations, for which purpose they spared no labour nor expense, they brought France
in 1798 to a pinnacle of greatness, to which it had never yet
attained.
England alone remained to defy them and to
conquer England, either by means of invasion, isolation, or
by fomenting rebellion, was their fixed determination. The
effect on England of suspended commerce and monetary
uncertainty can be realised by the point at which the Three
per Cents, stood during these years. In 1796 they fell to 66
;

Annual
Registers.

in 1797?

56 L

in 1798> the year of the Irish rebellion,

and, after its suppression, they rose again

they reached 49|

In 1796 the
;

to 55.

Bank

of

England suspended payment

CHAP. iv.

Increase of Pay in

Army.

71

and the discontent of the Navy was such as to render very

probable the mutinies, which took place in the following
The same dissatisfaction prevailed in the Army,
year.
although to a less extent ; but open expression of it was
prevented by the wisdom of the Duke of York in obtaining
an increase of pay, and thus removing the

for the troops

grievance, which provoked the discontent among men, who

could barely subsist on the miserable pittance that was
allowed them. The Board of Ordnance made a similar increase in the pay of the two Corps under their control ; and
it
may be interesting to state the new rates allowed for the

The Master-General, Lord Cornwallis, prefaces

Artillery.
his Warrant on the subject by reminding the Corps of their
former good conduct and high character, to which he had
often been a witness on the most arduous occasions, and to

which he had often borne the most ample and honourable

testimony, when he had had the honour of commanding them.
He felt sure, he wrote, that it was not in the power of the
most artful traitor to seduce the soldiers of the Royal Artillery from their loyalty and attachment to their King and
country

and then he urged them never to prefer unreasonwhose inevitable refusal might produce disbut at the same time to rely upon his readiness to

able requests,

content,
redress any real grievance. The improvement in the pay
of the soldier may be briefly summarised from the lengthy
verbiage of the Warrant. Up to 1797, in addition to the

provision

made

dical assistance,

for his clothing, pension, quarters, and meand also besides his allowance of beer, &c.,

provided in quarters, and of bread provided at a reduced rate

when in camp, the soldier received a daily sum of 9d.,
besides a further daily

sum

Warrant had been given

of 2d.,

which under a previous

in lieu of certain allowances

but,

under the new Warrant, an additional sum of 3d. was

Out
meat
ration, which had hitherto been borne by the public, was
now to be deducted; and, as this averaged l|d, the net

making the daily pay of the soldier Is. B^d.

of this sum, however, the extra price of the bread and
granted,

War-

B. 0.

^May,
1797

72

79

CHAP. iv.

799-

increase of pay was 2d.

The pay of the various ranks after
this Warrant stood as follows, viz.
:

s.

d.

Sergeant

22

Corporal

0|

Bombardier
Gunner and Drummer

1
1

10J
3J

per diem.

each.

In the year 1873, the date of the publication of this volume,

the rates of pay for the same ranks in the Corps are as
follows, viz.

s.

Sergeant
Corporal

d.

Bombardier

24
22

Gunner

per diem.
,

5J

each.

As

in 1797 beer was allowed in kind, in addition to the daily

pay, the one penny a day subsequently allowed in lieu of it
has not been included in the pay of the various ranks in

1873, given above.

The increase of pay produced a feeling of contentment in
the whole army and if sedition had no chance of thriving
;

in the Artillery before,

much more had

it

none

after.

An

unsuccessful attempt having been made at Woolwich in 1797

to stir up discontent among the men, we gather, from a

General Order published shortly afterwards, that the nonofficers and men subscribed a sum of
money,

commissioned

which they offered as a reward

anew

for

the detection of the

and, further, signed voluntarily a paper declaring

their loyalty to the King and fidelity to the country.

offenders

to modern eyes somewhat superfluous in

was doubtless called forth by certain insults
to the King which had been published, and which called
forth the indignation of the whole community and also by
the fact that certain soldiers serving in Ireland had been
seduced from their colours by the rebels, who, under the
name of United Irishmen, were traversing the whole country.
The same feeling which prompted this action at Woolwich
and West open. It was during this period that the great

This latter step

attested soldiers

Mr.

CHAP. IV.

Pitt's

Loyalty Loan.

73

and abroad

to Mr. Pitt's Loyalty Loan.

It is recorded tlmt
"
the
officers and men of the Koyal
Artillery at Gibraltar,
"
Martinique, and St. Domingo, having, as tokens of their
"
love and attachment to their King and country, transmitted
"
to England subscriptions, as detailed underneath, the
"
Master-General thought it his duty to lay the same before
"
His Majesty, and to observe to His Majesty how rapidly the
"
spirit, -which had so laudably shown itself in the Artillery
" at
home, had spread to the detachments abroad. His
"
Majesty, on receiving the information, was graciously
"
pleased to express his approbation, and to permit the

cieave-

"

Master-General to communicate the same to the Kegiment.

The Master-General, Marquis.Cornwallis, has the greatest
"
satisfaction in obeying this His Majesty's command, and
"

'

B. o.

'

"

'

"

'

"

'

"

'

takes the opportunity of congratulating the Eoyal Eegiof Artillery on that zeal and alacrity which, in all

ment

and in all climates and countries, have uniformly

"
marked the character of the Corps.'
services

"

from

Subscriptions

"
"

"

100/.

Gibraltar.

Major-General Martin,

Field Officers and Captains, 30

subalterns, 14 days'

pay

days' pay each

non-commissioned

officers

and

gunners, 7 days' pay each.

"

"

"

From Martinique. Officers, 30 days' pay ; non-conimissioned officers and gunners, 20 days' pay each.
"
From Cape Nicholas Mole. Officers and men, 10 days'
pay each."

This feeling of loyalty was general throughout the country,

and was in no way affected either by temptation from without
or vapouring sedition within
and to this loyal feeling, and
the noble successes of her fleets, did England owe her continued maritime superiority and the salvation of her commerce. This latter had been steadily increasing; her imports
and exports had risen from 27 millions in 1784 to 49^
millions in 1796
and, although checked and cramped by
French legislation, her fleets kept the markets of the East
;

and West open.

It

was during

this period that the great

Annual
R

CHAP. IV.

1796^01799-

74

Camperdown and the Nile were gained,

and that Nelson's activity in the Mediterranean insured the
capture of Malta and Minorca hy England. Nor was any sea
without the British flag. In 1799, there were in the Navy
no less than 100,000 seamen, besides 20,000 marines and
naval victories of

both in the English seas and in the West Indies bombIn the
vessels, with artillerymen on board, were numerous.

East Indies our armies were gaining renown and in the

Indies hostilities were going on, in which the Koyal
Artillery took an active part, which resulted in the. retention
of all the English islands, and the capture from the French
;

West

of St. Lucia, Martinique, St.

Domingo, Trinidad, Guadaloupe,

Tobago, and Curayoa. The names of some of the officers of
the Corps who were present during these operations are
1
Congiven by the author of England's Artillerymen.'
'

sisting

mainly of naval, or small detached military opera-

tions, the wars in the

were much
pestilence

West

Indies possess, as a rule, little

may be mentioned, however, that they

more fatal to our troops through the fevers and

but local interest.

It

which prevailed, than the actual

loss in battle.

The Board of Ordnance during this period did much good

work in maturing the defences of the country, which were
In 1797, the cost of the Ordnance was
in i 798} 1,303,5807.
and
in 1799, 1,570,8277.

Annual

under

Registers.

^43^5^

Voi.i.
P 405.

In 1795 the Board completed the

in 1800, 1,695,9567.
Fiftll ]3 atta ii on O f the Begiment; and in 1799 the Sixth

Vol.
p<

'

most

Battalion was added.

i.

410

its control.

efficient

From

Battalion.

the very

It

had

as

first

the Sixth was a

nucleus the two

Sir^E

companies known as the East India Detachment; and the

remaining companies were composed of trained English
an ^ Scotch Militiamen, who were permitted to volunteer

Pen-ott.

for service in

Commu6

the Eegiment.

Du

J. Smith
Newton, M. Pattison, Suckling,
H. Deruvijnes; Lieutenants Mackenzie, Concannon, Brooke Young, Le
Geyt, Pritchard, William Caddy, Stackpoole, Bingham, Baker, Robinson,

Majors A.

Vernet, S. D. Edwards, F. L. Deruvijnes,

Captains J. Arbuthnot, J. Eogers, L.

Ommancy,

Carterctt,

Worth, Arthur, Davers.

CHAP. IV.

It

Irish Rebellion.

will thus be seen

that,

75

during a

critical

time, the

courage and determination of the people of England and

their rulers saved the country from much national hardship

and danger. But while thus facing a foreign enemy, another

The student of this chapter in

foe appeared in their midst.
British history finds that it includes the story of the great
Irish rebellion of 1798.
If ever the sins of the fathers

have been visited on the

has happened in the case of England's connecchildren,

tion with Ireland.
The fathers ate sour grapes, and the
it

children's teeth are set on edge.

If we need a proof of
the strength of history as a motive power, we cannot do
better than go to Ireland.
Here is a brave, a genial, a

chivalrous race, shrewd and able in the affairs of life, and

yet the mention of injustice done to their forefathers pro-

duces to this day such a feeling of indignation and resentment as blinds them to the fact that the descendants of
those whose
to the

detest are endeavouring, almost

all tokens of former

memory they

opposite extreme, to remove

injustice.

The history

in

of Ireland,

its

relations with

truths;
proves that
England, repeats many
national sins no more go unpunished than personal; it
shows that rebellion without organisation is useless ; and it
tells most distinctly that reasonable demands have often
familiar

it

from want of judgment in the time and

manner
It proves, also, most clearly, yet
another point, for which no additional proof is required that
the passions of a people are the very best instrument with
which unscrupulous men can work to obtain their own

been

refused

of urging them.

private ends ; and that, by stirring these up, agitators can so

blind men to the real goal which it is intended to reach, as
actually to

make them

in time believe their

be

with

own

possibly

that

of their
purpose
in
if
cold
to
them
blood, would
leaders, which,
presented
have made them shudder. He who doubts this needs only

legitimate

to

to study the class of

men

they were when

first

identical

"

United Irishmen," as
and
as
they became under
organized,
called the

76

CHAP. IV.

1796/01799-

the manipulation of cunning leaders, and in the face of an

The Government of
imprudent, unreasoning opposition.

England would have yielded much to the quiet reformers,

which they were bound to refuse to rebels and it was this
;

knowledge that made the arch plotters fan discontent into

disturbance as quickly as possible, lest, with the satisfaction
of just demands and the removal of admitted grievances, the
discontent

with

should

The story
one

disappear,

and

their

own

vocation

it.

but

of the rebellion in Ireland in 1798

has

is

a sorry

some of
place
the more important engagements between the troops and
;

it

the rebels, such as

Now

in- this

its

those

history because, at

known

as the battles of Eoss,

"VVexford, and Yinegar Hill, that portion of the Kegiment

which had so recently been created the Koyal Horse

A Briga'dJj
B Battery, Artillery
A Brigade,
/

was present. Two guns of A, B, and C Troops

With the
respectively were present on these occasions.
exce P^ on f these, and some Battalion gun detachments, the

and

Artillerymen engaged during the rebellion in Ireland belonged to the national Corps the old Irish Artillery

whose loyalty shone undimmed during that trying time.

Although the story of the rebellion itself needs not to be
told here, certain facts connected with the Artillery
arrangewill probably be found interesting.

ments

From July

1795, care had been taken

to

impart some

knowledge of Artillery drills to the Infantry regiments in

Ireland, the custodians of the battalion guns being required
o.,

'

1795.

General
lations for

rCh

of

thT

army
1*2

in

NOV!

1796.

in each

regiment at least 30 rank and file,

under a subaltern and two sergeants.
At this date the
battalion guns were not brigaded on field-days, as was
afterwards done; but always marched past at the head of
to

instruct

the regiments to which they were attached.

tion waggons followed the column.

On

The ammuni-

the 20th Febru ary, 1797, battalion guns were issued

regiments of Militia, viz., Donegal, Clare,

to the following

Limerick City, Antrim, Kilkenny, North Mayo, Queen's

and one " useful, well-instructed "
County, and Armagh
;

CHAP. iv.

Irish Battalion Guns.

77

gunner from the Irish Artillery accompanied each pair of G. 0.

guns, which were "to be worked by soldiers of the regi- ^$ 7
"
ments." This had been approved by the Lord-Lieutenant
on the 13th February, and orders had been given for the
immediate

instruction

in

duties

Artillery

of

over

300

This confidence in the loyalty of the Irish

that
the rebellion had but little real hold in
shows
troops
the country, except among those with whom it will ever find
Militiamen.

a welcome, the ignorant and fanatic.

It had always been a dream of France to annex Ireland,
or, failing that, to secure its independence ; and the time

seemed favourable

for the purpose.

But, owing to circum-

stances too long to be narrated here, the practical assistance

afforded by the French was almost nothing ; and the rebellion,

in the

although encouraged by French promises, received

end but little of French performance.
It would

really seem, after dispassionate study, that the rebellion, in

the absence of the excited opposition of the Orangemen, would never have occurred ; that the removal of

the disabilities of the Catholics would at

have comwould
who,
time,
pletely gratified
accept
nothing but national independence and that such removal
would in all probability have been granted, had not the
moderate reformers among the United Irishmen unfortunately
accepted the leadership of men like Wolfe Tone and others,
about whose extreme and impossible views there was no
The feeling of discontent was also indoubt whatever.
those

after

first

creased by the intemperate language of the priests, who, in

the heated expressions of their opponents, detected a possible
future for their Church, even more gloomy than its existing
state ; but this last-named reason had less to do with the
birth of the rebellion than the causes already stated.
To
on
and
therefore
the
cruel,
opposition
part
panic-stricken,
of the Protestants, and to the association of injudicious
leaders with their cause,

is

the fact due that men, whose

claims have been admitted by subsequent legislation to be

just, landed in 1798 in a most unfortunate rebellion.

78

1796

to

CHAP. IV.

1799.

In even the most solemn matters there

is often an element
and one who is acquainted with the
national character would not be surprised to find such in an
Irish rebellion.
The guns which were given to the Irish
Militia were not at first horsed; and very great difficulty

of the

ludicrous

was experienced

in procuring horses for the purpose.

The

loyal Colonel of the Tipperary Militia, Colonel Bagwell,

offered to lend his own horses for the purpose, and his
A letter was then sent to the
offer was readily accepted.

Dated

commanding officers of other Militia Kegiments, inviting

them to follow Colonel Bagwell's example, and offering, on

Hospital,"
5 Feb "
i 9

the part of the Ordnance, to pay for the horses' forage, &c.,
during the time they should be employed. With very few
exceptions the invitation was declined, and a further perusal

documents suggests a very natural reason for

seem somewhat ungracious, if not
On the 27th February, 1798, a letter was addressed

of the official

what would
disloyal.

at first sight

to the officers

commanding the various

districts in Ireland,

pointing out that it had reached the ears of the Commanderin-Chief " that the limbers of the guns attached to bat"
talions are used for market cars, and other conveniences
"
for the officers and women of the regiments, and that the
" horses are ridden
by officers and their servants about the
"
at
all
The knowledge of this by the
hours."
country
officers commanding the regiments would naturally make

them reluctant to expose their own horses to such treatment and a result of these irregularities was the change
;

Vol.

which took place from

i.

described.

'

Royai
' ris

of the

men

It

may be

battalion

guns to brigades, already

here stated that a considerable

of the Irish Artillery were

number

in gun-boats
in the Shannon and elsewhere during the rebellion.
The detachments of the Koyal Artillery, which were

employed

present with the battalion guns attached to the regiments

from England, were six in number, each detachment consisting

of

non-commissioned

officer

and 9 men.

The

whole were under the command of Captain Henry Geary,

The regiments to which they
assisted by three subalterns.

Horse Artillery sent

CHAP. IV.

to

Ireland.

79

were attached were the Guards (three Battalions), the Queen's,

A reinforcement of two com29th, and 100th Regiments.
panies was asked for hy General Lake, but the successes at
Wexford rendered it unnecessary to meet his demand.
At this time, H.E.H. the Duke of York ordered two
12-pounder guns to be attached to each troop of Horse

D. A.

Artillery, and, as will be seen hereafter, these guns remained

"*
part of the armament of the troop of Horse Artillery which 1793.
formed part of the expedition to the Helder, in 1799. Two

guns, from four troops respectively, went to Ireland to assist

in quelling the rebellion, but only those belonging to A, B,
and C Troops took part in the active operations. The
strength of the Horse Artillery sent to Ireland was as
follows

2 Captains.
3 Subalterns.
1

Embark-

2 Staff-Sergeants.
12 Non-Commissioncd Officers.

Assistant-Surgeon.

Returns,

92 Gunners.
51 Drf

Wodwich,

6 Artificers.

26 Nov.

1797.

Trumpeter.
177 horses (and 13 from Driver Corps).
8 guns.
15 ammunition waggons.

N.B.

The guns were two 12-pounders, two 5j-inch

howitzers, four 6-pounders.

The

total strength of

as follows

968 of

all

Horse Artillery left in England was

ranks, 920 horses, 42 guns, and 72

waggons.
This included a reserve of 5 guns at Woolwich.
After the rebellion had been quelled, the men of the Eoyal
Artillery, who during the operations had been under the Irish
Branch of the Ordnance, returned to England and the fol;

lowing table gives the distribution and strength of the Koyal

Irish Artillery in the succeeding year.
(See pp. 80 and 81.)
find not a few
will
the
student
to
England,
Eeturning
matters of domestic interest which occurred during this

and which are worthy of being chronicled. A new

Medical Department took
organisation of the Ordnance
and on a recommendation of a committee it was
place
period,

ation

80

to

1796

s.i9iuunuG

SJaipJBqUlOg

SpJOdjOO

CHAP. IV.

1799.

OS GO 1C CO

CSCOCO<^

GO C<1 CO GO GO CO OS
CO rH CO CO CO CO CO

rH l^ t*- OO t~- IO ICO OS CC CO CO CO CO

OC<IOS(M
CCCOCNC^

CO CO <N CQ C<1 C<J <?3

t- CO CO CO CO CO CO

10 CO CO CO CO

rH
:

-^ CO (M rH

rH

OT

::::ii

OlMC^

CO iH <N TH iH (N

COrHC<l

C<J

rH

CO

CS1 C^l

rH rH

<M

-C<J<MCO

-rH

rH rH

C'l

rH

C<1

rHrH

rH
:

OQ OS rH
<?CO

:::

'

CC CO

C<1

COCOrHrH

"

1
-

-4HCOrHr-l(MCNrH

HH-H

THIO

TjH(M

rH rH (M (M
;

iH

rHC<l(NrH

(M

rH rH

rH

O O <M

OS
OS
CS CO (M rH

tfi

rH

GN rH rH rH rH rH

rH rH rH

rHrH

rH

rH "H

rH

sjofepi

rH...

.......

rH rH

rH.

liijlJl lijiiil ifi

HOOO HOOOCOO OfrOOOOO HO O

!il
H

Royal Irisk

CHAP. IV.
rH

rH rH Ci rH rH

/ / / iilU ry.

C<l i-H

HH

rH(N <N-*

?*

rH rH

|>(M

.(N

l> <M

rH

23

Ig
>>a

2^3
os

SKI
VOL.

il

82
B. o. Pro8'

TMavf
1797.

CHAP. IV.

1796/01799-

resolved, on the 5th

May, 1797, that, after the 1st July

the
system of obliging surgeons to furnish the
following,
medicines for the troops out of a fixed money allowance
should cease, and that one of the Ordnance chemists should

he appointed Kegimental apothecary.

was also granted to the medical officers.

increase of pay

A change was also made in the Paymasters of the

Kegiment. It will be remembered that Mr. Cox had been
appointed Paymaster to the Artillery in 1759. He was
succeeded in 1783 by Mr. Adair, who was followed by

Cleuveland's

An

MSS.

from

On the 1st July, 1797, the Paymastership

Messrs. Meyrick.
was resumed by Messrs. Cox and Greenwood, and continued

D. A. G.

15

Confirmed
Wooiiacott,

n that house (subsequently Messrs. Cox and Co.) until

polished on the 30th September, 1858, since which date
they have been agents to the Corps.
In 1797 the

Eegimental School was established at

children.
On the 13th August,
Captain afterwards Sir William Eobe recommended its
formation and was strongly supported by the Commandant,
A building, then unfinished, and now part
G-eneral Lloyd.

Woolwich
MS. by

Sir

6'

in

R.A.

Record

for

Of

^g

first

soldiers'

rse Artillery

Square in Woolwich Barracks, was

procured for the purpose ; the Duchess of York subscribed

20 guineas for the purchase of books, and this was followed

by subscriptions from
sergeant,

all

the officers at Head-quarters.

named Dougherty, was appointed Schoolmaster

and the success of the institution was so great as to induce

the Board of Ordnance to undertake its management and
The first pupil was a difficult, but very creditable
support.
He was the son of a gunner in the Invalid
subject.
Battalion, who lost both his arms when firing the evening
gun at an out-station for his father. So remarkable was his
progress at school, that

it

attracted the attention of the

military authorities ; and this, taken in conjunction with the

way in which he had received his injury, obtained for him
from the Board a pension for life as a drummer, although

he had never been enlisted as such.

There were a great many

Bomb

and men employed in the

and as no stoppages were

officers

service during this time

CHAP. iv.

made

Artillery Officers on the Staff.

men were employed on board the

was a very popular one. Most of the
were employed in the English Channel, the

for rations while the

vessels, the

Bomb

83

service

vessels

Mediterranean, and

The employment

among

the

West India

Ordnance
6

J^ /"

Islands.

of Artillery officers on the Staff of the

Army became more common

than it had hitherto been but,

with great short-sightedness, it was discouraged by the
Board. It was, indeed, too often made a great favour on the
;

part of the Master-General to allow officers to be so employed.

Among the names of officers who can be traced as

having received the requisite permission are Major James

M. Hadden, R.H.A., who was appointed Adjutant-General in
Portugal, with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, vice Sir J.
Erskine,

who

resigned

Lieutenant-Colonel Koehler,

who

was selected as Quartermaster-General in the Eastern

District; and Captain Duncan, who was employed on the
The nucleus
personal staff of H.E.H. the Duke of York.
of an appointment, which to this day has more of a
Kegiinental than an Army nature, dates from this period.
On 9th June, 17&7, Lieutenant A. T. Spearman was appointed Garrison Adjutant in Woolwich. On 7th July,
1802, the title of this office was changed to Brigade-Major,
the same officer continuing to hold it
and on 1st April,
1873, the title was again altered, the incumbent, Major A. T.
;

G. Pearse, being styled Assistant Adjutant-General of the

The Director-General of Artillery
District.

Woolwich

during the period treated of in this chapter was MajorGeneral Duncan Drummond
the Commandants were,
;

successively, Generals Farrington, Congreve, and Lloyd

In
and General Blomefield was Inspector of Artillery.
;

which met periodically

more permanent
form than hitherto, foreshadowing the Ordnance Select
Committee which subsequently came into existence, Captain
Maclean being, on the 26th February, appointed a standing
1797 the Committee of Field

Officers,

to consider warlike inventions, received a

Secretary to the Committee.

On the 25th December, 1798, certain augmentations in
the pensions of widows of officers in the Army were granted
u 2

a A.

^j

s
e_

spomience,
Li s t.

84

to

1796

CHAP

1799.

IV.

and the Board of Ordnance, as was invariably the case for

and Engineers had no cause

in such matters the Artillery

B. 0.

for complaint

Letter,
13 Jan.

officers

1799.

It was decided that widows of

Koyal Artillery and Corps of Captain-Com-

followed suit.

in the

missaries (or Driver Corps) should receive pensions at the

following rates

Widow

of Colonel, or Colonel

Commandant

80 per annum.
50

Lieutenant-Colonel

Second Lieutenant

40
30
26
20

Chaplain.
Surgeon-General
Surgeon
Assistant-Surgeon
Captain-Commissary
Lieutenant-Commissary
Quartermaster

20
30
26
20
30
26
20

Major

Widow

of Captain and Captain-Lieutenant

First Lieutenant

These

rates, as is well

....

known, have been increased since

the Warrant of 1799, although still so inadequate as to

render Eegimental Provident Funds a necessity ; but the
reader can hardly fail to be struck with the disadvantage

under which the widows of non-combatant officers laboured

a disadvantage which disappeared with the

in old times,

introduction into the Service of what

rank

is

known

as relative

an arrangement which enabled non-combatant

to acquire by length of service the

the lot of their combatant brethren.

same privileges

officers

as fell to

A few statistics may be appended here, as very few

domestic chapters will be given between 1799 and the date
at which this work comes to an end.
The strength of the
Kegiment, at the commencement of the period embraced by
this chapter, was as follows
:

Return
rendered
to H.R.H.

the

Duke

of York,

Koyal Horse Artillery

Marching Battalions

Invalid Battalion

Corps of Captain-Commissaries

085 of all ranks.

5,560
505
1 466
,

26 Nov.
1795.

Total

8,616

Commendation for Loyalty.

CHAP. iv.

These were distributed as follows

85

6 Troops of Horse Artillery.

52 Companies of Artillery.
5 Companies of Driver Corps, or Captain-Commissaries.
Companies of Invalids.

11
1

Company

of

Gentlemen Cadets.

The geographical

distribution of the Kegiment, as far as

the combatant companies were concerned, was as follows,

Kane's
Llst *

the year 1797 being selected as a year of comparative peace,

two Continental Expeditions under the Duke of

letiveen the

York:On Home

29 Troops and Companies.

Stations

In Portugal
In Canada

At Cape of Good Hope

At Gibraltar

In East Indies

|
I

In
In
In
In

Company.

4 Companies.
2 Companies.
5 Companies.

Jamaica
Newfoundland
Nova Scotia and Cape Breton
the West Indies (exclusive of Jamaica)

Companies (belongmg to no Battalions).

4 Companies.

....
.

Company.

2 Companies.
8 Companies.

Of these companies, as has already been stated, many men

were employed on board the bomb-vessels. The companies
stationed at the Cape of Good Hope deserve special notice at
subsequently did those at Gibraltar, for
their loyalty at a time of mutiny among the other forces on
the station.
On the 4th February, 1798, the following
this time, as also

was published to the Kegiment by Colonel Macleod,

having been transmitted to him by order of Major-General
Dundas, commanding the troops at the Cape of Good Hope,
who had in the first instance addressed it to LieutenantColonel Yorke, who commanded the Eoyal Artillery on that

letter

station

"Castle of Good Hope,

"
15 November, 1797.

"
SIB,

"

The Corps of Artillery having had the greatest part

of the extraordinary duty which the late disturbances on
"
board the fleet have occasioned, as their alacrity in dis"

D. A.
General

4 Feb.

nd

>

clj onei
cieave"

'

86
"
"

"

CHAP. IV.

1796^1799-

charging their duty was no less conspicuous than on

former occasions, when the Artillery have been called

upon

to act, I

am

directed

by Major-General Dundas

"

express his entire approbation of their conduct,

"
able to themselves and to the Service.
"
I have, &c.,
"

to

honour-

P. ABERCROMBIE,
"
Major of Brigade."

(Signed)

of loyal conduct in time of civil disturbance

as noble a record to hoard in the story of a regiment as
the chronicle of valour in the field.
Military discipline is

Commendation

is

indeed a miserable weapon, if it is not found true in time of

national discontent, as well as in the hour of national danger.
The great lesson for a soldier to learn is obedience ; and if
that obedience

is to

be conditional on the

soldier's inclination,

then the nation which trains an armed force

a possible enemy.

The

is

but cherishing

lesson of silent obedience

is

becoming

every day more difficult to learn discipline in civil life is

rarer than it was, and impatience of control is almost a
What a noble mission, then, an army may
popular cry.
To show that men with skill and
follow in time of peace
a
and
consciousness
of these qualities, can yet
with
power,
;

subordinate themselves for the good of the commonwealth,

is surely a grand object for an
in the daily life of such a force a

instead of the individual,

And

army's purpose.
nation might read a lesson, which, if taught from the mouths
of rulers or the pulpits of preachers, would fall on deaf, because doubting ears

for a suspicion dogs the heels of the

mere speaker, which vanishes before the open and consistent

life

of the actor.

Yet a few more statistics before the chapter closes. It has

been necessary to talk with disparagement of the field brigades, as distinguished from the troops of Horse Artillery in
the conclusion of the last century. But if the quality of
the Field Artillery was indifferent, its quantity would have
satisfied

were, in

an alarmist.

On

the 19th February, 1798, there

England alone, 126 battalion 6-pounder guns, be-

Official Returns.

CHAP. IV.

87

brigades and parks of artillery, consisting of 29

12-pounders, 36 long 6-pounders, and 28 5|-inch howitzers.
These were distributed in Newcastle, Hull, Woodbridge,

sides

Colchester, Warley, Canterbury, Dover, Lewes, Plymouth,

St. Austell; and there was a further reserve at Woolwich

and

of 12 12-pounders, 30 long 6-pounders, 3 8-inch howitzers,

12 5J-inch howitzers, and 30 light 6-pounders.

This seems a formidable force on paper, and
soothed

many

a terrified

it

doubtless

alarmist, and silenced many an

honourable member on the Opposition benches. But, alas

both these desirable ends may often be attained by an official
Had the
return, and yet the evil may not be removed.
!

House demanded that the means

of locomotion for

this

powerful force of artillery should be produced, it is to be

feared that the men would have been scarce and the horses
scarcer.

And

yet the

official

return had

its

value.

The

managed it may be at great

produce the necessary armament at the eleventh

authorities concerned always

expense to
hour and the balance was merely so much dust thrown in
the eyes of honourable members, as a sort of Parliamentary
;

tribute.
Official returns may be misleading, and yet the units of
the force to which they relate may be worthy of all praise.
Eising from the contemplation of faded pages, and the

analysis of the Eegimental correspondence between 1796

and 1799, the chronicler feels that there were in the Corps
at that time men whose hearts were so engrossed in their
work, even in this time of sad rebellion, of national depression, of uninteresting warfare, that they could truly say,
with the poet who was to come in later years and with no

exaggeration, but merely in a simple expression of what was

uppermost in their daily thoughts

"

rather dread the loss of use, than fame."

the
of

Duke

CHAPTER

Y.

THE CHRISTENING OF THE CHESTNUT TROOP.

THE course

of our narrative brings us again to the Continent of Europe. In the year 1798, an expedition was
ordered from England, with a view to the destruction of the
basin, gates,

and

sluices of the

Bruges Canal, and the conbetween Holland,

injury to the internal navigation

sequent
The prevention of a meditated inFlanders, and France.
vasion of England by the French would, it was hoped, by

means also be ensured. The naval part of the expediwas under the control of Captain Home Popham, while
the military force was commanded by General Sir Eyre
this

tion

D.A. Gen.'s

Coote.
Eight companies of the Guards, the llth Kegiment,
and the flank companies of the 23rd and 49th Kegiments,
constituted the Infantry employed and the Artillery con;

two companies attached to a battery of four

6-pounders and three light howitzers. The Artillery officers
were Captain W. H. Walker (in command), Captain afterwards Sir Wiltshire Wilson, Captain C. Godfrey, Lieutenants
The guns were
Simpson, Hughes, Ilbert, and Holcroft.
carried in different vessels, and landed near Ostend.
On the
19th May, at daybreak, the troops disembarked, and commenced destroying the works. In a few hours they undid

sisted
spondence.

of

the labour of five years, besides burning a number of transports, which had been collected for the conveyance of French

regiments to England;
considerable loss.

but this was not effected without

When, however, the English

force at-

was found to be impossible, owing

to the high wind which prevailed and the heavy sea.
It was
therefore found necessary, after going through the empty
form of summoning the citadel, to encamp for the night on
the sands.
The English were attacked at daybreak by the
tempted

to re-embark, it

CHAP. V.

Expedition

to the

Helder.

89

and after a severe action,

in overwhelming numbers
which Sir Eyre Coote was wounded, the whole force was
compelled to surrender. The conduct of the Artillery was
worthy of their comrades in the battle and their commander, Captain Walker, received wounds from which he died.
>6f the rest the following official mention was made:
"
Captains Wilson and Godfrey, and Lieutenants Simpson,
"
Hughes, and Holcroft, all of the same distinguished Corps,
"
after having done everything men could do, spiked their
"
guns and threw them over the banks at the moment the
"
enemy was possessing himself of them. The latter gentle"
man, Lieutenant Holcroft, when all his men were wounded
"
except one, remained at his gun, doing duty with it to the

enemy

in

<

London

^
1798.

"

best of his ability."

From subsequent official correspond- D. A. Gen.,
ence we learn that the following officers were permitted, {V^j ^ en
with their soldier-servants, to return to England on parole, of the

Captain Wilson, Lieutenants Simpson, Hughes, and

Holcroft, Captain Godfrey remaining at Lille with the men.
viz.,

From

a plaintive letter to the Deputy- Adjutant-General,

written by the last-named officer, it would appear that the prisoners were in a very sorry plight; for he implored an advance
"
of pay for all, as they
wanted almost everything sorely."
Next year an expedition on a larger scale took place,

much more fortunate. It has an especial

interest to the Artilleryman, as being the first expedition in
which a general officer of Artillery was considered necessary
although not

with the force, on account of the large proportion present

belonging to that arm. General Pattison, who had held a

command

in America, did so as an

and General

Army, not

who

as

an Artillery

commanded

in that
Phillips,
with
a
field
officer,
war, was merely
army rank
regimental
in
as General.
The expedition to the Helder,
1799, had

General

also

a contingent of Artillery, consisting of one troop of Horse

Artillery, and eight companies of Marching Artillery, as

The troop was A, or the Chestnut

commanded by Major Judgson; and although part

they were termed.

Troop,
of

it

had taken a share in the suppression of the Irish

was the first occasion on which any portion

rebellion, this

^^

1798

The Christening of the Chestnut Troop.

90

CHAP. v.

the Koyal Horse Artillery proceeded on foreign active

service; and, as will appear, the troop had rather a rough
of

Vol.

lapteme de feu.

i.

command
D. A. Gen.'s

spondence.

General Farrington was selected

of Artillery, receiving the following letter

the

for

from the

Deputy Adjutant-General, on the 8th August, 1799: "In

" conversation
yesterday with Lord Howe, he observed that
"
if the expedition now embarked was to he followed hy
"

the troops and Artillery ordered to he in preparation, he

" should consider it
necessary for them to be accompanied
"
not
an
Artillery officer of experience and abilities,
by
only
"
but by one high in rank in the Corps and under that
"
idea I was desired to address myself to you, to know if
"
your health would admit of his proposing you to the
"
Commander-in-Chief for the command of the whole.
."
;

The

offer

was eagerly accepted by the General, and his

appointment was confirmed. He selected Captain afterwards Sir William Eobe as his Brigade-Major, and Captain

Maclean

as his

Aide-de-Camp.
in two divisions
the first, under Sir
from
Southampton, while the
Ealph Abercromby, going
and
main
was
division,
second,
being assembled in Kent.
When united, the command-in-chief was to be assumed by

The expedition was

the

Duke

thlTifcard
of Ord-

Sir E.

Abercromby applied for Lieut.

Whitworth to command
the Artillery of his division, and his request was complied
The following was the strength of General Aberwith.

Colonel

MS. Re-

of York.

afterwards Sir Francis

1 field officer, 6 captains, 13 subcromby's Artillery, viz.

alterns, 2 surgeons, 40 non-commissioned officers, 371 gun:

ners,

and 6 drummers.

There were

also present with him,

belonging to the Driver Corps, 1 subaltern, 3 quartermaster

commissaries, 15 non-commissioned
5 artificers, and 200 horses.

officers,

152 drivers,

The main

D. A.

Artillery force, under General Farrington, which

that
followed
just given, was of considerable strength, inGen.
eluding, besides Major Judgson's Troop, Lieut.-Colonels
Smith and Trotter, 9 captains, 14 subalterns, 1 surgeon,

43 non-commissioned officers, 412 gunners, and 8 drummers,

besides a detachment of the Driver Corps, consisting of

CHAP. V.

Expedition

to the

Heldcr.

captain, 4 quartermaster-commissaries, 12 non-commisThe

officers, 166 drivers, 9 artificers, and 400 horses.

sioned

2 capstrength of Major Judgson's Troop was as follows

tains, 3 subalterns, 1 surgeon, 16 non-commissioned officers,
:

97 gunners, 58 drivers, 7 artificers, and 1 trumpeter ; making

a total of 185, besides 191 horses. 1 A second troop of Horse
Artillery* was put under orders, but did not embark ; and of

now

A
B
1

of

The

detail of the

Chestnut Troop, as

officers, officers' horses,

inchi'te

.aluce,

and

was as follows

it

the attached

actually embarked, exclusive

men from

the

Driver Corps,

STATE of a TROOP of HORSE ARTILLERY

as they

embarked

for

HOLLAND

Captain

in 1799.

Battery,
Brigade.

92

The Christening of the Chestnut Troop.

CHAP. v.

a further detachment of the Driver Corps, which was held in

400 horses, ahout one-

readiness, consisting of 226 men and

half ultimately went, if not more.

Artillery force which it was at first intended

sent including the Driver-Corps auxiliaries
amounted to 1857 officers and men and 1344 horses and of

The whole

should be

this

certainly 1600 men and 1000 horses accom-

number

panied the expedition. Among the names of officers not yet

mentioned, who accompanied the Army to the Helder, the
letters of the period include the following
Brevet Lieut.Colonel Terrot, Major Lewis, Captain Mudge, Captain
:

afterwards

Sir

Augustus Frazer, Captain Eiou, Captain

Kamsey, Captain-Lieutenant Geary, Lieutenant Knox, Lieutenant Morrison, and Assistant-Surgeon
Jameson. From other sources we learn that two officers, who
subsequently attained great distinction in the Corps, were
also present
Sir E. C. Whinyates and Sir John Michell
both officers being then 2nd Lieutenants.
Lieutenants
and
are
also
to
known
have
been
Simpson
Eligee
present,
from the fact that both were among the wounded in the
actions which took place.
The reason why uncertainty preya ^ s as *
e regimental details of the Artillery force on
this expedition will appear at the end of this chapter.
Nicholls, Captain

Memoir

of

Whinyates.
Kane's

Brownes
'England's

It will be readily understood that so large a force was not

collected without difficulty.
But of the extent of the labour

involved no one can adequately judge who has not had access
to the official letter-books of the time.
The expedition to
the Helder proved at once the necessity of a head-quarters
staff for the

Eoyal Artillery, and the capacity of the

man

who had been

selected as the first Deputy-Adjutant-General

of the Corps.
The later campaigns, in whose organization
Sir John Macleod had so large a share, were undoubtedly on

but it is questionable whether his zeal, tact,

and activity were ever so prominent, as in the arrangements
a grander scale

for this unfortunate expedition to Holland.

He

did every-

thing, and made a point of knowing everything, himself: he

gave himself no rest until he had accomplished his purpose
;

nor yet did the amount of his

official

labours interfere with

Sir John Macleod.

CHAP. v.

the courtesy

to*

all

93

ranks for which he was so remarkable.

always preceded the order

private
for movement, where such intimation could be given without
detriment to the Service no unnecessary mystery attended
letter of friendly notice

he was almost laboriously anxious to meet the

convenience of all concerned, and evinced in his letters a

his actions

sympathy, such as he could not have surpassed in his

His correspondence with
dealings with his own relations.
the various commanding officers, from under whose control
he had to steal detachments to bring the companies

for service

Never for
up to their required strength, is a masterpiece.
one moment leaving the line of action which necessity and
the Board had imposed on him, he yet seemed to consult and
defer to the Generals whose divisions he was. weakening, and

by their consent what he really was taking by force.

wrong system, such as the old dual government of
the Artillery was, could be made less detestable, it was made
And it is better
so by Colonel Macleod's tact and courtesy.
to obtain

If ever a

that the deformities of a military system should be laid

bare in time of peace, than on the eve of war, when the
almost inevitable confusion cannot afford to be increased by
ill-timed revelations.
is

An

indifferent

machine well-worked

better than an admirable one whose powers are paralysed

by some temporary, but thorough disarrangement.

It is not

are ahead, that men speculate on the beauties

be they what they may
it is then that
of their engines

when breakers

they are expected to work to the utmost of their power. In

the hands of Colonel Macleod the evils of a wrong system

were reduced to a minimum : but the system was a wrong

one

still.

to perfect the force which he had to organize

were as admirable as were his endeavours to remove all possible friction. There have been times in our military history
when the great wheel of progress and success has after

His exertions

much creaking

been set in motion by the untiring exertions

of unexpected leaders, or uncomplaining heroism in the

ranks, instead of the labours of those on whom the organiAnd at such times of unexzation of the armies depended.

The Christening of the Chestnut Troop.

94

pected fortune,

it

CHAP. v.

has generally been found that the

official

have buzzed most loudly around the revolving wheel, as

Not so with Colonel
if they had been the motive power.
beneath
his notice
was
Macleod in 1799.
no
Nothing
flies

exertion was spared by him which could ensure the perfecThe same
tion, as well as the harmony, of the machine.

pages which reveal his consideration for individuals show also

his determination to render the Artillery part of the expedition

and the difficulties in his way were very great. In

the single item of horses, he found an obstacle which seemed
for the horses did not exist in
likely to be insurmountable
unrivalled

the service, and could hardly be bought.

Such animals as
were procured by scouring the country were in so wretched

So ima condition that they could barely crawl in harness.

to
the
of
decent
rations
was
sorry brutes,
every day
portant
that to every party marching to the port of embarkation

D. A. Gen.'s
e

Eamsgate Colonel Macleod sent orders to shorten the

marches, and to delay going on board as long as possible
and at all hazards, "except," he wrote, " that of allowing it
" to be said

'
>

We

are waitin S for the Ordnance.'

"

other evils was the monotonous cry from distant

not only heard in 1799, nor by one Deputy Adju"
More men from England !" Every place
tant-General of

Among

colonies

was drained of every available man even the old gunners at

the Tower were drafted away, and raw recruits sent in their
Militia
place but the colonial wants were not satisfied.
were
were
also
which
embodied,
sending daily
regiments,
petitions for battalion guns, followed by remonstrances and
;

strongly-worded indignation. And Colonel Macleod, in spite

of his personal opinions, was obliged to strain every nerve
to meet a wish, which was still supported by our military
system.

His personal opinions,

it

has been said,

and truly

for the correspondence of the period reveals the fact that

Colonel Macleod had commenced to detest the existing

system of battalion guns. He dared not say openly what

he thought but from a private letter written at this time
his opinion may be easily learnt.
Writing of some detachments which had been collected under an officer's command,
;

Battalion Gnns.

CHAP. v.

95

"

I believe they are intended for the battalion guns

" of the
Infantry Brigades, and I had some thoughts of
"
where I would have them
them to

he said

drawing

Chatham,

" drilled
to the duty expected of them
appointing 1 non"
commissioned officer and 7 gunners to each 6-pounder, and
"
accustoming them to make use of a horse to advance,
" instead
of drag-rope men a custom which weakens the
" battalions
they are attached to without aiding the services
"
of the Artillery.
For, between you and I, six men are too
and
too many to stand ivith ropes in their
to
"few
drag guns,
11

hands

to be shot

at"

An

incident, which occurred at this time, shows that the

system of drawing lots was not confined to choice of stations
In a letter to the commanding officer
or barracks at home.
at Newcastle
Colonel Lawson Colonel Macleod, in calling
for one of the companies under his command for service in
the expedition, requested him to assemble the Captains, and
make them draw lots for the duty.
It was in August 1799 that the force sailed from England
and the student, who has realised the labours of Colonel
;

Macleod, will also be able to conceive the feelings of relief

with which he despatched, at 3 A.M. on a day at the begin-

ning of that month, a mounted orderly, to carry the intelligence from "Woolwich to the Duke of York at Deal, that the

man and horse of the

now be necessary to follow
last

It will
Artillery had embarked.
the expedition, merely remarking

here that the casualties, which speedily occurred, rendered a

fresh supply of ammunition and horses necessary before many

weeks had passed, and that consequently Colonel Macleod

had but a brief respite from his toil.
The expedition to the Helder was intended to effect two
things the capture of the Dutch fleet, which in the hands
of the French was an unmistakable danger to England, and
a military demonstration in Holland,

which should lead

to a

In the first of
rising against the Republican Government.
these objects the expedition succeeded ; in the second it
miserably failed. For an exhibition of fruitless gallantry, it
has not been surpassed in the annals of the British Army.

Letter

Sir
k

t<>

John

The Christening of the Chestnut Troop.

96

But happily it was the

drama

of military

with which the last decade of the eighteenth century

failure,

was

closing scene in the

CHAP. v.

surfeited.

With

the

new century came

a spirit in

Eng-

land's military operations, which made her campaigns by

The wars of the
land as glorious as her successes by sea.

nineteenth century threw into the background the share

taken by our armies in the wars of the French Kevolution,
during the period which preceded the overthrow of the
Directorate in France and the virtual assumption of the
supreme power by Napoleon in the winter of 1799. But the

Eegimental historian has to bring even fruitless and unsuccessful wars to light again, in his search for stories of individual gallantry or for the causes of failure.
England's ally in the expedition to the Helder was Eussia.
It

had been arranged by the two governments that the land

forces should comprise a Eussian contingent of 17,000 men,

and an English army of 13,000. England more than fulfilled

her promise

for the actual force sent

by her was

as

much

as that promised as the Eussian contribution.

In adin
the
dition, England furnished vessels to assist
transport

of the Eussian troops from the Baltic, and a powerful fleet,

of more than sixty men-of-war, under Admiral Lord Duncan.

On

the 21st August, 1799, the fleet and transports arrived

mouth of the Zuyder Zee, and anchored off the
Helder but foul weather prevented a disembarkation until
off

the

a delay which gave undoubted advantage to the

French and Batavian troops. The enemy was at first under
the command of General Daendels, but he was almost immeand the army, which
diately superseded by General Brune
had at first been 10,000 strong, rose in a few weeks to nearly
treble that number.
Abercromby's division was the first to land, and after a
ver j severe engagement, in which the Infantry under Genera j s gi r J am es Pulteney and Coote behaved most gallantly,
the Dutch were driven back, and the English took possession
The Artillery
of the Kirkduin, and the fort of the Helder.
was not landed till after this engagement; nor was the
ground favourable to the use of the Dutch artillery. The

the 27th,

23rd, 27th,
'

and 85th
Regiments.

Cust.

Action of Zyp.

CHAP. V.

fleet

was summoned

to surrender

97

and the Dutch Admiral,

conscious of a strong spirit of insubordination among his

crews, ever since the appearance of the British flag, con-

sented to deliver over his ships unconditionally ; and he thus

gave to the English the complete control of the Zuyder
Zee.
On this taking place, the Dutch troops retired, and
took up a position in front of Alkmaar, where they were
joined by General Brune and 7000 French.
Abercromby

occupied the ground vacated by the Dutch, and strengthened

it in
every way possible, being resolved to await there the
arrival of the

Duke

of

York and the Kussian contingent.

General Brune, however, saw the advantage of an engagement before such a junction could be effected and therefore
;

on the 10th September he assumed the offensive, but without success, being totally defeated with a loss of 2000 men.
The Artillery was of great service to Abercromby and t
was in this engagement known as the action of Zyp that
Lieutenant Simpson was wounded. The French resumed
their old position in front of Alkmaar, which they greatly
strengthened; and -confined their operations to preventing
Abercromby from advancing out of the contracted space in
which he was situated.
;

On the 12th September the Kussians arrived, and on the

day following the Duke of York assumed the command, and
resolved on leaving the position where the army had been
stationed,

and on attacking the enemy with the large force

his disposal, numbering about 35,000 men.

He
divided his army into four columns
the right being under

now

at

Hermann, and composed entirely of Russians;

the second, under General Dundas, consisting partly of
the third, under Sir James
British, and partly of Eussians
a
with
Pulteney,
large proportion of Artillery and Cavalry
and the fourth, under Sir Ealph Abercromby, consisting
General

entirely of British troops the last being intended to make a

the day before
detour on the evening of the 18th September
;

and to turn the enemy's right flank. The

three columns were ordered to attack simultaneously at
break of day on the 19th, moving on different named points.
the intended battle
first

VOL.

II.

'

London

17 "-

98

The Christening of the Chestnut Troop.

CHAP. v.

These arrangements, which have been somewhat severely

criticised, would doubtless have succeeded, had the Duke's
orders been obeyed but unfortunately the first, or Kussian,
;

column precipitated the engagement by attacking the enemy

two or three hours before the other columns were ready to
move, and drove the enemy out of the village of Bergen.
General Brune brought up his reserve to recover his lost
ground, and fell upon the Eussian troops when in a state of
intoxication from the excesses of which they had been guilty

since the capture of the village.

disgraceful scene followed, ending in the tumultuous flight of the Eussians with
The Duke of York accompanied
the loss of many prisoners.

the second column, but the retreat of the Eussians on his

right compelled him to fall back, and to send orders to the
third and fourth columns to do the same.
Great success
had in the meantime attended the efforts of Sir James
Pulteney, the Guards, 17th and 40th Eegiments, having

greatly distinguished themselves ; but, owing to the change

given to the whole plan by the mistake and misbehaviour
of the first column,

when night came

the Allies occupied

The
precisely the same ground as tjiey held in the morning.
loss to the English amounted to 500 killed and wounded,
and 500 taken prisoners

and the Eussians

lost

3000 men

but an equal number of the enemy had been taken prisoners

In this engagement, known as the battle
by the Allies.
of

Bergen or Alkmaar, the

follows
London

24^"*''
1799.

loss of the

Eoyal Artillery was as

First Lieutenant Eligee,

wounded and taken prisoner

Volunteer John Douglass, wounded

Killed : 5 gunners
4 gunner-drivers

and 3 additional

gunners.

Wounded : 8 gunners

6 gunner-drivers

and 4 additional

gunners.
Missing: 7 gunners, and gunner- drivers.
In the interval between this engagement and the severe
battle on the

gives the

employed

title

in

2nd October,
to the

when the event occurred which

present chapter,

strengthening

their

both armies were

positions

on shore, in

Conduct of the Russian Troops.

CHAP. v.

99

obtaining reinforcements, and in arranging their respective

gun-boats in such a way as to obtain from them an enfilade fire,

The Duke of York felt the importance

making a final effort, before the season was further advanced and his dispositions on the 2nd October were much
the same as on the 19th September, except that he gave the
right column to General Abercromby, whose force consisted
of 8000 Infantry and 1000 Cavalry, with Major Judgson's
The troop was partly armed with General
troop of Horse Artillery.
t
a
very heavy armament for Horse Artillery, f*'Jf
12-pounders,
and one never again used
and it seems all the more n Sept.
in event of attack.

of

when we

that the battalion guns, which

unsuitable,
were merely 6-pounders, were in one instance brigaded into
a battery under Captain Frazer,
presenting the anomaly
find

in the army, on this 2nd October, of a light field artillery,

intended for rapid movements, being armed with guns of
twice the calibre of those used by what should have been the

medium

field artillery, and only required to accommodate

the movements of infantry.
second column was composed of Kussian troops, under

itself to

The

Count Essen the third was under General Dundas and

the fourth under Sir James Pulteney.
The main interest
attaches to the first column, whose duty it was to keep close
to the seashore- as far as Egmont-op-Zee, and thence
menace the French left and rear. The other columns were
to drive back the enemy's line if possible and, at all events,
so to occupy him as to prevent the left from being strength;

ened in such a manner as might endanger the success of the

first column.
The exertions of General Dundas's brigade

were marvellous, and were crowned by success; but they

were almost undone by the refusal of the Eussians, at a

moment, to advance against the village of Bergen,

which had been laid bare by the retreat of the enemy before
critical

the impetuosity of the English troops.

This refusal was
never forgotten, nor was there from that hour any harmony

between the

allied troops.
Encouraged by the impunity
but,
them, the enemy resumed the offensive
the
them
farther
to
unable
drive
back,
although
English
H 2

allowed

*'

ioo

The Christening of the Chestnut Troop.

CHAP. v.

succeeded, although with great loss and difficulty, in holding

the ground they had taken.

The first column, under General Ahercromby, reached

Egmont-op-Zee without difficulty but there it found a large
force of all arms, under General Vandamme, drawn up in
The engagement which followed was proline of battle.
but
and
Sir Ralph was at last successful
bloody.
longed
his advantage was short-lived, for reinforcements arrived
from Alkmaar in such numbers that it required all the skill
of the English General, and all the undaunted courage of
;

men, to prevent his left from being broken before night

put an end to the engagement. It was at this time that
the Chestnut Troop received its baptism of fire. By some
oversight on the part of the General, or possibly owing to
ignorance as to the powers of this new weapon Horse
Artillery,
Major Judgson's Troop had been advanced to a
dangerous distance, and left with an inadequate escort.
his

General

Yandamme

observed

this,

and, placing himself at the

head of his Cavalry, swept down upon the guns. The scene
which followed was an exciting one. Taken by surprise, the
gunners did not loose their presence of mind, but fired into the
advancing cavalry until they were in their midst; and then,
with any weapons they could lay hands on, they struggled

Browne,
Cust.

with the troopers, who, in immense numbers, surrounded

them, and sabred them at their guns. According to one
account, two only of the guns were carried off by the

when they retired ; according to another, the whole

were captured. Be it as it may, the prize was not left long
undisputed, for Lord Paget, placing himself at the head of
the 15th Light Dragoons now the 15th (King's) Hussars
cavalry

charged the enemy's cavalry, pursuing them for over a

mile ; and, assisted by the explosion of one of the captive
The story is
limbers, succeeded in recovering all the guns.

sympathy between the Chestand

the gallant Regiment which proved so staunch
nut Troop
a godfather to it at this its christening, and is one to be
calculated to create a friendly

In the
talked over by the camp-fire in days coming on.
order which was issued after the battle, Major Judgson

Evacuation of Holland.

CHAP. v.

101

" In the severe action on

received special mention.
this day
"
His Koyal Highness expressed his thanks to Lieutenant- 24 Oct.'
"
Colonels Whitworth and Smith, who commanded the 1799
"
Artillery of reserve, and to Major Judgson, of the Horse
"
Artillery.
Captain Nicholls was wounded in this action,
*

" and

is

since dead."

Although the Allies had not driven the enemy back as far
as they had hoped, they nevertheless occupied the ground
on which the French General had taken up his position at

The

the commencement of the hattle.

loss to the British

was

severe, 1300 having been killed and wounded, including

100

officers.

Another attempt was made by the Allies on the 7th

October to drive the enemy back, and to escape from the
position in which they had been cramped since the com-

mencement

of the campaign; but, although they defeated

with severe loss the troops to whom they found themselves
immediately opposed, the cordon beyond still hopelessly sur-

rounded them.

As there was no symptom

rising in the country on their behalf,

of a popular

and as reinforcements

were daily reaching the French, the Duke of York decided

on opening negotiations with a view to the evacuation of
Holland by the Allies. These were ultimately successful
and the only beneficial result of this campaign, which sur;

vived the negotiations, was the retention of the

by the English.

The conclusion

Dutch

fleet

of the Artillery share in this campaign

In the old letterit.

had an element of the ludicrous in

books, deposited in the Koyal Artillery Eecord Office, is the

following one, showing the pitiable way in which poor

General Farrington, who had left with all the pomp and
circumstance of war, returned to his home. Writing from
" After a
Blackheath, he says
very fatiguing voyage and
:

"

journey,
"

am

this

moment

arrived at

my own

Knox, and
"
Dr. Jameson, came over passengers with me, and will be
"
at Woolwich this night, or to-morrow
morning. The want
"
of horses keeps them back, and my anxiety of mind to
Trotter, Smith, Terrott, Kobe, Maclean, Lieut.

To D. A.

house. Nov

?'

1799.

'

CHAP. v.

102 The Christening of the Chestnut Troop.

" arrive as
early as possible led

me

to accept a passage in a
The
a melancholy tale to unfold.

"

post-chaise ; but I have

the entrance
ship in which we came passengers, mistaking
" into Yarmouth
Harbour, ran on the sands, on which she
"
struck with such violence as, with the first shock, to
"
unship her rudder, and stave in her bottom ; but, wonder"
ful to tell, after keeping us in a most distressed state for
" an
hour, she passed the sands with 4 feet of water in her
"
hold, and, by the exertion of the boats of the fleet,
"
every soul on board was saved about 70 in number ;

"

" and in about half an hour the

ship sank in 10 or 11
"
The
fathoms of water.
cargo, such as guns, shot, and
"
the ammunition, of course,
shells,
may be saved
;

"

and we

all reduced to our ship-dress

It has been a most provionly ; everything else lost.
"
dential escape, and sincerely ought we to offer up our
"
for His

destroyed;

are

"

mercy.

prayers
" I

am

"
things

"
"

upon Lord Howe, nor have I

if you could ride over here
all
I can respecting the emyou

too unwell to wait

see

to

him

in

but

to-morrow, I will tell

barkation of the Artillery horses, &c., for

have not a

"

paper left."
While sympathising with the ill-fated General, the student
cannot refrain from anathematising the blundering pilot,
who mistook the entrance to Yarmouth Harbour, and was
thus the cause of papers being lost which would doubtless
have been priceless to the compiler of a narrative of the
Artillery share in the campaign of 1799.
Eeturn
Woolwich,

The following return

exclusive

of

the

of the losses of the Koyal Artillery,

Corps, in this campaign, was

Driver

rendered by the Deputy- Adjutant-General to the Board of

Ordnance

Killed,

and died

of their

wounds

....

25 of

Wounded

21

Prisoners and Missing

15

all ranks.

CHAP. v.

Losses of Royal Artillery.

103
910

Horses sent from England

Received in Ilolhmd from the Commissary- 1
General's Department

Killed, dead,

Returned

to

and

left

England

Total.
behind

1110
654

456

(Signed)

J.

MACLEOD,
D.- A .-General.

CHAPTER

VI.

EGYPT.

THE

history of the Eegiment in 1800 and 1801 has its

interest in the operations of the English Army
In these, so glorious in a military point of view,
in Egypt.

main

so effective in a national,

for they

in bringing about the Peace of

finds

Brig. -Gen.

MSS. on

in the R.

rUT

much

to interest him,

were the main instrument

Amiens

the Artilleryman

and much of which he may be

justly proud.
It is fortunate for the purpose of this history that the
officer who commanded the Artillery in Egypt placed on
record many most interesting details which the general

historian would have certainly overlooked, and whose reproAuction i n these pages will give a far more graphic sketch of
A the difficulties which were encountered than could be given

by the most skilful writer who had not himself been an eyeThe unpretending account of the means adopted
witness.
overcome the

cannot

fail also to inspire any

in
a similar position, with a
officer, who may find himself
resolution to yield to no obstacles.

to

The reader
a French

will

difficulties

remember that

in the year

1800 there was

stationed in Egypt, which, although reduced

from its original numbers, was yet too strong to be overcome

army

by the Turks. England resolved to reinforce the Turkish

army by means of an expedition from England, the military
part of which was to be commanded by Sir E. Abercromby
The Artillery of the
the naval, by Admiral Lord Keith.
under
the
command
of Colonel Lawson,
was
placed
Expedition
;

much importunity, obtained from the Duke of

of Brigadier-General.
rank
York the
Officers of his own
that rank to command brigades of
obtained
standing had
who, after

Infantry on the Expedition

and Colonel Macleod, although,

c H AP. v I

A rtillery for Egypt.

o5

he wrote, " bewildered with orders and projects, alterations and inventions," fought loyally to obtain from the
Board a recommendation that the officer commanding the

as

"

Artillery should receive it also.

The strength of the Koyal Artillery ordered to

Egypt under General Lawson was as follows

1

embark

of D. A.

for
Return,
rendered

54 Non-Cominissioned Officers,
7 Lance N.-C. Officers,

Field Officer,

7 Captains,
12 Subalterns,
3 Surgeons,

^p

9 April,'
1800.

450 Gunners,
9 Drummers,

making a total of 543, besides 38 women and 7 children.

The civil branch of the Ordnance was represented by 1 paymaster, 1 paymaster's clerk, 1 commissary of stores, 1 assistant commissary and 4 clerks, 6 conductors of stores, and

19

artificers.

The names

who

embarked were Colonel

Lawson, Captains Thomson, Lemoine, Evans, Meredith, and
Millar; Captains-Lieutenant Newhouse and Boger; Lieuof the officers

first

'

tenants Eaynsford, Munro, Lawson, F. Campbell, Fauquier,

and Trelawny; and 2nd

Lieutenants Kirby, Eook, and Nutt.
This force was augmented in the Mediterranean from Minorca and Malta,
and received a contingent, which will presently be mentioned,
from Lisbon
certain changes, also, were made in it by

Cleaveland, Armstrong,

Michell,

at Gibraltar a

company of the 6th Battalion, re- R ep0 rt to

one
of
the
5th
Battalion
in exchange. The battalions
ceiving
J
in
were
the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th, Lawson.
actually represented
Egypt
landing

and the companies which were present are detailed in the

volume of this work. The 3rd Battalion was at this

first

time mainly stationed in the West Indies.

On the 5th May, 1800, General Lawson reached Ports-

mouth

to take

command

of the Artillery of the Expedition,

been informed was on the point of sailing. He

which he had
had also been informed that all necessary particulars had
been communicated to him by the authorities but in neither
respect was his information correct, and the official fountain
of his knowledge was found to have poured forth a somewhat
;

106

CHAP. VI.

Egypt.

stream. Three weeks elapsed before lie sailed three

weeks of wild, hopeless confusion affairs having been complicated by the Government having decided on a secret expedition elsewhere, the Artillery of which was placed under the

muddy

orders of Colonel Seward, then in command at Portsmouth.

An interchange of companies between his force and that of

General Lawson was threatened, and mutual drafts were

made, as far as officers and a few men were concerned.

Colonel

Colonel

Macieod,
'

1800.

Another company, under Major Cookson, who distinguished

himself subsequently in Egypt, joined General Lawson at
Portsmouth a fact of which the student first becomes
aware by finding a joint letter from the subalterns of the
company, petitioning the Board, with considerable presence
of mind, for an advance of pay, they "being quite out of
"
It is presumed that their request was granted, for,
cash."
on the morning of the 25th May, Colonel Seward reported
"
between eleven and
the embarkation of this company
The whole of General
twelve o'clock in high spirits."
Lawson's force had sailed by the 3rd June, and reached
The gallant
Gibraltar on the 22nd of the same month.
General's existence had been embittered during the last few
days of his stay in England by the masterly silence, profound
as the grave, with which all his inquiries for information,
The subreiterated daily, were received by the Board.
difficulties which he encountered were mainly due
triumph of official reticence.
Leaving General Lawson's force at Gibraltar, let the
reader return for a moment to that under Colonel Seward,
which was to form part of the Secret Expedition. The Koyal
Artillery employed consisted of 386 of all ranks, besides

sequent
to this

that marvellous accompaniment of

22
days, whether secret or open,

The armament

all

expeditions in those

women and

11 children.

Three
light 6-pounders.
commanded
taken
were
by Major
complete,
companies
EmbarkBorthwick, Captain Salmon, and Brevet-Lieut.-Colonel
an ^ the following officers accompanied the force:
turns ^"A Benlham;
General's
Captains-Lieutenant S. G. Adye and A. MacDonald ; 1st
spondence.

Lieutenants

W.

consisted of 16

E. Carey, E. Curry, T. Masson, E. Carthew,

Attempt on FerroL

CHAP. vi.

107

Maxwell, D. Campbell, W. Holcombe, and L. Carmichael

2nd Lieutenants W. Norman Kamsay, W. D. Nicolls, J. Rollo,
S.

B. Lane.
Major Borthwick was appointed by
Colonel Seward Brigade-Major to the Artillery. Besides
these three companies, drafts from almost every com-

and H.

pany

in

England were taken

to

complete them to their

proper establishment, and to man the battalion guns. This

heart-breaking system of robbing one company to feed
the wants of another prevailed to a great and continual
extent during the earlier part of this century, and its evil
results show the vast improvement of the depot system,
which clothes the cadres of dwindling batteries abroad,

without taking from those at home the

men

trained in and

for themselves.

Considerable trouble was experienced by Colonel Seward

in obtaining the co-operation of commanding
regiments in matters relating to the battalion

officers

guns

of

and

expedition acted as another nail, so to speak, in the

of that objectionable system.
But infinitely greater
was the trouble caused by the vacillation and uncertainty of

this

coffin

the authorities, who, after the embarkation of the whole

sent orders for it to disembark and encamp near

force,

Southampton, until they could arrive at some decision as to

This afforded an opportunity for clerkdom

its destination.

Questions as to ship rations and land rations,

and
land pay, poured on the ill-fated captains of
ship pay
companies every day; and seldom did a mail reach them
to

run

riot.

without a disallowance.

At length the expedition set sail (the military part of the

force being placed under Sir James Pulteney), and made an
attempt on Ferrol, in whose harbour some large men-of-war
were lying. The troops landed under a covering fire from the
English fleet, and in the skirmish which followed they had
the advantage.

But, Sir James Pulteney, becoming alarmed

at the strength of the Spanish works, and at the news he

received of their preparations, re-embarked the troops the

same evening, and sailed for Gibraltar.

Here Colonel
Seward transferred to Colonel Lawson many of his officers,

Gust's
t

io8

men, and stores ; and with the remainder, and all the sick,
he went to Lisbon, whence pending his return to England
he wrote the most gloomy letters that ever crossed the

D. A.
'

CHAP. VI.

-Egypt.

c'orr

spondence.

threshold of Colonel Macleod's

officers to

office.

General Lawson's command

The

transfer of his

at Gibraltar,

and the

receipt of others from the companies in garrison, account for

the presence in Egypt of many who did not embark with

the latter from England, such as Major Sprowle, Captains

B. General
t0

Colonel
Macieod.

Colonel
l

RA

Pa 6 '
to

Colonel

Hj5y,

Duncan and Adye, and Lieutenants D. Campbell, Sturgeon,

and Burslem.
One of the companies which sailed from
with
General
Lawson was landed at Gibraltar in
England
for
exchange
Major Sprowle's and by this means the glories
;

Meredith and Lieutenants

and
Nutt.
Cleaveland, Michell,
From Gibraltar General Lawson went to Minorca, which
he reacne(l on the 10th July, after a tedious passage of
nineteen days. Here he landed his men to await the return
of Sir E. Abercromby, who had at first started for Genoa,
with all the troops he could collect from Minorca and elsewhere. While on the passage, however, Sir Ealph received
a message from the Admiral, Lord Keith, informing him
He therefore
that the Austrians had evacuated Italy.
diverted his course to Leghorn, where he remained a week,
and then went on to Malta. When the citadel of Yaletta
in that island was given up by the French in September,
and Malta passed into the hands of the English, General
Lawson followed Sir Kalph, and the expedition to Egypt
was in that island finally organized.

of

Egypt were denied

to Captain

During this time the English force in the Mediterranean

had been increased by the arrival of a body of 4000 men,
under Lord Dalhousie, from Belleisle, where they had at
first
Cust.

been intended to

act.

This reinforcement, with others

which followed, brought Sir K. Abercromby's force up to

17,489 men before it finally left Malta and an additional
force of 6000 men, under Sir David Baird, was expected to
meet them from India. The story of the Expedition after
leaving Malta will be told in General Lawson's own words.
;

But, in passing,

it

may

be stated that Minorca was the

CHAP. VI.

Control of

A rtillery.

09

residence at this time of Colonel

Cuppage of the Artillery,

whose correspondence with the Deputy Adjutant-General
reveals the fact that he was allowed a power over the Eoyal
Artillery in the Mediterranean of a very extensive and
unusual description. As a rule, as little power as possible
was allowed to commanding officers on out-stations; the

movements

of officers especially were carefully regulated

from England; but Colonel Cuppage evidently had the
power, and exercised it, of transferring officers and men
from companies, even belonging to different battalions, of

appointing

officers to

the

bomb

service in the Mediterranean,

and of disembarking others already appointed; and,

in a

word, of exercising unlimited control over that part of the

Eegiment which came within the area of his command. This

mentioned because such control, however advisable, was

rarely permitted under the Board, which was jealous of any-

is

thing approaching independence in those under its orders;

and it is impossible to avoid expressing surprise that a system

which succeeded so admirably on this occasion did not

The fact of Minorca being the residence
of the Commanding Officer of Artillery must not be construed
as implying that the old Ordnance Establishment and Train,
which disappeared with the capitulation of Port Mahon in
1782, had been revived. His residence there was almost
accidental, and mainly on account of its convenience,
pre-

receive further trial.

vious to the capture of Malta,

as a rallying point for the
naval and military forces in the Mediterranean.
One instance must be given, before entering upon General

Lawson's narrative, to show how infamously the arrangements of the civil branch of the Ordnance were often conducted,
after a campaign had been undertaken, and how
scandalously
the shortcomings of the civil were left to be expiated by the
These instances will be frequent as this
military branch.

work proceeds, and they are reproduced with a double and

deliberate purpose first, to show under what difficulties our
armies obtained their successes and second, to remind those
:

who

are ever ready to criticise the slightest shortcoming

of the same description in the present day, that in our older

no

CHAP. VI.

Egypt.

campaigns, whose glories are remembered when their

blunders are forgotten, the faults which are deprecated so
loudly to-day existed in an appalling degree.
Major Cookson's company was the first of General Lawson's

The earliest report of its movea letter written by Major Cookson from the Island
of Houat, where he found 132 of the 6th Battalion, making,

force to leave Portsmouth.

ments

is

with his own company, a total force of Artillery amounting

to 227 of all ranks.
With characteristic energy he com-

menced, after landing his company, to improve and strengthen

his position.
The reader will be good enough to remember
that Major Cookson's company was one of those on the

equipment of which the Board had expended unusual energy;

and had felt such confidence in the omniscience of their civil
officials, that they would not even reply to the hints and
prayers of the officers of Artillery, who were most deeply
Doubtless, then, everything will be found as it
should be. Yet let us hear what Major Cookson reports.
" I have
only a moment to tell you how very much dis"
tressed I am and how much the Service is retarded for
"
want of a Clerk of Stores who understands his duty.

interested.

"

There

"

but he

man

who calls himself Conductor of Stores,

from being adequate to the situation,
"
being, in the first place, incapable of writing. ... I have
"16 pieces of ordnance under my charge (10 6-pounders
" and
6 howitzers), all of which I had to complete to 100
"
rounds each, on board of the different vessels they were
is

here

very far

is

"

and to mount them ready to land in a chasse-maree,

which was cut down and prepared for the purpose, and
"
which I got done in two days since which I have been
"
obliged to land some here, and to put others from the
" Diadem and Inconstant on board
the John ordnance
"
ship, and into boats. Conceive, then, how much I must have
" been in want of conductors and clerks of
stores
On
in,

"

'

'

'

'

'

'

" board the

"

when in a hurry
ammunition, we were much annoyed

((

'

John,'

for

completing the

to find

12-pounder

flannel cartridges for the 5^-inch howitzers, and other like

"
mistakes ; however, I set the women to work and got over

CHAP. vi.

Official Foresight.

" that
difficulty and

"for
"
do,

"

my

1 1 1

All the camp equipage

many others.
and men whom I brought out is deficient;
pray, therefore, send me out the camp equipage for
company .... with a hospital and laboratory tent,
.

the officers

" as soon as
you possibly can as also camp-kettles, canteens,
" and haversacks.
The whole of the men have been un"
for some days past."
harassed
commonly
This is a charming picture of official foresight, and one
;

which we

shall find painted again

and again in the succeeding

pages of English story. Blind to the fact that the men, who
were to use them, were also the best judges of the things
required, and
"Being

too blind to have desire to see,"

the civil branch of the Ordnance too often reasoned a priori

evolved out of its own consciousness certain ill-defined

wants, which the troops might possibly have, and, with many
blunders and shortcomings, endeavoured to meet them. And
then, with monotonous recurrence, came a pitiful struggle to

maintain

its

own

dignity in the face of incessant failure.

to Major Cookson's appeal was not wholly

That the response

satisfactory may be gathered from the following extract from

"
"
a subsequent letter
their sending
Conceive," he wrote,
" me a common soldiers' tent for the
and
five
horsemen's
sick,
" tents without their
which
to
obtain
here
be imwould
poles,
"
all
the
as
men-of-war
have
possible,
expended already
"
every inch of wood that could be spared. You will see by
"
the return that we have 50 men ill, and, I am sorry to say,
"
several of them dangerously so."
:

It is a relief to turn,

now, to the words of a

man eminently

capable of removing the difficulties with which he was

surrounded.
" The
Expedition, under the orders of Admiral Lord Keith Brig.-Gen.
son
" and General
Abercromby, proceeded from the Island of jf^
" Malta on the 21st
December, 1800, arrived at Marmorice MSS. Nar"
on the New Year's Day following, and % A. Liin
Asia
Minor,
Bay,
"
remained there, waiting the co-operation of the Turks brai v>
'-

"

(being the time of their Kamadan), until the 20th February.

"
During this period every measure was taken the situation

1 1

Egypt.

"

admitted of to lessen the numerous

"

be met with in Egypt,

"

CHAP. VI.

difficulties expected to
such as a dangerous shore to land

a country destitute of wood, water, or roads

where
the
the
General
informed
Commander-in-Chief
Officers,
(as
"
assembled by order) nothing was to be looked for but a
"
wild waste of desert, and obstacles which the most unre"
mitting exertions had only a chance of surmounting, inde"
pendent of a formidable opposition from the French troops.
"
Under these ideas, and the battering train (originally
"
designed against Belleisle only) having joined the army
"
very indifferently provided indeed for such an uncommon,
"
arduous enterprise, no time could be lost. All the artificers
"
were landed, and strong working parties sent into the
"
woods to cut down timber for making additional spars,
"
skids, and various-sized rollers, to form gangways for
"
landing the heavy ordnance upon, assisting them over deep
"
sandy beaches, and in crossing the canals formed for con"
veying the rising waters of the Nile into the towns and
"
cultivated spots of the country.
"
The generally acknowledged difficulty of travelling by
"
wheeled carriages in Egypt induced the trial of a number of
"
contrivances to lessen that evil also, the first of which were
"
a kind of litters, .... termed horse-barrows.' No wood
"
growing in this country proper for such purposes, rendered
" it
necessary to dig saw-pits, in order to cut the pine timber
"
into long scantling (16 feet in length, and about 4 inches
"
square), something near the shape of a common hand"
barrow, preserving the grain as entire as possible. Two
" movable
cross-bars, which are secured by two small bolts,
"
these
shafts at a proper interval, to admit a horse at
keep
" each end
between them. Each horse or mule had a small
"
cart saddle with girth, back-band, breastplate, and crupper,
" and a halter for
These barrows were parleading it by.
"
ticularly useful for narrow paths and the trenches of
"
an attack, or for conveying any individual weight too
"
heavy for a single horse, such as a small piece of ordnance,
"
standing carriage, large casks of provisions, &c. (The
"
powder and ammunition expended at the attack of Aboukir

upon

"

General Lawsoris Narrative.

CHAP. VI.
"

"
"

"
"
"

"

13

Castle were mostly conveyed from the landing-place to the

Besides these single barrows, a

hatteries in this manner.)

design was formed for double ones, consisting of three

shafts, to be carried by four horses in pairs ; and also
others upon a still larger scale for camels, but neither time
nor materials admitted of their being put into immediate

A very considerable number of carrying-poles,

about 9 feet long each, were formed out of the small-sized
"
trees, to which rope-slings were added, for the soldiers to
"
convey kegs of musket-ball cartridges, ammunition-boxes,
execution.

"

"

or royal mortars with.

"
number of horses were purchased at Constantinople
"
on the part of the English Government, and sent to Mar"
the
and

morice, for remounting

"
"

"

those

Light Dragoons,

rejected by them were turned over to the Artillery service.

Such poor undersized animals as they were rendered it

absolutely necessary*not only to take the harness entirely

"

anything near fitting them,

heavy parts, such as neck"
collars, chain-traces, curb-bits, &c., and replace them with
"
light leather breast-collars, rope-traces, and pads formed out

to pieces, in order to bring it

"
but also to lay aside all the

"

of the

waggon

harness, a great part

of.

which, fortunately,

"

was not likely to be otherwise called for.

" About 130 horses
being thus completed with harness,
"
some light pieces guns and howitzers were landed, and
" a small
park formed, in order to drill them to the draught.
"
reform
possible was made to lighten the travelling
Every
"
of the ordnance, and it was very much wished to have
"
exchanged the limber-shafts for poles also, on account of
" their
weight, as well as other considerations ; but no proper
"
even at the Island of
could then be

wood

"

procured

Rhodes

The

block-trailed light 6-pounder car"

to each for draught ; but
allotted
had
ten
horses
riages
"
the framed ones required twelve when going over heavy
"
sand or shingle.
"
few of the most useful horse-artillery manoeuvres were
" also
practised -here, it being the Commander-in-Chief s
"
intention to establish some pieces on that principle wheiifor the purpose.

VOL.

II.

"
"
"
"

14

CHAP. VI.

Egypt.

ever horses could be procured for it. Drivers were also

very much wanted, several of those which came out ori-

with their officer,

ginally with the battering train having,
returned, in a very unaccountable manner, from Lisbon to

"

England, after the attempt on Cadiz.

" The
following considerations were submitted to the Com" mander-in-Chief at Marmorice
Bay, on 10th Jan., 1801
:

" 1st.

"

As the passage

of the fleet to the coast of

Egypt

probably be short, it is humbly proposed to have the

light field-pieces of the first division of troops conveyed
" from hence on the decks of the
ships of war, so as to be

may

"

" at once lowered down

altogether into the boats, having
" their
detachments
along with them, without the
Artillery
"
of
other
any
preparation after coming to anchor.
necessity
" 2nd. The ordnance
ships, in which the other pieces next
" for
are
aboard, to be conducted and stationed by
landing
" the
himself
(the masters alone not being sufficient
agent
" at such a
as near to the shore as
will admit.
safety

crisis)

"

And

be necessary, on account of the crowded

" manner in which
they were loaded in England (being taken
it

will

"

upon freight), to have light vessels alongside of them to

" receive the
water-casks, and articles not immediately
"
wanted, in clearing away to those sought for.
" 3rd. Small vessels or decked
with field ammuboats,

" nition and musket-ball

cartridges, will be required (parti"
the
if
coast
proves shallow) still nearer in shore,
cularly
"
and to be stationed opposite the centre of attack imme"
diately after the landing of the first division of the troops,
"
In order to furnish the
distinguished by Ordnance Jacks.
" most
a number of hand-carts and

speedy supply possible,

"

carrying-poles may be thrown on shore from these boats,

" for the soldiers to take off
any ammunition wanting, until
" the horses can be landed.

" 4th.
"
"

The

flat

boats and launches of the ships of war are

wished to be employed in carrying the

field

ordnance, &c.,

ashore, instead of transports' long-boats, which (as

"
experienced at Cadiz), from their want of hands
"
general size, are quite inadequate to the business.

was
and

CHAP. VI.

General

Lawsons

Narrative.

15

"

5th. Planks, joined together lengthways by staples and

cordage, may be necessary to travel the carriages upon over
"
the heavy sands.
The French, it is said, made use of raw
"
hides in passing the deserts with their field -pieces.
Per"
about
30
feet
of
with
narrow
neteach,
haps lengths
rope,
"
between
to
the
receive
wheels
be
found
ting
upon, might
"
as useful, and, in our situation, more readily procured.
"
6th. One thousand seamen, provided with drag-ropes or
"
harness, will be required to assist in landing and drawing
"
up the heavy ordnance and stores.
"
7th. The mode of advancing into the country will depend
"
upon the means of draught found there ; but, at all events,
"
if a
strong detachment of seamen can be procured to remain
"
with the Artillery, it will be highly beneficial to service.

"

"

Agreeable to these representations, application was immediately made to Lord Keith, who consented to take
"
aboard each of the line-of-battle ships two field-pieces,
"
which were placed on the poops ready for lowering down
" into
the launches all together.
Twenty-five seamen and
"

"

"

were allotted to each piece, with fifteen of the

These 350 were all the seamen his Lordship
Artillery.
officers

" could
"
"
11

"
"
"

"
"
"
"

spare out of the 1000 demanded.

rehearsals of landing were then practised

Two general
the guns got

ashore very readily, and quicker than the troops could

leap
out of their boats.
Each ship-of-war formed its own boat's
the best of them was made out of the fishing
;
of a mast, which, being hollow, secured the wheels of the

gangway

carriage from slipping, without side-pieces."

"
Alterations made in Carronade Carriages.
of heavy ordnance over the deserts of

The moving
Egypt the French

thought impracticable, and attempted no larger calibre

than 8-pounders or 12-pounders. Something more, how-

seemed necessary for us to make trial of against an

so much more formidable than any they had had to
"
contend with, independent of the ambition of superior
"
resource.
Upon comparing all circumstances together, it
"
appeared likely that whatever works they might have
ever,

"

enemy

1 1

CHAP. VI.

Egypt.

" raised in the interior of the

country since their possession
"
of it could not be very solid ones, even if composed of
"

masonry, for want of time to settle and the cement to

harden sufficiently in such substances and earth alone, in
"
this climate, must soon crumble to dust or sand, and easily
"
be destroyed by shells. From these considerations it was
"
concluded that carronades might probably be found suffi"

"

ciently powerful to breach

them

in either case at moderate

"

and be easily conveyed by the double horse or

camel-barrow across the country if necessary. The cir"
cumstance being suggested to Sir Ralph Abercromby, and,
"
at the same time, the means proposed of altering the
distances,

"

"
"

carriages for this purpose without affecting their seaservice in the smallest degree, His Excellency communi-

"

cated the idea to Lord Keith, who immediately ordered

of these 24-pounder carriages (though larger
"
ones were wished for) ashore from the ships-of-war, to
"
undergo the necessary alteration. This operation being
"
soon executed, some trials of shot and shells were made
"
there, and afterwards aboard the Foudroyant/ in presence
" of the Admiral and the
General, and much Approved of."

"

several

'

For the information of the non-professional reader, it may

here be mentioned that carronades are far lighter than guns
of the same calibre.
The details by which General Lawson
describes, in his MSS., the modifications

made by him

to

render the carronade-carriages suitable for his purpose, are

illustrated by carefully-prepared diagrams, without which
the description would hardly be intelligible.
It may be
stated briefly that, by certain additions to the carriage
which could easily be removed when again wanted on board

he produced something akin to the modern dwarf

traversing platform, requiring little or no ground platform
on which to be traversed. The navy officers who were preship

sent at the experiments expressed their opinion that the

alteration would be very useful to their service also, for

taking up posts occasionally ashore.

The MS. proceeds next to describe the arrangements
by General Lawson.

made

General Lawsoris Narrative.

CHAP. vi.

"
"
"

\ 1

mistakes, as well as loss of time, happening on

service by the ammunition being sent into the field with

"Many

the waggons accompanying the guns in the same state as

lodged in the storehouses that is, round shot, case shot,
;

"

and small stores, each article in separate pack"

ing-boxes, it was thought advisable, especially on this
"
occasion, where the ammunition must be mostly carried on
"
camels' backs, to complete each individual box with a
cartridges,

"

certain

number

of rounds (one fourth case), including small

"

stores, and everything necessary to the firing of them.

tl
This was effected by only raising the round-shot packing"
case about two inches higher, and the addition of a small
"
board as a false bottom, which admitted of stowings as fol"
lows, viz., for light 6-pounders, 15 rounds and 1 extra case-

"
"

"

shot; light 12-pounders, 8 rounds; medium 12-pounders,

For the royal howitzer ammunition, it was
7 rounds.

"

necessary to have two packing-boxes on this principle,

1 case-shot ; the
viz., one containing 9 live shells and

"

other with 2

"12

case-shot

rounds complete.

and

all

the articles

for

firing

This mode was found extremely

"
useful in the field, and is strongly recommended for all
" immediate occasions of
service, as no possible mistake
" can then
from ignorance or neglect, in
either
happen,
"
or
limber-boxes
with the utmost
the
guns
supplying
"
expedition.
" The ammunition for field-service was
usually conveyed
"
on camels' backs, each carrying four of the altered
"
6-pounder packing-boxes, two on each side, in a sort of
"

netted bag thrown over a pack-saddle but, useful as these

animals are generally for great weights, there are incon"
veniences attending them in this particular service ; viz.,
;

"

"
"

when loaded (which, of

they move very slowly,

"
Artillery

must be daily repeated)

therefore quite unfit f<5r Horse
in order to load or unload, they must first be
course,

"

made

"

always inclined to, and sometimes

"

and unmanageable;

"

is

to

kneel down, which in an action they are not

required for

become very refractory

whatever
also,
quantity of ammunition
the gun must always be taken equally

n8

CHAP. VI.

Egypt.

"

from both sides at the same time, to preserve

"

brium, &c.
"
These reasons determined a

its equili-

trial of light carriages in

their stead, first beginning with royal howitzer ammuni"
tion, it being the most dangerous and liable to injury.

"

" Some of the hand-carts were selected for this

purpose, and,
" in order to travel the
The
better, converted to curricles.
"
and
cross-bars
fixed
were
to
accordingly lengthened,
poles
"
in
the
front
of
horses'
them
much
in
the
collars,
support
"
same manner as the 3-pounder carriages formerly used in
"
the Horse Artillery, only more simplified. These carriages
" were drawn
four horses
and went
all the

each,
by
through
" marches of the
army to and from Grand Cairo remarkably
"
well, travelling very rapidly with 48 rounds of the how" itzer ammunition
completed for immediate service, as
"
mentioned."
already
"
Our
Light 3-pounder Carriages altered for Cavalry.
"
from
of
their
want
found
Cavalry,
proper horses, being
"
very unequal to the capitally-mounted French dragoons,
" it became
necessary to aid that defect by the attachment
" of
Four light 3 -pounders (brought from Malta)
Artillery.
"
first
were
prepared for this service. Their original mode
"
of travelling with shafts and single line of draught was
" altered to a double one
by cutting off the shafts of the
" limber at the
cross-bar, and introducing a pole instead of
"
with other

them, together

" a block of wood was fixed

"
and the iron

improvements. (For example,

by two bolts to the back of the

pintail removed from the centre of

to this block to receive the trail of the carriage upon.
"
This was done in order to make room for a 6-pounder
axletree,

"

"

it

ammunition-box, to be fixed cross ways in the front.

The

" old side-boxes

belonging to
"
their
entirely,

the carriage being rejected

At
places furnished seats for two gunners.

" small
expense an ammunition-box, containing 8 rounds,
"
was made to fit in between the cheeks of the gun-carriage,
" after the French manner.
A copper tray or drawer was
"
introduced under one of'the gunners' seats to contain the slow"

match, instead of carrying a lintstock.)

Four or

six horses,

General

CHAP. vi.

Lawsons

Narrative.

19

"

with two drivers (according to the ground), drew the

These pieces were served by four Artillerymen,
carriage.
" two on the
carriage and two mounted, on the off draught-

"

" horses.
They went through the service to Grand Cairo,
" and travelled much belter than was
expected from the
"
lowness of the limber- wheels, which defect there was no
"
for in

Egypt.
remedy
" Four
light 6- pounders upon block-trail carriages, with
"
two royal howitzers, were also equipped (as nearly as the
" means would
admit) for Horse Artillery service. Seven
"
Artillerymen and three drivers, with ten horses, were
"
"

allotted for the service of each piece, the gunners riding

the horses in draught, but the non-commissioned officer

"

mounted

single for the purpose of advancing to examine

These block-trail
roads, reconnoitring the enemy, &c.
"
their
short
from
lightness,
draught, and quick
carriages,
"
inundation
the
over
dykes and desert with
turning, passed
"
framed
the
while
carriages with more horses
great ease,
" were attended with
and
difficulty
delay, and once in the
"
to be left behind.

"

desert,

were obliged

"

The success of the curricle carts (for field ammunition)

" induced a trial if
something might not be done with the
"
waggons also, hitherto looked upon as out of all question,
"

except the local duties of the park. Some of them were

taken to pieces, and all the heaviest parts laid aside that
"
The bottoms were then
is, the bolsters, sides, and shafts.
"

"

contracted both in length and breadth, so as just to receive

nine or ten of the altered packing-cases only.
The hoops
"
were lowered, and the painted covers made to fit exactly.
"
Poles were used instead of shafts, and the usual swingle
"
The rejected parts being
trees reduced fewer in number.
"
hundred
six
than
no
less
pounds appeared saved
weighed,

"

"

"
"
"
"

in the draught by this simple operation, and a larger

proportion of ammunition conveyed by it at the same time

The immense weight and bulk of the

platform and devil carriages rendered them totally useless
some of these altered waggons were substituted as a
light class of the former kind, by taking away the bottoms

with

"

less labour.

I2O
"
"

Egypt.

CHAP. VI.

entirely, and fixing in their stead a couple of very strong

planks to each, with an interval between them resembling

" the
These light platform carriages proved very
original.
"
useful in withdrawing the ordnance and stores from our
" lines across
very heavy sands for re-embarkation."
The next subject treated of in the MS. is " Heavy weights
raised without a Gin," as follows
" The two-wheeled trench-cart
(of which there were
"
the
on
a
number
Expedition) is a most useful
luckily
" little
articles
of moderate bulk to a
for
carrying
carriage
"
ton in weight ; indeed, even so far as 10-inch iron mortar" beds of 23 cwt. were
transported in them, but in these
"
cases it was necessary, of course, to make use of a gin
"
also.
To obviate this circumstance and render the cart of
"
an inclined
attached
:

more independent utility,

plane was
" to the rear of
it, and a small windlass fixed in the front,
"
with a rope and iron block hooked to the weight, having
(f
rollers to ease the purchase, the weight being thus brought
"
up on the cart by turning the windlass. By this simple
"
means six men were sufficient to mount upon the cart,
" and
deliver at a battery any article the strength of the
" axletree and wheels could
bear, without making the
"
or
the
attention
of the enemy, which
drawing
appearance
" such
machines
as
devil
large
carriages and sling carts
"
besides
into
consideration the vast
taking
constantly do,
"
in
of
between
these carriages in
difference,
point
weight,
"
themselves.
Another considerable advantage is that this
"
contrivance is only occasionally applied, and the cart may
l(

be immediately worked in
"

prevented

(f

fng^the"
sand.

its

original capacity.

being apprehended that extraordinary heavy weights

"
might cause the low, narrow wheels of the trenched cart
(l

It

s * nk 80

mTlc k

n^

*h e san(^ as to retard the draught

contrivance was thought of to prevent

considerably,
"
this from happening, by occasionally increasing the
" breadth of the fellies.
The staves of casks being strong,
" and of a
favourable shape for the purpose, and still more
"
valuable from their being easily procured at the Commis"
sary-General's store, it was proposed to cut them into
a

General Lawsoris Narrative.

CHAP. vi.

"
"

lengths of seven or nine inches each piece, having two

small iron staples fixed at an interval, the breadth of the

"felly.

"
"
"
"
"

121

wheel

rope equal in length to the circumference of the

run through each of these lines of staples, secured

so as not to slip out, but keep the staves parallel at one
inch and a half asunder. They are then applied to the
wheels, and fixed by small lashings to the spokes, to keep
the whole from any alteration in travelling."
is

SOME EEMARKS ON THE FOREGOING ARTICLES.

1st.

"

"

The

original intention of the Expedition did not

its object, and for a considerable

have Egypt for

to

appear
while was very inauspicious.
In the first instance it
"
too
late
to
be
use
to
the Austrians in Italy,
proved
any

"

"

and afterwards became unsuccessful

"

appeared to be lost before

"

Marmorice Bay

and

it

at Cadiz.

Much

time

reached the rendezvous at

was then thought by the Turks a

very unseasonable part of the year for any attempt on the
" coast of
Egypt, besides which it happened to be the time of
;

it

"

"

their Kamadan, when no operations of any kind are undertaken by them. This last delay, however, although much
"
regretted, turned out advantageous to the future proceed"
Some useful arrangements were made
ings of the army.
"
then, besides the opportunity it gave of landing the sick

"

"

"

on board ship, by which many

and the Island of Khodes, just in the neigh-

after a long confinement

recovered

"

bourhood, afforded hospitals for the remainder."

" All
2nd.
the field ordnance, which had been landed at
"
Ferrol with Lieutenant-General Sir James Pulteney's

"
"
"
"
"

"

army, and afterwards joined General Sir Kalph Abercromby, were re-embarked there in so disorderly a manner
that

no one piece was found

fit

for

immediate

service.

This circumstance will for ever unfortunately occur, unless

the direction

of the business

Corps, whether

is left entirely to

the Artillery

navy boats and ships of war or those of

"
the Ordnance only receive them.
It cannot be expected
"
that the navy officers are in the first place fully acquainted
"
with the real importance of keeping all the parts of such

122

Egypt.

CHAP. VI.

"

carriages, ammunition-boxes, &c., exactly sorted together,

" or
that they can bestow much consideration on the subject,
"
hurried as they generally are upon such occasions."
"
3rd.
The turning over only rejected horses from the
"
Dragoons to the Artillery services was not so well judged
"
It would have been fortunate (the
as might be expected.
" best
of theirs bearing no comparison with the French
"
cavalry) to have rendered the movement of the Ordnance

" more effectual as it

;
was, both corps remained insufficient ;
" the effects of which were
fully experienced in the action
" of the 13th
March, when, had only a part of the number
" of
pieces then in the field been very well horsed, the fate
" of Alexandria
(it is more than probable) might have been
"
decided on that day. The French, on the other hand,
"
constantly applied the very prime of their strong horses
11

(those belonging to the officers not excepted) to the

draught of
on the Horse Artillery
"
establishment, with 8-pounder guns and 6-inch howitzers,
"
opposed to light 6-pounders and royals only."
"

their ordnance,

"

which were

chiefly

The disembarking of ordnance, unless in the

instance of field-pieces let down into the boats ready
" mounted from
ships of war, however regularly performed,
" is
always liable to some confusion. This principally arises
" from the
parts of the same natures of carriages not corre"
spending so correctly as they might do, particularly in the
" diameters of the wheels and
arms of the axletrees, which
"
should likewise be as general throughout the whole as
"
The waggons and carts being frequently made
possible.
"
by contract, are very defective in these points, even to the
"
fitting of their head and tail-boards ; and, trifling as this
"
may appear to a workman at home, it often occasions
"
delays of consequence to the service, or credit of those
"
concerned in it abroad. No nation, in point of economy
"
alone, requires so much attention to the construction and
" solid
stowage of its military carriages and stores as Great
"
Britain does, on account of their frequent embarkations,
"
the expenses of which in the course of a war are pro"
digiously great."
4th.

"

General Lawsoris Narrative.

CHAP. vi.

5th.

"

"

The

considerations submitted to the

123

Commander-

and
were much approved, and happily executed with
"
great despatch, notwithstanding some very serious impedi"
ments, arising from the manner of loading the ships ly
"
freight (carrying as much as possible without order), instead
"
of being regularly assorted.
The embarking troops also on
"
board such ships is always attended with, not only great
"

in-Chief respecting the

first

landing of the ordnance

stores

"

inconvenience, but considerable damage, from the quantity

" of
water necessary to carry for them, the waste and leakage
"
of which injures the carriages and stores considerably
"
underneath, besides the difficulty it occasions of getting at
"
them when required for service. In the preparations for
"
landing at Cadiz, seventy tons of water were obliged to be
"

"

removed from one ship only.

Great inconveniences
were also found from the magnitude of some of the ships,

first

"

which could not be brought within some miles of the shore.

They should for such services never exceed 600 tons, and
" a
moderate draught of water."
"

"

Carronades might certainly be employed in the land

service to considerable advantage in many situations, par"
ticularly on the flanks or firing over the parapets of forti"
fications and for field-works in general.
It would also be
"
very well worth while to have some experiments tried with
"
them in breaching walls and earthworks. The common
6th.

"

"

objection made to their shortness injuring the embrasures

has more of imagination than reality in it. They may be
"
advanced the extent of any gun mounted upon a travel-

"

"

and much farther than the largest garrison

with
less explosion of powder.
If their present
howitzer,
"
carriages are found to recoil too far, it is easily checked by
"
only laying a few filled sand-bags upon them, and in the
"
or
rear, as was practised in Egypt with perfect success
ling carriage,

"

"

may be checked by small iron wedges with chains, placed

"
to receive the fore- trucks upon."
it

7th.

"
"

"

The arrangement made

nition on the passage from

Egypt was very

of the spare field-ammuto the coast of

Marmorice Bay

fortunate, as

it

proved impossible to have

124
"

CHAP. VI.

Egypt.

any quantity forward otherwise, for want of conveyance, excepting a few camels taken from the enemy on
"
the first landing in Aboukir Bay."
carried

"

"

The 3-pounder

light guns, patched up as they

This
to the Dragoons.
confidence
considerable
were, gave
"
calibre might be rendered very useful to Cavalry in general
"
by an increase of dimensions, to 4 J feet in length, and about
" 4
cwt. in weight, with carriages upon a quick travelling
"
construction, not overloaded with ammunition, which our
"
service is rather liable to.
"
Foreigners frequently observe the singularity of shafts
"
being preferred in the British Artillery carriages to poles,
" made
use of by all other nations as being simpler, lighter,
"
and cheaper ; added to which the experience of having tra"
veiled over the most difficult features of Europe, and
"
ground of every description with them, fully evinces their
"
perfect sufficiency.
strong instance of the inconvenience
"
of shafts occurred to us at Kahmanich just as one of the
"
6-pounders was limbering up, the shaft-horse was killed
"
by the enemy ; much time was lost in clearing the carriage
" from
him, and the harness being also damaged, rendered
"
it difficult to apply another in his place.
" In the
marching of the 12-pounders to Grand Cairo
"
(drawn by oxen with a horse in the shafts) the want of
" double
or travelling trunnion-boxes was much regretted.
"
Some few carriages were formerly so constructed for the
"
Horse Artillery, but why discontinued remains unknown,
" as
they are undoubtedly very advantageous to a heavy
"
or
8th.

"

indifferent horses.
draught
"
In moving the 24-pounder

guns across the country

near
Cairo
position
(where a bridge of boats
" to communicate
with the Grand Vizier's army was thrown
"
over the Nile) for the attack of Gizeh, the axletrees of the
"
sling-carts giving way, the medium 12-pounder carriages

"

from the

"

were appropriated to this purpose, the trench-carts car-

"

"

first

rying the mortars, standing carriages, &c."

"
No carriage appears to want reform more than the
9th.

common Artillery waggon.

There

is

too

much

of

it

merely

General

CFIAP. vi.

Lawsons

Narrative.

125

" for
carrying ammunition, and it is too narrow for baggage
"
or bulky stores.
In the alterations made for the proposed
"

arrangement of spare ammunition, the boxes will require

" for
hard roads to be more securely fixed than was necessary
"
for travelling in Egypt."
"
10th.
The inclined plane, or purchase for raising weights
"
upon the trench-carts, might prove very useful, upon a
"
larger scale, for mounting or dismounting heavy ordnance
"
without being obliged to make use of a gin, which not
"
only requires a number of men to work, and a carriage to
"
convey it to a battery, but when fixed there becomes a
"
considerable object to the enemy besieged.
This proposed
"
machine being quite free from all these inconveniences
"
makes it extremely well worth while to try the experiment
" for
such occasions."
"
If the mode mentioned of preventing narrow
llth.
"
wheels from sinking in deep sandy situations should have
"
the appearance of possessing more fancy than judgment, it

" must
be placed to the variety of obstacles which hourly
"
presented themselves in Egypt, and called for every assist"
ance the mind could catch at to surmount.
And still
"
perhaps the idea may lead to something useful even in a
"
northern climate, passing over snow, &c."
"

The extraordinary heavy weights of the

mortars and beds proved a great embarrassment
"
without any peculiar advantage derived from them.
12th.

"

iron

"

Indeed, where no considerable extent of range is required

as is the case in most attacks
brass mortars mounted

"

upon proportional iron beds seem

"

able, at least

in general

much

prefer-

under 13 inches in diameter

"

"

13th.
Flat boats are the best and most useful conveyance for troops, and ordnance, possible ; every means,
"
therefore, should be employed to preserve them from

"

"

Though apparently slight, it is surprising what

they can bear. In moving the stores up Lake Etcho, for
"
the attack of Fort Julian, some of them were dragged three
injury.

"

"

"

miles over sand and mudbank.

this service

The battering-pieces

for

were obliged to be landed on the open sea-

126
"
"

"

beach, and

swamps

CHAP. vi.

Egypt.

conveyed four "miles across the deserts and

These laborious and difficult

to their batteries.

operations were frequently repeated during the Expedition.

"
Upwards of thirty 24-pounders were disembarked from
"
the ordnance ships, conveyed by boats up Aboukir Lake,
"
and landed near the head of it for the attack. of Alex"
From thence twenty were returned to the ships
andria.
" in
to the mouth of the
"

Aboukir Bay, conveyed

western
branch of the Nile, disembarked and taken over that dan-

"

gerous bar by sea-jerms, landed at Fort St. Julian, re" embarked

there in river-jerms, in order to proceed up the
"
Nile.
Several were landed within four miles of Grand
"
Cairo, and conveyed from thence twelve miles across the
"
returned back after the
country, for the attack of Grizeh
"
surrender of Cairo by the same route, and exactly in like
"
manner to Alexandria ; relanded there for further opera"
tions of attacks carrying on both on the eastern and
"
western side of it, the capitulation of which concluding
" the
campaign, they were again conveyed to the ships in
" Aboukir
;

Bay.

" Besides the articles

already detailed, numerous minute
" circumstances
happened in the course of the campaign,
" which
necessity continually urged the imagination to
"
Every movement by land or water
provide against.
" was attended with
and difficulties
infinite labour
;

"

added to which the violent heat of the sun, and shocks

"
received by passing over the formidable cracks it oc" casioned in the
ground (annually overflowed by the
"
march
to Cairo operated so powerfully on
on
the
Nile)
" the
as
to
carriages,
require perpetual attention and daily
"
most common materials for such
the
without
repair
"
or
to be found in the
of
occasions,

either

wood

iron,

"
country.
" N.B. The oxen
drew very well upon

common ground,
" but in
The
deep sand they generally became restive.
"
in
wellexcellent
when
mules
were
draught
large-sized
"
"

disposed ; but, from their natural obstinacy,

best to intermix them with horses."

it

was found

CHAP. vi.

Battle of

A lexandria.

27

RETURN OF ORDNANCE CAPTURED IN EOYPT.

No. of Pieces.
In Ilio Field.

Garrisons

On
On
On
On

the 8th

March

the 13lh

the 21st

the 22nd

,,

7
11

August

Aboukir Castle
Fort Julian
Fort Burlos

15
5

Grand Cairo and Dependencies

....

Gizeh Linos and Arsenal

Alexandria Arsenal
Island of Marabout
Dainictta and Walls of Lesbie, &c.
Ships of war in the Harbour of Alexandria

121

530
411
10

...

Toial

N.B.

number of pieces

54
77

1251

Besides the above, the French were allowed to embark 50

and 10 from Alexandria.

field-

pieces from Cairo,

The extremely interesting notes just quoted, although

relating more to questions of materiel than personnel, still
give a clear idea of the difficulties attending the movements
which was no
than their marked

of the Artillery in Egypt, the overcoming of

less honourable,

if,

indeed, not

more

so,

courage in the field. In alluding to the latter, a very brief

sketch of the campaign will suffice.

On

the morning of the 8th March, 1801, the English

in Aboukir Bay under a heavy fire, and

army disembarked

drove back the French with a loss of

the

severe action

known

five

as the affair

guns.

On

the 13th

of Nicopolis took

place, in which the French were again defeated, but not

without a loss to the English of 1300, killed and wounded.

The

Aboukir Castle followed, the bombardment

siege
conducted
being
by Major Cookson, and it surrendered on
the 19th. On the 21st, the memorable battle of Alexandria
was fought, memorable not merely for its victorious result,

Gust.

of

but also for the irreparable loss which the English army
suffered in the death of Sir E. Abercromby.
The conduct
of the Artillery in the battle attracted great attention

the

Browne.

128

CHAP. vi.

Egypt.

precision of their fire was strongly commended, and, but for

^he wretched animals with which the guns were horsed, an

Stewart's
ladders
of Scot-

advance of the army might have then taken place which

would have ensured the immediate fall of Alexandria.
Lieutenants H. Sturgeon, J. G. Burslem, and D. Campbell,

Browne.

Eoyal Artillery, were wounded. The battle had been

waged mainly on the right of the English army, and before
the end of the day the ammunition of both Artillery and
Cavalry on the English right was all but exhausted, so much
so that "on an attempt of the French to advance anew
"
against this flank, the soldiers of the 28th actually
of the

"

pelted them with stones." Unfortunately for the modern

Artilleryman, General Lawson was a very bad correspondent
during the war and when the student commences anxiously
to search for his despatches to the Ordnance, he finds,

Cust.

Colonel
t0

Genera?
Lawson.

instead, indignant remonstrances addressed to the gallant

He was so occupied with overs silence.
enera ^ ^or

coming the natural difficulties of the Expedition, that he had

no time for writing ; and he valued no words of commendawhich were spoken with regard to his services, so much
as those referring to the chief engineer and himself, which
formed part of a despatch written by General Hutchinson,
"
The skill and perthe successor of Sir E. Abercromby
tion,

'London

S?^
!*!
22 October,
1801.

" severance of those two officers have overcome difficulties

" which at first
appeared almost insurmountable."

The arrival of a Turkish division, 6000 strong, to support

him, on the 3rd April, 1801, induced General Hutchinson,
who succeeded Sir E. Abercromby in the command, to carry
the war farther up the Nile, instead of waiting before
Alexandria. He commenced with some detached operations
:

Eosetta surrendered on the 8th, and Fort St. Julian, after

"
On the 18th April a mortar
a bombardment, on the 19th.

Browne's

ED

A r tfiierymen.'

"

battery, erected against Fort St. Julian, under the direc" tion of
Captains Lemoine and Duncan, fired some shells
" with remarkable
one of them pitched on the
accuracy
"
centre of the roof, and tore away the flagstaff and colours,
"
which the French never dared to erect again."
The great events of the campaign were the surrender of
:

CHAP. VI.

Perfection of British Artillery.

129

Cairo on the 28th June, 1801, and of Alexandria on the 2nd

It was during the march on Cairo that the
September.

ingenuity and endurance of the Koyal Artillery were most

Other writers have borne testimony in
severely tried.
glowing, but not exaggerated terms' to the gallantry of
the other arms of the service in this campaign and it must
;

not be assumed that the necessary allusions to a particular

corps in a work like this imply any assertion of superiority ;

such conduct would be at once unjust, and subversive of the

There are regiments, the
main purpose of this history.
very -mention of whose names brings instinctively to the
hearer's memory the brave story of Egypt ; but, where all

were brave, the special professional duties of Artillerymen

obtained for those,

who

served in that capacity, opportunities of displaying energy and ingenuity which were denied
to others.
There have been campaigns where the exertions
of the Infantry have dwarfed those of the other arms ; there
have been occasions sung by poets, and boasted of with

when the honour of England

just pride by all Englishmen
was intrusted to her Cavalry, and was brought back with reit is, therefore, in no spirit of
;
depreciation of
the other arms that the services of the Artillery are especially
pointed out, during a campaign where the hardest work was

doubled lustre

not in battle, and in a work which hopes to hand down to

their successors the merits of those who, in Egypt, were
It is with such
responsible for their Regiment's reputation.
a hope that words like the following,
referring to the siege
"
of Alexandria, are reproduced
The proceedings against Stewart'
"
Alexandria showed to what a pitch of perfection the J^Jf^"
"
British Artillery had arrived.
The battery on the Green- of Scot:

"

opened at six o'clock on the morning of the 26th

August, and before mid-day the enemy were completely
"
silenced, their batteries destroyed, and their guns withhill

"

"

On the west of Alexandria, the tower of Marabout was bombarded from a battery commanded by Captain
"
1
Curry, of the Koyal Artillery. The first shot struck the
drawn.

"

VOL.

II.

Afterwards Sir

Edmund

Curry.

130

CHAP. VI.

Egypt.

"
tower, four feet from the ground every succeeding shot
" struck the same
spot ; and in this manner he continued,
"
never missing his mark, till a large hole was in a manner
"
completely bored through, when the building fell, and,
"
the place was instantly
filling up the surrounding ditch,
"
surrendered."
;

At the surrender of Cairo no fewer than 13,754 French

were present, and were allowed to evacuate Egypt and at
Alexandria, where General Menou, the French Commander,
was stationed, 11,000 French soldiers, exclusive of civilians,
surrendered to the English. In a campaign which lasted only
from March to September, the power of the French in Egypt,
and even their presence, disappeared. Prior to the capitulation of General Menou, he made a strong effort to drive the
;

Cust.

English from before Alexandria. This took place on the

22nd August, and in the general orders issued after the
"
The brunt of
engagement the following words appeared
" the
fell
on
the
under
the
command
of Major
day
Artillery,
"
the
and
advance
who
used
Cookson,
corps,
every exertion,
"
and showed much discipline." It is also mentioned by a
writer often quoted in these pages, whose industry becomes
more and more apparent the more his work is studied, that
"
Q celerity with which the guns at the siege of Alexandria
"
had been brought up was a remarkable instance of zeal,
"
as they had to be carried over almost inaccessible rocks."
Two events occurred during the campaign, which deserve
mention. A contingent of troops arrived from India under
Sir David Baird, including some of the East India Company's
Artillery, and a troop of the Bengal Horse Artillery, com:

Browne,
^England's

manded by Captain

Jarvis Pennington,

now

Battery,

The first instalment arBrigade, Koyal Horse Artillery.

rived on the 10th June, and was present at the surrender of
Cairo by the French and Sir David, with the main body,
;

arrived in

sufficient

time to witness the successful termi-

nation of the siege of Alexandria, and with

of the war.

it

the conclusion

The second event involves some explanation. In 1798 a

detachment of the Eoyal Artillery was ordered to Turkey to

CHAP. VI.

Detachment ordered

to

Turkey.

131

the instruction and organization of the Turkish

Artillery, and in the strengthening of their fortifications.
assist in

The officer in command was Brigadier-General Koehler, who

had as a suhaltern attracted attention during the great
Siege of Gibraltar, and who had been almost continuously
The
employed on the Staff of the army since that time.
Artillery officers who accompanied him were Majors Hope
and Fead, Captain Martin Leake, and Assistant-Surgeon
Wittman. The duties of these officers, as far as can be
learned from the correspondence which is extant, were of a
somewhat motley order, embracing artillery, engineering,
Their travels in
archaeology, and military organization.
and
were
Greece,
very extensive and
Turkey,
Egypt
Syria,
if we may
from
a
quaint manuscript in the Koyal
judge
Eecord
Office, describing a journey made by them
Artillery
to Jerusalem, they must have travelled as royal personages.
;

General Koehler died on the 29th December, 1800, of a

malignant fever, which had carried off his wife and many of

and the regret and positive grief, which

by English and Turks alike, were strongly exin
Major Hope's reports to England. After his Major
pressed
death, Major Hope, with the remainder of the detachment, toa'A.
accompanied the Grand Vizier and the Turkish contingent, j"
which went to Egypt to swell the English forces, and isoi.
earned well-deserved praise before Cairo, where the union
between them and the latter took place.
Major Hope's
abilities as an Artilleryman received favourable mention from
his

detachment

were

felt

Grand Vizier. After the conclusion of the campaign,

Captain Leake obtained special employment in the Turkish
dominions, and that he attained no mean position in the

'

the

scientific

and literary

following obituary notice

"Colonel
"
sudden
"energies
"
"
u

Leake passed
His
illness.
scarcely

Obituary

may be gathered from the L^eut-Coi

"
On the 6th January, 1860, w M

world
:

from

us,

intellect

relaxed,

after

never

short

weakened

and

his

notwithstanding the weight

n Address'
f tl

President
of the

of eighty-three years.
The Greek minister, at his own g^phi
desire, followed him to the grave, expressing thereby the Society,

gratitude of his country to one

who had spared no

effort

K 2

on

Egypt.

132
"

"

CHAP. VI

behalf of the Greek nationality, and had done so much

by his works towards elucidating the remarkable features

" of the land of

Greece, and the scenes of her glorious
"
In
him
we have lost not only a scholar and an
history.
"
other link (when so few ^survived) that
but
one
antiquary,
" connected us to the
and the society
politics, the literature,
" of the
foregone generation."

On

the 16th November, 1801, an order was issued for the

the companies from Egypt, under which

withdrawal of

Captain Beevor's company of the 3rd Battalion, and Captain

Cookson's, Major Sprowle's, and Captain Wood's of the 5th,
returned to England; and Major Borthwick's, Captain
Lemoine's, and

Captain Adye's proceeded to Gibraltar.

Major Borthwick remained in command of his company
during the war, although, by the records of the 2nd Battalion,
to which it belonged, Captain Mudge had been posted to
it some time previously, an appointment which must have

been subsequently cancelled, doubtless owing to his being

employed by Government on the Trigonometrical Survey of
Great Britain. In this occupation he was engaged during
the greater part of his

survey procured

for

life,

and his admirable conduct of the

literary and scientific

him numerous

distinctions.

Among the officers of artillery who received special mention for their services in Egypt, besides General Lawson,
Kane's List,

were Major Cookson, who, in addition to receiving high

praise in general orders and despatches, was appointed, on
the 29th October, 1801, commandant of the ancient Pharos
Castle and of all the Artillery in Egypt, and was presented
with a gold medal by the Grand Yizier ; Captains Lemoine,

A. Duncan, and S. G. Adye.

Major Thompson, who had
rank
of
Colonel
received brevet
during the war, died of

wounds received on the 9th May, 1801, near Eamanieh ;

and it should be mentioned that General Lawson himself was
severely wounded at the battle of Alexandria.
By General orders of 31st October and 1st November,
1803, the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the
various companies which had served in Egypt were per-

CHAP. vi.

Rewards for

Service in Egypt.

133

"
"
wear the " Sphynx," with the word
Egypt on
their regimental caps ; but the distinction was a personal
In
one, and not to be perpetuated in the companies.
is
Line
the
distinction
of
the
perpetuated by
regiments
emblazonment on their colours. Although, however, the
decoration itself was but personal, the traditions of the
deeds which it commemorated are the inheritance of the
batteries, whose predecessors fought under the shadow of
the Pyramids.
Let them treasure the memories of gallantry and of difficulties overcome, and in the hours of their
own toils and dangers let them " remember Egypt."
nritted to

Detachments of two, if not three companies, in addition to those

above, were present in Egypt, and will be found mentioned in the

Note.

named

tables in

Volume

i.

134

CHAPTER
To

VII.

1803.

events will demand detailed notice prethat

this
sently,
chapter must be confined to a bare
statement of facts, necessary to keep the chain of the Kegi-

many important

(
10

mental history complete. The circumstances, under which

the 7th
* ne
a l Irish Artillery was incorporated as
Voi
pp
163&417. Battalion of the
mentioned.
been
have
Eegiment,
already

Ry

No

sooner had the amalgamation taken place, than a ques-

tionable step was taken by the authorities at the Ordnance

they ordered the 5th Battalion to proceed to Ireland, and
:

and the six companies of the 7th Battalion,

which were serving in their native land, were promptly
shipped off to the West Indies to relieve the companies of
the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Battalions. This instant use of the

relieve the 7th

new

battalion to garrison an unpleasant station can hardly

have had a conciliatory effect and doubtless the sudden and
unpleasant change of quarters awakened occasional doubts
;

as to the value of the

if

not

occasional

Union

in a military point of view,

the subject of

mental growlings on

"Justice to Ireland," among those who had to exchange

the pleasures of Dublin for the disadvantages of the tropics.

Be

this as it

may, in 1802 the new battalion was ordered

West Indies.
The arrangements

to the

of the

Board

for

the reliefs of the

companies at this time reveal a very distinct attempt to

secure, as far as possible, that companies of the same battalion should serve on the same station.
For example, it

was decided

that, in 1803, the whole of the companies at

Gibraltar should belong to the 6th Battalion ; that the 1st

CHAP. VII.

Reductions.

35

and 2nd Battalions should be collected in England; the

5th in Ireland; and that the detached commands, and the
wants of Canada should be supplied by the 3rd and 4th Battalions.
The scheme was marred by an occasional company
of a battalion, which it was hoped to concentrate, being
found to be at the Cape of Good Hope, or Ceylon but the
effort was honestly made, and with the best intentions. That
;

utterly failed during the tempest of war, which was so

soon and so long to rage, was not the fault of those who
hoped to produce a very different state of affairs but the
it

result of inevitable causes.

The American War had proved

the inconvenience of a battalion's head-quarters being on the

scene of hostilities the lesson was accepted, and the various
:

head-quarters were located at Woolwich; and therefore,

the fact having been once admitted that the necessary control
could be exercised, at a distance, over an individual company,
all ideas

had

of symmetry

to yield to necessity

and whence-

readily obtained, from that

station it was taken, irrespective of the battalion to which it
The test of a system frequently does not occur
belonged.
until the system must vanish before it; and this was the

soever a

company could be most

and 1815, which proved most

that
the
official
dreams of the Ordnance in
satisfactorily
1802 and 1803 were not worth the paper on which they were
case in the wars between 1807

web which was

made its

written.

Out

company,

in time of war,

asserted

of the

yet again

its

right

to

be

so honestly spun, the

inevitable escape, and

called

the Artillery

unit.

On the signing of the Treaty of Peace, at Amiens, on the

27th March, 1802, immediate reductions were ordered in the
In the Koyal Artillery they
military forces of England.
took the form of reductions in the strength of the comand the following was the scheme, approved by the
Master General, on the recommendation of Colonel Macleod.
The short-lived amity between the French and English

panies

Governments did not admit of the reductions being altogether

but it is interesting to see how they were pro-

carried out

posed to be conducted.

136
Proposal
agreed to
on 7 Dec.
1801.

To

1803.

CHAP. VII.

Change of Commands.

CHAP. vil.

137

Inspector of Artillery: Sir William Congreve,

Comptroller of the Laboratory ; and General Duncan Drummond, Director-General of Artillery.

Blomefield,

Chevrons were put on the arms of non-commissioned

according to the rules of the Army generally, instead
of epaulettes, in the year 1802.
The Koyal Artillery Band
was increased from 10 to 21 in the same year.
officers,

Two allusions to methods of discharging men at this time,

which are found in the official correspondence, speak for
themselves. The first is an order to discharge a man for
his bad conduct, and to Jiand him over to the press-gang : and
the second is a reply to a request from Lord Napier, that
a

man might

be discharged, to enable him to support his

"
Charles Copeland, 5 feet 11 inches
family; and is as follows
"
in height
a wife and two children.
It is observed that
" he would
have" been discharged, if he had been lucky
"
enough to have three."
:

Colonel

&%
Hadden,

to

CHAPTER

VIII.

THE EIGHTH BATTALION.

THE
in

Treaty of Amiens was not destined to be carried out

its

entirety

by the nations concerned.

Napoleon's

hostility to the English could not be concealed ; and the

evacuation of Malta, Alexandria, and the Cape of Good Hope,

which had been commenced by the latter, in accordance with

the terms of the Treaty, was never fully completed. On the
13th March, 1803, Lord Whitworth, the English Ambassador,
was publicly insulted by Napoleon at the Tuileries and on
The recommencement of
the 6th May he quitted Paris.
France
was aggravated by another insurrechostilities with
tion in Ireland, which was happily quelled with little difficulty. But the general state of affairs was so serious that an
augmentation of the military forces in England became
urgently necessary, as well as renewed activity on the part
The Government received warm and cordial
of the fleet.
the
from
people, both as a body and individually.
support
;

Mr.

J.

Bagot,
London, to
Lord Chat-

Lord' Chatham, then Master-General of the Ordnance, received on the 18th July a letter from a Mr. John Bagot, to
^e following effect " BeingD anxious in the Apresent awful
"
crisis to come forward in any line that my services can be
:

"
isos.

of use to

my King

and country, I beg leave

consideration of your

to offer, for the

Lordship, to raise a Battalion

of

"

further period
Artillery, of 300 men, for the war or such
" as
terms
as your Lordship
on
such
and
be
necessary,
may
"
" or His
Majesty's Government may direct .....
The state of recruiting in England was, however, so favourable, that the Master-General was not compelled to have
recourse to private enterprise to obtain the necessary aug-

mentations to the Kegiment.

The number

of non-com-

Formation of Eighth Battalion.

CHAP. vili.

missioned

officers

139

and men in the Horse Brigade and March-

ing Battalions of the Koyal Artillery on the 1st January,

1803, was 6777 on the 1st June, notwithstanding the loss orf. from
;

death or discharge, the total had increased ^{^J,

to 7119
and in two months more, it stood at 7439, besides 13 Aug.'
1 ftfi^
131 recruits in the country districts, not yet posted. The

of 306

men by
:

Corps of Gunner-drivers had increased in the same period

by 1109 men. It was therefore resolved to increase the
Kegiment by another battalion, the 8th, and the first intimation of this resolution
the

is

found in a private letter from

"

Deputy Adjutant-General.

"

It is

at last, I believe, Colonel

"

to increase the Artillery, even

determined," he wrote,
"
under all the disadvantages of a deficiency in officers. The
"
cadets are doubled and the winter may do a good deal
;

"

"
"
"

for us

in the

Our companies

forward.

tenants

mean time we

will only

there will be hardly a

dated

take twenty of the most Jgoa"

have two 1st Lieu-

2nd Lieutenant upon the

establishment."

On the 13th September seven companies were formed, and

on the 6th December, three additional companies were added
to the battalion.
The establishment of each company was
as follows

4 Sergeants.
4 Corporals.

1 Captain.
1

Captain-Lieutenant.
2 First Lieutenants.
1

8 Bombardiers (and 3 non-effective,

Second Lieutenant.

Many

of the

men

Lieutenant

Kane

for

the 8th Battalion were obtained

calling for volunteers from the Army of Keserve; and

although every obstacle was thrown in -the way of this

by

method of obtaining

recruits,

by the

officers

commanding

the Eeserve Battalions, which were this year called out for
service, very many excellent men were thus obtained.
It is unfortunate that the Battalion record-book of

s(*'

paper men).
97 Gunners.
3 Drummers.
i.e.

the

8th Battalion has been lost since 1859, the year when
Battalion Head-quarters were abolished, because, although
these books were, as a rule, very meagre in the information

to

R H Crew
-

>

The Eighth Battalion.

140

CHAP. vill.

they afforded, they nevertheless supplied facts which it

would have been difficult to obtain elsewhere without great
labour.
That labour, in the case of the 8th Battalion, has

been readily undertaken by an

to his industry the
tables.

reader

is

Head-quarters, and
indebted for the following

officer at

Unfortunately, the history of the companies of the 8th

and 9th Battalions, after 1850, must be postponed until
the separate work on the Crimean services of the Artillery

But these tables give the earlier history,

down to about 1850 on which the

shall be written.

and the various stations

companies served, as well as the succession of Captains and

the war services of most of the companies will be found in
:

the subsequent accounts of the various campaigns.

No. 1

COMPANY,

Now "H" BATTEEY,

8th

1st

BATTALION,

Succession of Captains.

1803
1803
1803
1803
1804
1804
1816
1819
1823
1828
1841
1848

Stations.

Formed 1803, 13th Sep.,Woolwicli.

F. Walker.
J.

E.A. 1

BKIGADE,

Hawker.

W.

Scott.

R. Hope.
R. W. Adye.

23rd Oct., A. Bredin.

22nd May, J. Taylor.

1st Feb., A. Munro.
3rd July, T. Greatley.

23rd Nov., J. Sinclair.

25th Oct., W. Greenwood.

30th May, P.

Ellis.

1803
1808
1815
1819
1822
1830
1834
1840
1841
1848
1848

Dec., Gibraltar.

Aug., Portugal.
Feb.,

(Exp

Woolwich.

Feb., Dover.

Feb., Mauritius.

15th Dec., Woolwich.

1st Feb., Jersey.

29th Aug., Woolwich.

27th Nov., China.
4th March, Woolwich.

22nd Nov.,

Ireland.

This Company's Peninsular services were very distinguished.

n>

"

CHAP. viii.

"

Battery,

No. 2

Now

"

"

COMPANY,

BATTEEY,

1 1

th Brigade.

8th

BATTALION,

llth

Stations.

Formed 1803, 13th Sep.,Wooiwich.

H. Owen.
A. Macdonald.
6th Nov., H. Hickman.
24th July, H. Baynes.
12th Dec!, A. Macdonald.
23rd May, J. A. Chalmcr.
23rd Nov., J. H. Griffin.
19th Sept., D. W. Paynter.

No. 3
" "
1

"

Brigade

"

COMPANY,

(Exp"')

Oct., Sicily.

May, Alexandria.
Nov., Sicily.

May, Naples.
July, Genoa.
Feb., Malta.
July, Woolwich.
Oct.,

Guernsey.

July, Woolwich.
Oct., Jamaica.

May, Woolwich.
Jan., Ireland.
Oct.,

Woolwich.

Nov.,

West

Indies.

April,^ Woolwich.

Feb., Scotland.

BATTALION, 1

"3 "
Battery, 14th
" "
Battery, 14th Brigade, and 8 Battery,

Reduced

8th

Dec., Malta.

Battery, llth Brigade

13th Brigade.

1803
1804
1806
1808
1811
1820
1831

1803
1805
1807
1807
1815
1815
1816
1819
1823
1827
1827
1833
1838
1842
1842
1848
1849

1st Dec., C. Baynes.

Afterwards

E.A.

BKIGADE,

Succession of Captains.

1803
1803
1803
1806
1823
1826
1833
1841
1847

141

1st

G. Desbrisay.
1st June, J. Dyer.
9th March, W. M. Leake.
12th Feb., W. Morrison*
31st May, G. Skyring.
6th Nov., J. P. Adye.

27th Oct., P. V. England.

(Vide

vol.

i.

p. 441.)

February, 1871.

Formed 1803, 13th Sep.,Woolwich.

1804 Aug., Sevenoaks.
1804 Oct., Woolwich.
1804 Nov., Gibraltar.
n
1808 9th June,
Exp

under

General Spencer.

1
Although anticipating matters somewhat, the Author cannot resist adding
few words with reference to the very distinguished services of this unhappily

The Eighth Battalion.

CHAP. VI 1 1.

"8 "
Battery, 13th Brigade continued
Succession of Captains.

1833
1838
1842
1847
1850

Stations.

3rd Nov., J. Longley.

28th June, J. Pascoe.

1808
1821
1826
1827
1828
1836
1841
1844
1844

13th April, C. Gostling.

5th March, T. A. Shone.
28th Sept., G. Gambler.

27th July, Gibraltar.

10th Sept., Woolwich.
7th July, Dublin.
28th Sept., Ballincollig.
16th April, Ionian Islands.

2nd Sept., Woolwich.

29th March, Ireland.
9th May, Woolwich.
19th October, Malta.

company during the Indian Mutiny. No. 3 Company, 8th Battalion,

Ceylon for India on the llth June, 1857. It was commanded by the 2nd
Lieutenants Maitland and Dadsou were the other officers. After
Captain, Maude
defunct
left

remaining a week in Calcutta, it proceeded on the 20th June to join the force
then being formed at Allahabad under General Havelock. The strength of the

company had been reduced by cholera, &c., to 51. It marched with Havelock's
column to Cawnpore, fighting on the way at Futtehpore, Pandu Nuddy, Avung,
and before Cawnpore.

After remaining at Cawnpore a short time to recruit the

energies of his force, Havelock marched across the Ganges into Oude, hoping to
penetrate to Lucknow. He fought four actions, viz. : (1) Onao ; (2) Basarat Gunj ;
(3) Basarat Gunj ; (4) Boorbeaki Choki, close to Basarat Gunj, having to fall back

from Basarat Gunj each time from weakness. These four actions were fought on
the two first on the same day. He then returned
three successive Wednesdays
Reinforcements under Generals Neill and Outram began to arrive,
to Cawnpore.
and during the end of August and beginning of September the force increased to
3000 men. They therefore left Cawnpore on the 18th September (leaving a small
garrison), fighting at Mangalwarra and at Alumbagh, close to Lucknow, and then
prepared for the great struggle of entering the city. After coming out of Lucknow, the company was reinforced by some Artillerymen from England, and by
Lieutenants A. Ford and S. Brown, and remained at Alumbagh under Sir James

Outram

to hold the

swarms of natives

in

Lucknow

in check.

During

this time

frequent skirmishes and two real actions took place, all ending in the natives being
In March, Lord Clyde came up with a large force, and the
repulsed with loss.
to take Lucknow, forming part of the siege train, and being told off
to 18-pounders, 8-inch howitzers, and 5j-inch mortars.
After this, the company
was engaged in a few affairs of minor importance in Oude, until the country was

company went

pacified.
If it should be the Author's privilege to write the History of the Royal
Artillery during the Indian Mutiny, he is fortunately in a position to amplify the
above sketch with instances of individual heroism and suffering.

"

"

CHAP. viii.

Battery, \ith Brigade.

No. 4

Now

"

"

COMPANY,

BATTEKY,

8th

BATTALION,

12th

13th Sept., T. Boger.

13th Sept., C. Baynes.
1st Dec., A. Macdonald.

W. R. Carey.
April, W. Scott.

1st June,

23rd

25th Dec., H. Pierce.

1st Feb., J. P. Cockburn.
23rd Feb., C. H. Fitzmaycr.

22nd April, R. Douglas.

21st Dec., W. Wylde.
24th Nov., E. J. Bridges.
13th April, C. H. Mee.
16th July, C. C. Young.

No. 5

COMPANY,

Now "G-" BATTEEY,

1803
1803
1804
1815
1817
1825
1832
1836
1846

13th Sept., B. Fenwick.

1st Nov., P.

Drummond.

1st Dec., R,

Pym.

28th

Oct.,

G. C. Coffin.

1st April, J. Maclachlan.

29th July, F. Arabin.

18th July, T. Cubitt.

25th May, W. E. Locke.
12th Dec., J. Hill.

E.A.

BRIGADE,

Succession of Captains.

1803
1803
1803
1804
1812
1814
1819
1819
1819
1826
1839
1842
1850

'43

Stations.

Formed 1803, 13th Sep., Woolwich.

1804 May, Colchester.
1804 Dec., Woolwich.
1805 March,
Exp" under

Sir

J. Crai?.

1805
1822
1826
1828
1831
1838
1838
1845
1847
1850

8th

Oct., Malta.

April,

Woolwich.

Dec., Portugal.
April,

Woolwich.

Nov., Ireland.
Feb., Woolwich.

July, Halifax, N.S.

Nov., Woolwich.
Dec., Dover.
Jan.,

Woolwich.

BATTALION,

1st

E.A.

BEIGADE,

Formed 1803, 13th

1804
1805
1807
1807
1810

Sep., Woolwich.

Nov., Plymouth.

March,

Sicily.

(Exp"-)

May, Alexandria.
Nov.,
Jan,

Sicily.

Exped"

under

J. Stuart.

1810
1814
1814
1815
1819
1821
1821
1822
1828
1833

Sept., Sicily.

Feb., Genoa.

May, Exp"

to America.

June, Woolwich.
Feb., Dublin.
June, Limerick.
Dec., Dublin.
June, Ionian Island?.

Aug., Woolwich.

May,

Ireland.

Sir

"

G"

Battery, 1st Brigade continued

Stations.

Succession of Captains.

1839
1845
1847
1848
1850
1850

No. 6

Now
1803
1803
1808
1814
1819
1827
1828
1841
1842
1845
1846
1847

CHAP. vin.

The Eighth Battalion.

44

"

"

COMPANY,

8th

BATTEEY,

13 Dh Sept., J. S. Williamson.
1st Oct., E. Buckner.
15th May, J. S. Williamson.
25th Dec., J. P. Adye.
1st March, J. A. Clement.
31st Dec., E. Barlow.
30th June, E. Cruttenden.

25th Jan., H. Williams.

19th Nov., C. K. Dickens.
14th June, J. E. Dupuis.
16th Nov., H. Pester.
30th Jan., F.

S.

Hamilton.

April, Halifax, N.S.

Nov., Woolwich.

Nov., Weedon.
April, Birmingham.
Jan.,

Woolwich.

Oct., Gibraltar.

BATTALION,

9th

BEIGADE,

E.A.

Formed 1803, 13th Sep.,Woolwich.

1803
1804
1806
1809
1809
1809
1811
1812
1814
1816
1816
1822
1827
1830
1842

Nov., Canterbury.
Feb.,

Chatham.
1

July, Sicily.

May,

(Exp ";

Sir J. Stuart's

July (about),

Exp

n-

Sicily.

Sept., Zante.

Dec., Sicily.

July, Spain.

May, Genoa.
Feb., Malta.

July, Ionian Islands.

Dec.,

Woolwich.

March, Portsmouth.
March, Mauritius.
March, Woolwich.
1843 Aug., Channel Islands.
1846 March, Woolwich.

1847 Jan., Malta.

No. 7

COMPANY,

Now "H" BATTEEY,

1803
1804
1806
1806

13th Sept., E. Douglas.

1st Oct., E. Curry.
1st June, E. Dickinson.

15th Sept., T.

S.

Hughes.

8th

BATTALION,

8th

BEIGADE,

E.A.

Formed 1803, 13th Sep., VVoohvich.

1805 Nov., Exeter.
1807 May, Plymouth.

CHAP. viii.

"H"

"

"
i

Battery, ^th Brigade.

Battery, Sth Brigade continued

Stations.

Succession of Captains.

1808
1819
1832
1844
1844
1846
1847

29th June, R. Lawson.

23rd Dec., J. H. Ward.
1st April, F. Weller.

24th Aug., A. R. Harrison.

16th Nov., J. W. Fitzraayer.
14th May, G. Maclean.

No. 8

Now
1803
1815
1819
1823
1836
1838
1843
1845

" 1

"

COMPANY,

BATTEBY,

6th Dec., H. Fraser.

16th May, H. B. Lane.
1st

March, E. C. Whinyates.

3rd July, J. S. Bastard.

26th April, L. S. B. Robertson.

16th Nov., G. Spiller.

18th May, W. Berners.
21st

VOL.

1807 Dec., Expn under General

May, P. Knox.

1st

May, G. Bingham.

II.

Spencer.

1808 May, Gibraltar.

n
1808 Aug., Exp under General
Speucer.

1808
1814
1816
1818
1821
1822
1828
1830
1833
1835
1842
1843
1846
1847

8th

Aug., Portugal and Spain.

Aug., Dublin.
Aug., Pendennis and Exeter.
Sept., Ballincollig.

July, Gibraltar.
July, Ionian Islands.
Jan., Woolwich.
March, Leith.

June, Woolwich.
Nov., Bermuda.

May, Woolwich.
Oct., Ireland.

Aug., Woolwich.
July, Ceylon.

BATTALION,

7th

BEIGADE,

E.A.

Formed 1803, 6th Dec., Woolwich.

1806
1806
1809
1809

May, Warley.
July, Malta.

June,
June,

Sicily.

Exp

under

Sir

J. Stuart.

1811
1814
1822
1827
1829
1830
1842
1843
1846
1847

Nov., Zante.
July, Corfu.
Dec.,

Woolwich.

June, Guernsey.

May, Woolwich.
Feb., Cape of Good Hope.
March, Woolwich.
Oct., Leith.

May, Woolwich.
July, Ceylon.

The Eighth Battalion.

146

No. 9

COMPANY,

Now "7" BATTEEY,

BATTALION,

8th

17th

BBIGADE,

Succession of Captains.

llth Battalion

Records.

1803
1803
1804
1804
1811
1813
1813
1816

6th Dec., J. Vivion.

6th Dec., R. W. Adye.

1848
1854
1854
1856

7th Aug., G. C. R. Levinge.

A. C. L. Fitzroy.
H. F. Strange.

1st Jan., R. Hope.

20th July, R. T. Raynsford.
18th Nov., R. W. Gardiner.
23rd Jan., S. Du Bourdieu.

23rd July, L. Carmichael.

7th June, C. F. Sandham.

Formed 1803, 6th

1806
1807
1807
1808

Dec.,

Woolwich.

Nov., Sevenoaks.
April, Exeter.
Dec., Plymouth.
n

May, Exp

under

Sir

A.

Wellesley.

1808 Oct., Spain.

1809 Jan., Chatham.
1810 Sept., Exeter.
1810 Oct., Plymouth.
1811 April, Portugal, Spain, and
France.

1814 May,
This

E.A.

Stations.

F. R. Glanville.

N.B.

CHAP. vill.

(llth Battalion Records.)

North

to

America.

Company was in the Crimea

from 1854-56, and was present at the

Battle of Inkerman.

Exp

1814 Oct., Jamaica.

1814 Nov., New Orleans.
1815 June, Belgium and France.
1816 Feb., Woolwich.
Reduced at Woolwich, 3lst Jan.,
1819.

Reformed at Woolwich, 1th Aug.,

1848.
Transferred to

llth

Battalion as

8 Company, on 1st November,

1848. Became 7 Battery, 5th Brigade,

No.

on 1st July, 1859, and 7 Battery, 17th

Brigade, on 1st Oct., 1867.

No. 10

COMPANY,

8th

BATTALION.

Reduced at Woolwich on 28th February, 1819.

1803
1804
1806
1806

6th Dec., R. Pym.

1st Dec., P.

1st Jan.,

W.

Formed 1803, 6th

Dec.,

Drummond.
Millar.

27th March, P. Meadows.

1806 Feb., Sevenoaks.

1806 Nov., Woolwich.

Woolwich.

Battle of Maida.

CHAP. vill.

147

No. 10 Company, 8th Battalion continued

Stations.

Succession of Captains.

1811 5th Sept., J. P. Elig&

1812 20th Jan., T. A. Brandreth.

1807 July, Copenhagen.

1807 Nov., Chatham.
1807 Nov., Woolwich.
1807 Dec., Exeter.
1809 March, Plymouth.
1810 Oct., Portugal and Spain.
1814 Aug., Shorncliffe.
1816 July, Portsmouth.
1816 Dec., Ireland.
1819 Feb., Woolwich.

Between the formation of the 8th and 9th Battalions, y H.

an augmentation of five troops of Horse Artillery took place, chap> 2
as has heen mentioned elsewhere.
Yery little interest ati.

taches to this period, except that in 1806 the commencement

of a garrison of Koyal Artillery in Italy and Sicily took place,
which remained in these countries for some years. In 1806,

companies of the Eoyal Artillery were stationed there ;

1807 there were five in 1808, four in 1809, five ; in
1810, five; and in 1814, the last year of the occupation,
there were four.
The war in Italy, which was distinguished
in 1806 by the English
victory of Maida, is thus described

six

in

who commanded

the Koyal Artillery on the

the
28th
June
Expedition.
(1806) I received orders Major
"
from the Commander-in-Chief to have in readiness for a jfmome,
K.A., to
"
particular service a detachment of Artillery with some Brig.-Gen
"
In consequence I made a collection, and on
light guns.
"
the 30th embarked with the greater part of the army,
"
the Commander-in-Chief (Sir John Stuart) taking the
"
field.
On the 2nd July we anchored on the coast of Ca"
After
labria, near St. Eufemia, and landed immediately.
"
taking a position, and reconnoitring the country, we moved
"
forward at daylight on the 4th to the Plains of Maida,
"
near where the enemy, under the command of General

by the

officer

"

On

L 2

The Eighth Battalion.

48

CHAP, vi 1 1.

"

On our approach, he descended

Kegnier, had assembled.
" to the
had
plains, and having formed his line, which we
"
the
centre
of
the
met
near
armies
the
two
done,
already
"
lasted
which
immediate
to
came
and
action,
nearly
plain,
" an hour and a
quarter, when the French were charged
"
our
Light Infantry, and their left completely turned ;
by
"
the right also gave way shortly after. We pursued them
" the whole extent of the
plain, nearly six miles, and gained
"
The prisoners acknowledge to have
a complete victory.
" had in action 8000 men the British
army had 4600. Our
"
one
officer
loss very trifling
killed, 41 men, and 253
only
"
The
the
of
cannot
be correctly ascerloss
wounded.
enemy
"
tained, though we have taken and killed upwards of 2000.
"
Many of their wounded got off to the mountains, and General
"
General Piegri
Kegnier among them, severely wounded.
" was
killed; General Coupere wounded, and prisoner; the rest
"
has retired in a confused
the
:

of

state

army

some distance,

" and is much harassed

Sir John Stuart,
by the natives.
"
the
so
fast, thought it most desirable
army retiring
finding
"
to return to the coast, and marched to this place (Mon"
teloine) on the 8th, where we found 200 French, and great
"
There
quantities of stores, which we are now embarking.
"
or
three
other
the
coast
which
also
two
are
posts along
"
they left in the same manner, and which are now in our
"
I understand that as soon as everything is
possession.
"
embarked, the army will return to Messina. I have the
" honour to enclose
the General Orders of the 4th in-

you
and have to add that the whole of the Artillery in
" this little
expedition were in the front of the action, and
"
behaved in the most cool and gallant manner. Captain

"

stant,

"

right of the Grenadiers, with two 6 -pounders

and a howitzer, repulsed two squadrons of cavalry in at"
tempting to break our line. Lieutenant Bayley, with two
"
4-pounders, in front of the Light Infantry, made good use

Pym, on the

"

" of his
case-shot, till that corps charged, when they ran
"
over his guns ; indeed every officer and soldier gave me
" his utmost
and I should be
in
assistance,

" to them did I not

acknowledge

it

wanting
gratitude
though to you, sir, I

p.

VIII,

'flic

of Maida.

149

" should be
doubly wanting, did I not take the earliest
"
opportunity of thanking you lor having entrusted to my
iiman.l a .Irtachmmt of Artillery that have so gallantly
;ishrd themselves bi-fnn?
11

their

<

rdn-

ivl'.-rrnl to

'iitains

was issued by

Sir

th- fallowing passage:

John Stuart on

the

"The

Artillery were
ami
ally served, under the directions of Major
'inmatidunt of that corps."

wi-ll i-rovitK-il,

NOTK.

an enemy marly double

The General

'th .Inly,

"

numlx

A in. i:

oi' th.

here be chronicled, taken from the record

"
C'aj.tuin CJurdiner, in 1805, coras, with the force under Lient.-Gcneral Don,
forming the
of the army destined to serve under Lord Cathcart in the

may

:t

of (In-many,

(ianliiKT

combined with the Russian army under Count

Folstog.

when the result of the battle of

" Austerlitz
put an end to the campaign, and the army returned home."
y advanced as far as Hanover,

150

CHAPTER

IX.

THE NINTH BATTALION.

THIS
-*-

Battalion of the Koyal Artillery was formed in an

Whether we regard it from a political

eventful year.

or a purely military point of view, the year 1806

important influence on those which followed it.

had an

The previous year, the year of Austerlitz, had witnessed

the collapse of Pitt's coalition against Napoleon, and the
consequent isolation of England. But it was also the year
of Trafalgar

and

left

England

still

mistress of the seas.

With 1806 came the Battle

entry into Berlin, and

of Jena, Napoleon's triumphal

the issue of his famous declaration

against English commerce, which, if obeyed to the letter,

weuld have put England virtually in a state of blockade. It
was a critical year for a country whose commerce was her
very life-blood; and in this very year, those who had so
long steered the ship of the State, William Pitt and Charles
James Fox, were removed by death. But the country took
up the gauntlet thrown down by Napoleon, and from this
year conducted with sternness and determination a war
which, from being one of resistance, became one for existence
as well.
It

was a year,

too,

which should be remembered fondly in

the annals of the British

Army the year of the Battle of

Maida, described in the last chapter, where the gallantry of
the British troops against Napoleon's tried legions obtained

a victory, which had a moral influence both in England and

on the Continent, which is perhaps rarely realised now.
Grasping the importance of the situation, and greatly
assisted by the ease of obtaining recruits, the Board of
Ordnance resolved on an augmentation of the Koyal Artillery
to the extent of yet another battalion.

The strength

of the

Formation of Ninth Battalion.

CHAP. ix.

151

Kegiment, and its periodical increase and decrease, are

ascertainable from a return which used to be furnished
"
Wear and Tear of the
annually to the Board, called the
"

Kegiment for the year ending," &c. From this return it

would appear that during the year 1805, the number of
gunner-recruits who joined the Horse Artillery and Marching Battalions was no less than 2574. But the wear and
tear by death, transfer, desertion, &c., during the same
period was 1017, so that the net increase was 1557; the
Kegiment rising from 10,203, at which it stood on 1st January, 1805, to 11,760, its strength on the 31st December
in the same year.
During the same period the Corps of
and Drivers attached to the Horse
Drivers,
Koyal Artillery
Brigade, had received 489 recruits, and, allowing for the
wear and tear during the year, had increased from 4897 to

4986 of

all

ranks, excluding officers.

hardly possible that this

large increase to the

establishment had been allowed by the Board without a
motive ; and it may indeed be assumed with tolerable
It

is

certainty

that

the formation of

the

9th Battalion had

been to some extent contemplated during Napoleon's sucThis impression is confirmed by reference
cesses in 1805.
to the

1806, which show that the

Kegiment during that year was only half

returns for the year

increase to the

what had taken place during the year preceding.

The increase which had been permitted during the year
1805 proved to be greater than was necessary for the wants
of the new Battalion; and the establishment of the Kegiment
was found on the 1st May, 1806, to have been exceeded by
over 400 men.
This excess, however, was soon swallowed
the
and tear, which in 1806 amounted to
wear
up by
year's
874 men.
The promotions consequent on the formation of the new
Battalion were gazetted on 22nd May, 1806, and MajorGeneral Thomas Blomefield was appointed Colonel-Commandant.

The record-book

of the Battalion, like that of the

8th, has been lost since the introduction of the Brigade

system. It was permitted to accompany the head -quarters

The Ninth Battalion.

-of the

station

CHAP. IX.

9th Brigade, and during their frequent changes of

it has been mislaid
offering another argument, if

one were needed, in favour of the centralization of all

military records. As in the case of the 8th Battalion, so in
indebted to an

Lieut. J.

the present instance the Eegiment

Ritchie,

at Head-quarters for the following facts connected with the

companies prior to 1850. Their present designations, and

Staff-

Officer

gade, R.A.

is

officer

the stations in which they served, have been given, and the
The war
succession of Captains down to a certain date.
services of

some companies

will be found

mentioned in the

succeeding narrative, and the tables will be completed,

should the compilation of the separate work on the Crimea
be at some future time accomplished.

No. 1

COMPANY,

Now "G" BATTEEY,

List of Captains

down

to 1850.

9th

BATTALION,

9th

BKIGADE,

E.A.

CHAP. ix.

/?

"

Battery,

No. 2

Now

"

Wi

COMPANY,

Brigade,

9th

E " BATTEEY,

COMPANY,

BEIGADE,

E.A.

List of Stations where the Company has

served down to 1850.

who have commanded

down to 1846.

No. 3

153

BATTALION,

8th

List of Captains

1806 Captain J. Smith.

1807
J. W. Tobin.
S. Bolton.
1814
1815
W. Clibborn.
C. Wilkinson.
1819
1825
T. Dyneley.
1825
J. Darby.
C. Cruttenden.
1827
1827
P. W. Walker.
1840
R. Clarke.
1846
C. V. Cockburn.

R.A.

1806
1807
1815
1816
1822
1828
1831
1835
1836
1845
1847
1849
1850

9th

Woolwich.
Ireland.

Holland and France.

Woolwich.
Barbadoes.

Woolwich.
Scotland.

Woolwich.
Gibraltar.

Woolwich.
Guernsey.

Woolwich.
Jamaica.

BATTALION,

"
"
Afterwards " 8 Battery, llth Brigade ; then " 7 Battery, 14th Brigade
"
then "
14th
Battery,
Brigade

Now
Names

1806

"

B " BATTEEY,

of Captains

down

to 1843.

14th

BEIOADE,

E.A.

Stations on which the Company served

down to 184T.

The Ninth Battalion.

No. 4

Now
Captains

"

"

COMPANY,

9th

BATTEEY,

who have commanded

the

Company

1846

Gr.

Innes.

No. 5

COMPANY,

Now "2" BATTEEY,

Captains

who have commanded

to 1846.

the

BATTALION,

12th

BEIGADE,

Company

E.A.

Stations on which the Company has served

to 1848.

1806
1808
1809
1809
1813
1815
1816
1819
1825
1830
1833
1838
1840
1846
1848

1806 Captain H. Crawford.

W. Lloyd.
1807
1808
N. W. Oliver.
S. Maxwell.
1810
1812
J. Hawker.
1814
C. G. Alms.
1819
P. J. Hughes.
1825
W. B. Dundas.
1833
C. Cruttenden.
1838
G. T. Eowland.

CHAP. IX.

9th

Woolwich.
Canterbury.
Walcheren.

Canterbury.
Holland.
France.

Woolwich.
Ireland.

Jamaica.

Woolwich.
Newcastle, Leeds, &c.

Woolwich.
Jamaica.

Woolwich.
Ireland.

BATTALION,

3rd

BEIGADE,

E.A.

"

CHAP. IX.

C"

No. 6

Battery, i^th Brigade.

COMPANY,

'55

BATTALION,

9th

Reduced 28th February, 1819.

Names

1806 Captain F.
P.
1808

Stations on which the

of Captains.

1806
1808
1810
1814
1816

Griffiths.

J.

Hughes.

No. 7

COMPANY,

9th

Company

served.

Woolwich.
Battle.

Cadiz.

Woolwich.
Plymouth.

BATTALION.

This Company became No. 6 Company on March 1st, 1819 was called
No. 8 Battery, 14th Brigade, on July 1st, 1859 its designation was again
altered on January 1st, I860, to No. 8 Battery, 13th Brigade
and on the
;

1st October, 1862,

c
Names

it

"

BATTEKY,

of Captains

down

became, what

who commanded

to 1848.

it

it

now

14th

is,

BEIGADE,

E.A.

The Ninth Battalion.

No. 8

COMPANY,

9th

CHAP. IX.

BATTALION.

Reduced on 28th February, 1819.

Name

Names

who commanded

of Captain

it.

No. 9
This

COMPANY,

Company became No

served

1806
1807
1808
1809
1809
1812
1814
1814
1815
1816
1816
1816
1819

1806 Captain A. Munro.

of Stations

9th

of Captains

down

Canterbury.

Walcheren.
Canterbury.
Shorncliffe.

Portsmouth.
America.
Brussels.

Canterbury.
Shorncliffe.

Dover.

Woolwich.

BATTALION.

Company on

who commanded

to 1850.

it

to 1819.

Woolwich.
Chatham.

1st March, 1819

Battery, 10th Brigade, on the 1st July, 1859.

February, 1871.

Names

on which the Company

down

It

and No. 8
;
was reduced on 1st

"

CHAP. ix.

E"

No. 10

Battery, qth Brigade.

COMPANY,

9th

BATTALION.

This Company became No. 8 Company, 9th Battalion, on 1st March,

1819; and on the introduction of the Brigade system, in 1859, it became
No. 5 Battery, 9th Brigade, or, as now called,

"

Mames

E " BATTEEY,

of Captains

down

who commanded

it

E.A.

BBIGADE,
Names

of Stations on which

down

to 1842.

1806 Captain J. Chamberlayne.

1810
11. Douglas.
G. Turner.
1814
A. Bredin.
1820
W. Clibborn.
1823
1834
A. B. Rawnsley.
1837
A. 0. W. Schalch.
1841
K. R. Drew.
1842
W. L. Kaye.
.

9th

1806
1808
1809
1809
1810
1810
1811
1812
1814
1824
1827
1831
1837
1842

it

served

to 1842.

Woolwich.
Chatham.
Walcheren.

Chatham.
Woolwich.
Exeter.

Plymouth.
Peninsula and France.
Canada.

Woolwich.
Ireland.

West

Indies.

Woolwich.
Ireland.

158

CHAPTER
THE SIEGE

THE decree
-*-

1806,

between

of the

X.

OF COPENHAGEN.

French Emperor, dated 20th Novsmber,

forbidding all commerce and correspondence

the countries under his influence and Great

an alarming force from his subsequent

rapid successes, culminating in the Treaty of Tilsit.
After that date it was evident that, in addition to injuring
the commercial marine of England, Napoleon was resolved
to make a great effort to overthrow her yet unquestionable
naval supremacy. This he hoped to effect by a union of his
own fleet with those of his allies and subjects and one of
the most powerful which he hoped to secure for his purpose
was the Danish fleet.
The English Government resolved on a bold step, in
Britain, received

order to defeat Napoleon's aim.

They decided to request
the Danish Government to hand over their fleet to England
for safe keeping, and they supported their petition by the

presence of a large naval and military force. This determination was arrived at on the 19th July, 1807 ; and before
the

29th the whole force was ready to

sail.

The

fleet

consisted of 17 ships of the line, between 30 and 40 frigates,

and other smaller ships of war, counting 90 pendants ;

Cust.

together with 300 transports, having on board 20,000

The
troops, a number subsequently increased to 27,000.
Official

et

MS. Artillery force

was

as follows:

ri

R A

Re-

cord

Office.

525;

Koyal Artillery, 989; Eoyal

German Legion

horse,
Artillery
182, and foot, 512.
The command of this large Artillery force was given to
Major-General Thomas Blomefield on the 28th July, 1807,
in the following terms :

Artillery

drivers,

CHAP. x.

General Blomefield.

59

"Woolwich, 28 July, 1807.

"
SIR,

"

The Master-General has directed me

to

notify

"

officially an order for your emharking upon the present

"
expedition with the command of the Artillery, and that
"
you place yourself under the orders of Lieutenant-General

"

Burrard, or the General commanding the troops.

" I
have the honour to be, Sir,
"

Your most obedient humble Servant,

"
J. MACLEOD,
"

"

MY DEAR

P.S.

"

D.-A.-General."

GENERAL,

Having performed the ex

officio

part, let

me wish

"

you every success and every happiness, and a safe return

" to
Shooter's Hill, where we shall talk over all your
"
performances. The ordnance is all embarked, but not a
"
ship arrived as yet for the officers and men.
"
Believe me
"
Yery truly yours,
"
J.

MACLEOD."

General Thomas Blomefield, who joined the Kegiment on

1st January, 1759, had seen active service at the Havannah,
in the West Indies, and during the American War.
He had

been severely wounded during the last-mentioned campaign.

In 1780 he was made Inspector of Ordnance at Woolwich ;

and

years held this appointment in a manner most

advantageous to the country. He was a good mathematician, an excellent chemist, and most laborious in experifor

many

ments in gunnery. His private character is thus described

" There
was no display Family
by one who knew him intimately
MSS
" of his
merits shown in his manner
all his duties and
"
improvements were silently and unassumingly carried on,
" with a natural
reserve and undeviating correctness, so
" that it
was only the close observer who could duly
"
His being generally and greatly
appreciate his value.
"
esteemed arose as much from his being the perfect
:

'

The Siege of Copenhagen.

60

CHAP. x.

"
gentleman as from the ingenuous turn of his mind, for
" there was no
glare or obtrusive view, but rather a strong
"
desire to improve the service with as little parade as
"
in
ordnance
The marked

improvement

possible."

English

while he was Inspector was tested at the very siege over

which he was to preside, and is thus alluded to by the same

"
"

"
"
"
"
"

"

The late sieges of Copenhagen and in the Peninthe mode of battering assumed a rapidity of
where
sula,
on former occasions, strongly marked the
unknown
firing
confidence his gallant brother officers had in the weapons
placed in their hands, and surprised the enemy, who were
known to declare that they could not have put their iron
ordnance of this description to such a severe test. The
complete success of these objects of his most serious and

writer
"

careful pursuit will be duly appreciated

"

by those capable

of judging of their merits.

To such as are not, it may
" be
allowed to suggest that many gallant lives have been
"
saved to their country and families by the constant and
"
most anxious endeavours he at all times pursued to put
" safe and
perfect machines into the hands of the brave
"
defenders of His Majesty's dominions."

The following
Koyal Artillery
Copenhagen

is

nominal

list

of the officers of the

who accompanied General Blomefield

to

Lieutenant-Colonels Harding, Cookson, and Kobe

Cap-

May, Cockburn, Francklin, Newhouse, Fyers, P. Drummond, Brome, and Meadows 2nd Captains Bolton, J. P.
Adye, Paterson, Unett, Whinyates, Sandham, Holcroft, and
tains

1st

Kettlewell;

Lieutenants

Darby,

Orlebar, Molesworth, Cubitt, Campbell,

Stewart,

Collyer,

Sinclair,

Coxwell,

Dyneley, Macbean, Eayner, Cairnes, Hunt, Somerville, and

Lord ; 2nd Lieutenants Wright, Swabey, Lyon, Wilson,
Thomson, Fuller, Forster, and Maling.
Captain Fyers acted as Aide-de-Camp to General Blomefield, and Captains Drummond and Whinyates were on his

Brigade

No

Staff.

less

Expedition.

than 185 pieces of ordnance accompanied the

Of these, 84 were field guns, including 6, 9,

Embarkation.

CHAP. x.

161

and 12-pounders, and 5J and 8-inch howitzers. The last

named, although included among the field-guns, were evidently for use in the trenches. The guns taken for siege
purposes were as follows
:

20 24-pounders.
5 10-inch howitzers.
6 68-pounder carronadcs.
70 mortars, of 5, 8, 10, and 13-inch

The number

of rounds of

only 11,378 were expended

General

Blome-

MS* R
calibre.

turns

ammunition sent was 61,472 but

the city surrendered.
There
;

when

was considerable difficulty in getting transports at so short a

When writing on
notice for the Artillery and their horses.
the 28th July, the Deputy-Adjutant-General had heard of
no ships at all for the purpose but at 2.30 A.M. on the 29th,
an express reached him from Gravesend, informing him of
their arrival, and that the embarkation was required to take
Collecting all the boats he could find,
place immediately.
men
at Woolwich, and sent them down to
the
he embarked
In writing subsequently to the
the.
tide.
Gravesend with
;

"

It is but fair to the officers and

Master-General, he said
" men to
say that, without previous notice, they were all
" assembled at
9, and at the waterside by 10, in complete
"
order, and with all their baggage."
The main part of the Expedition sailed from Yarmouth,
:

Bloinefield embarked there, on board the

2nd August. Lord Cathcart, who was to
on
the
Valiant,'
command the whole of the land forces, did not join until

and

General

'

their arrival in the road of Elsineur.

(j ust

The British Infantry numbered 15,351, and was commanded by General Burrard. The 1st Division was commanded by Sir George Ludlow, assisted by Major-General
Finch and Brigadier Warde the 2nd Division by Sir David
;

by Major-Generals Grosvenor and Spencer

and Brigadier Macfarlane.
The Eeserve was under the
command of Major-General Sir Arthur Wellesley, and inBaird, assisted

cluded ten companies of the 95th, or Kifle Corps, besides Biomefield

three other battalions.
The King's German Legion, under M
VOL. n.

The Siege of Copenhagen.

62

the

command

of the Earl of Kosslyn,

CHAP. x.

numbered 9951

of all

ranks.

At 5 A.M. on the morning of the 16th August, 1807, the

Keserve of the army, under Sir A. Wellesley, landed at
Weheck, about twelve miles from Copenhagen.
Captain
Newhouse's and Captain Brome's Light Brigades of Artillery,
under the command of Lieut. -Colonel Cookson, were attached

No opposition was made to the landing.

of the army, with the exception of General
Spencer's Brigade, landed at the same place, and in the
afternoon the whole moved forward in three columns towards
to the Keserve.

The remainder

Blomefield

Charlotte-lund, about five miles from Copenhagen, off which

place the transports, convoyed by the fleet, anchored the

same evening.

On

the following morning, General Spencer's

Brigade landed at Charlotte-lund, and marched to the left of
Sir David Baird's head-quarters, where, on the 20th, it was
joined by Captain May's Brigade of 6-pounders.
Captain
Unett's Brigade of 6-pounders was attached to Sir David
Baird's Division, and Captain Paterson's, of 9-pounders, was
The city of Copenhagen was
placed on the left of the line.
now completely invested by the army, and the landing of

Lieut.-Coi.
*

Colonel*

Macieod.

guns and stores for the siege commenced. The difficulties

which seem to have been inseparable from our campaigns in
those days, as far as supply of stores, &c., was concerned,
" We should have been
were present on this occasion.
"

g rea ^J distressed in the horse department if Colonel

" Eobe had not taken
it.
No Captain-Commissary or Yete"
We are in great distress
rinary Surgeon has arrived.
"
for horses ; I am obliged to send the two brigades pre"
We shall want ammunition for the
paring, without cars.
"
9 and 6-pounders ; there are only 300 rounds per gun, and
"
a considerable quantity is already gone.
Pray get some
" more
and
a
of
sent,
greater supply
Shrapnel's shells there
" is a
call
for
and
have
we
with us only 27 per
them,
great
"
send
us
a
extra
subalterns
we work
few
;
gun.
Pray
"
and
at
is
Cookson
Lieut.-Colonel
day
night
unloading.
*'
advanced with the four first brigades ; Lieut.-Colonel
"
Robe encamps the horses and carriages, which is full
:

CHAP. x.
"
"

"

Distribution of Batteries.

employ

and

I attend

General Blomefield

is

63

unloading and supplying demands.

at head-quarters.

We

are distressed

many different things being put in the store-ships ; the

"
things at bottom are required first, in many instances, and
" we
half unload the ship to get at them"
The operations in which the expenditure of ammunition
by so

took place alluded to hy Colonel Harding were prior to

the investment of Copenhagen, and were conducted by Sir
A. Wellesley with complete success. During their progress,
a very gallant Artillery officer, Lieutenant Lyon, was killed
by a 3-pounder shot, from a gun which had been placed by
the

On account
enemy on the Copenhagen road.
offered by the coast, and a continuance

facilities

of the
of fine

weather, the Danish gun-boats took part in these operations.

of the Eoyal Artillery was thus mentioned by

The conduct

Arthur Wellesley: "I cannot close this letter without Sir A.Wei
expressing to your Lordship my sense of the good conduct Lor
" of the
All conducted themselves with the utmost ca rt
troops.
" steadiness but I cannot avoid to mention
particularly the 29lug.
" British
1807<
Artillery under the command of Captain NewSir

"

>

" house."

From the 21st August to the 1st September, the Artillerymen were employed in making and arming the batteries
necessary for the bombardment. The distribution of these
batteries

when

the

bombardment commenced, on the 2nd Sep-

tember, was as follows

No. of Guns.

.....
.....
advanced ......
on
.....
......
and advanced .....
......

Gun battery on the right

On its left, and advanced
Still farther

In the road,

the left of the battery

Eight mortar battery

.

Centre mortar battery

On

its left,

Left mortar battery

Nature.

2-t-prs.

MS.

10-inch mortars.

8-inch

Returns,
and Gen.

8-inch howitzers.

,,,

,0-1

rtars

2
g

Diary.

13-inch
10-inch howitzers.

{*
{*

'

held

Official

The Siege of Copenhagen.

64

No. of Guns.

batte,,

On

its right,

and advanced

....

{'1
2

The

Nature.

10-inch mortars.

24-pr. guns.

8-inch howitzer.

Fleche

Making

CHAP. x.

a total of 20 guns, 40 mortars, and 8 howitzers.

erection of the batteries

molestation from the

enemy

was not carried on without

but on the 1st September they

were so near completion that the city was summoned to

of the bombardment.
capitulate prior to the commencement

The summons having been

refused, the batteries opened at

7.30 P.M. on the 2nd, and the fire continued, with but little
The city was set on fire by the
reply, for twelve hours.
flight of shells (not rockets, as stated by Sir E. Gust,
which would appear to have been used as a siege weapon for

first

the

first

burning

time, subsequently, at Flushing), and continued

night. During the afternoon of this day, another

all

battery of eight 24-pounders had been armed by the Koyal

Artillery.

of ammunition during the first night

considered
been
excessive, orders were given that no
having
more than one shell per hour should be fired from each

The expenditure

battery during the day, but that at 7 P.M. on the 3rd September, firing should commence at the rate of one shell in

every three minutes, from each battery, for the space of

The same orders were obeyed on the night
sixteen hours.
of the 4th, the city suffering terribly from fires in all parts,
and no fewer than 1500 of the inhabitants
been

having

Towards 4 A.M. on the 5th, the. principal steeple in

the city fell, and at 8 P.M. on that day, a flag of truce was
sent out, and the bombardment was suspended.
On the 6th,
two additional batteries were armed, and sailors were landed
from the fleet to man them; but a second flag of truce
having been sent from the city, Sir A. Wellesley, Sir H.
Popham, and Colonel Murray went in the evening into the

killed.

town, having received directions to order a continuation of

the bombardment on their return, should their proposals

Surrender of the Danish

CHAP. x.

Fleet.

165

They did not return until next morning,

the intelligence that the terms of the
however,
bringing,
These included the unconbeen
had
agreed to.
capitulation
not be accepted.

ditional surrender of the Danish fleet.

During the evening
of the 7th the citadel was taken possession of by the Grenadiers, accompanied by a detachment of the German Kifle

Corps, a troop of Dragoons, and a brigade of Artillery. On

the same evening the following General Order was published
"

The Commander of the Forces cannot delay expressing Head" his

warmest thanks to all the General Officers and Staff for HeHerup,
"
the great and able assistance he has received from all of ? Sept
8
"
them, in their several ranks and stations. And he feels
"
himself, in like manner, obliged to all the officers com"
manding brigades or regiments, and the officers and
" soldiers under their command.
*

" He
must, however, be allowed, in a particular manner,
" to
express his thanks to Major-General Blomefield and
" Colonel
D'Arcy, and the officers and corps of the Koyal
"
Artillery and Engineers, whose laborious science and
"
and

individually, have been most

and
reflect
remarkable,
great honour on that branch of
"
His Majesty's service."
The naval stores captured were very valuable, and their
success,

collectively

"

weight exceeded 20,000 tons.

of ordnance were also taken.

No fewer than 3500 pieces

By the 20th October the

whole army had re-embarked, and reached England without

One cannot but regret that the object of the Expedition could not have been attained in a different manner ;

loss.

and that the means employed were not as justifiable as they

were successful.
There are various points of interest connected with the
of the Artillery during the siege which seem
of
mention. The following extracts from General
worthy
Blomefield's letters to Lord Chatham speak for themselves

services

"

....

with great satisfaction that I have to con"

gratulate your Lordship on the fortunate issue of our
"
Expedition, and on the distinguished share which fell to
It is

Dated
*
? Sept
8

CHAP. x.

The Siege of Copenhagen.

66

" the lot of our

corps in accomplishing so desirable an event ;
"
and I should do them great injustice were I not to mention
"
their exertions in the strongest manner, as well in the
" laborious task of
landing and transporting the Artillery
" and stores to the
batteries, from four to eight miles
"
distance, as in the active and intelligent use of them
" when
few inI believe there are

employed .....

very

"

stances of so powerful an effect being produced in so short

" a
Six thousand
time, and with so little loss of lives.
" shells and carcases were thrown into the town
is

(which
and
from
howitzers,
mortars,
guns,
during
very spacious),
" the short
of
and
one
two
day."
period
nights
" I cannot
sufficiently commend the conduct of the
Again

"

'

1807.

" officers and men under

my command. Your Lordship will
" observe
the
enclosed
sketch of the batteries, how forby
"

"
"

midable the attack must have been under those

excellent

Cookson

The

Lieut.-Colonels Harding, Kobe,

officers,
and nothing could resist so heavy a fire."

satisfaction of the

from his reply

Lord Chat-

Master-General

may

three

and

be gathered

" I received
your letter of the 7th inst., and rejoiced most
truly in the prosperous issue of the Expedition to Zealand.
" ^^ e satisfaction I derived from this event
was, I assure you,
"
much increased from the very highly honourable and dis"
tinguished part borne in this enterprise by the Corps of
"
Eoyal Artillery under your command, and whose exertions
" are the theme of
general admiration. I am sincerely happy
" in
communicating to you that His Majesty has announced
" his
gracious intentions of conferring upon you the dignity
" of a
Baronet, as a testimony of the sense entertained of
"
eminent services on this occasion
"

General
6"

field*

Sept! 19,

........ What

your

" a sad contrast

On

the miserable business of Buenos Ayres !"

the 28th September, Lord Cathcart received a despatch
is

Lord Castlereagh, expressing His Majesty's high

approbation of the army's performance ; and this was communicated to the troops on the same evening. Lord Cathcart
took the opportunity of thanking them again " for the
from

Gen Order,
1

((

p at i enc6j

discipline,

and exertions of

all

regiments, corps,

Thanks of Parliament.

CHAP. x.

167

" and
departments, to which, under the blessing of Provi"
dence, he was indebted for the complete success of the
"
Expedition, and for the most gracious approbation which
" His
Majesty has been pleased to declare of the whole
"
service." Military science has advanced, and may continue
to advance, with prodigious strides ; but success will never
'

be possible

without the same weapons as those to which

patience, discipline, and exertion.

long-standing right was claimed for his corps by General
"
It being Letter
Blomefield, from Lord Cathcart, after the siege.
"
an invariable custom in our service, whenever a place capi- -^ Sept.
" tulates after a
1807
siege, to allow the officer commanding the

Copenhagen surrendered

"

Royal Artillery a claim of the

bells in the town,

and

its

"

which
dependencies, or a compensation in lieu of them,
"
has twice occurred upon services in which I have been em"
ployed, viz. the sieges of the Havannah, and Fort Royal
" in
Martinique, I conceive it to be my duty which I owe to
"
my brother officers, as well as myself, to express my hope
" that
in the present instance it will not be dispensed with."

On

the 3rd November, 1807, General Blomefield was created

and the story of the Expedition concludes with
;

a Baronet

the thanks of the Houses of Parliament being voted to the

army and the fleet which had been engaged. This was com-

municated by Sir Thomas Blomefield now at Woolwich to

officers and men who had served under him, both

the

own corps and to the Artillery of the

German Legion. In the language used by him in

belonging to his
King's

addressing the former, may be detected the strength in his

of that Kegimental feeling which it is the main object
" It therefore
of this work to strengthen.
only remains
"
with the General," he wrote, " to add his sincere thanks
"
for their highly meritorious conduct, by which they have
"
acquitted themselves no less to their own credit than to
"
that of the corps in which they have the honour to serve."

bosom

NOTE. It may have been merely accidental, but it is worthy of note

that while the Master-General corresponded directly with General Blomefield
during this service, the Deputy Adjutant-General corresponded with
the Lieutenant-Colonels employed on the Expedition.

168

CHAPTER

XI.

MONTE VIDEO AND BUENOS AYEES.

TN

a letter from
allusion is

Lord Chatham, quoted in the last chapter,

to a campaign in South America which

made

contrasted unfavourably with the successful siege of Copenhagen. The plan of this work requires that the reader

now ;turn to
how bravely English
should

this unsuccessful Expedition,

and see

troops endeavoured to compensate by

want of generalship in their leaders. To

the Artilleryman this chapter will have a special interest,
from the fact that two of the officers who took a prominent
their exertions for

part in the campaign were destined to become very eminent

in their corps and profession
Letter to
'

12 Jar?
1806.

Sir

Augustus Frazer, and Sir

Alexander Dickson.
On the 12th January, 1806, Major Spicer, who commanded
* ne Artillery with Sir David Baird's Expedition to the Cape
O f Good Hope, reported that, two days previously, Cape Town

had

fallen into their hands.

During the operations which
resulted in this important capture, the officers and men
under his command behaved in a " persevering, cool, and
"
steady manner." The heavy surf prevented him from
landing more than six 6-pounders and two 5 J-inch howitzers,

the whole of which were in action and did good service,

although outnumbered, three to one, by the artillery of the

Captains Turner and Ogilvie received special

enemy.
mention for their conduct on the occasion.
In the beginning of April, Major Spicer went on a tour
of inspection round the outposts, leaving Captain Ogilvie
his
had
sick
at
He
started
Town.
Cape
barely
Brigade-Major

on his own
Sir Home Popham, resolved
and
of
the Engthe
without
entirely
knowledge
responsibility,
lish Government
to proceed with a naval and military force

when the Admiral,

CHAP.

XL

Surrender of English Troops.

169

South America, for the purpose of attacking the Spanish settlements, and securing the trade of the country for England.
General Beresford was put in command of the military part
of the Expedition and the detachment of the Koyal Artillery,
which was at first ordered to accompany it, consisted of

to

Lieutenant A. Macdonald, 1 bombardier, 1 fowce-bombardier,

18 gunners, 1 conductor, 1 wheeler, 1 collar-maker, 1 corporal and 9 men of the Gunner-driver Corps, and 18 horses.
Captain Ogilvie having offered to resign his staff appointment if allowed to accompany the force, his offer was

and in a letter which he wrote from St. Helena,

accepted
en route, he was able to announce that the detachment under
;

command had been augmented by an

officer and 100

Helena Artillery. The fleet consisted of
5 men-of-war, and the military force, in addition to the
Artillery, was composed of a detachment of the 20th Light
Dragoons, a few Engineers, and the 71st Kegiment. The
Expedition reached a point about twelve miles distant from
Buenos Ayres, and on the 25th June, 1806, a landing was
effected.
Advancing boldly, and driving the Spanish troops
before them, the English reached the city, and on the 28th
June summoned the Governor to surrender a summons to
which he immediately yielded. So small, however, was the
force under General Beresford's command, that he could not
hold the city and in a very short time the English troops had

his

gunners of the St.

actually to surrender as prisoners of war. Sir Home Popham

continued to blockade the river for some time ; but was

soon ordered

home

to be tried

unauthorized proceedings.
unfortunate drama.

by court-martial for
Thus ended the first act of

his
this

The English Government, although disapproving of the

some steps to
The fleet, now

original Expedition, was compelled to take

avenge the disaster to Beresford's force.

under the command of Admiral Sterling, had already been

considerably increased and reinforcements from the Cape of

Captain

Good Hope had

D^^

arrived, including a few Artillerymen under

A.
four troops of the 20th,
and two of the 8 Oct Watson,
Captain
21st,

Light Dragoons, the 38th, 47th, and a detachment of

Monte Video and Buenos Ayres.

70

CHAP.

XL

men under the

to
the Kiver La
ordered
was
Auchmuty
the Artillery
1807
5th
the
on
and
arrived
January,
Plata,
Dickson.
of
the
command
under
Captain
Captain
being
the 54th Kegiment.

command

further force of 3000

of Sir S.

shortly after this date returned to the Cape of Good

and
the command of the Eoyal Artillery devolved for
Hope,
the time on Captain Dickson. Prior, however, to this taking
on Monte
place, Sir S. Auchmuty decided on an attempt
the
3rd
on
assault
and
took
the
Yideo,
February,
place by
1807.
The conduct of the Artillery on this occasion may be
ascertained from the following extract from the General

Watson

London
Z

i3 Aprii,
1807.

Order, which was published immediately after the capture of

"
the town
The established reputation of the Koyal Artil" ^ er
y kas been firmly supported by the company under my
" orders
and I consider myself much indebted to Captains
;
"
"Watson, Dickson, Carmichael, and Wilgress, for their
"
zealous and able exertions."
On this occasion Captain
:

Wilgress,

who

acted as

Adjutant to the Artillery,

was

wounded.

On the 2nd June, an additional force of 4200 men, under

General Craufurd, arrived at Monte Yideo from England
and the command of the whole army devolved upon a most
;

With this last reinofficer, General Whitelocke.

forcement came a troop of Horse Artillery, now C Battery,
B Brigade, under Captain A. Frazer, who, being senior to

incapable

now assumed command of the Artillery, and

until the active operations were over, when he
relieved by Lieut. -Colonel Schalch, who reached Monte

Captain Dickson,
retained

it

was
Yideo on the 26th July, 1807.
General Beresford's force

still remained prisoners of war

some remaining at Buenos Ayres, the others divided in
small detachments among the various villages in the neighbourhood. General Linieres, the French commander of the
Spanish forces, was most kind and courteous to the prisoners,
and did all he could to promote their comfort but the
feeling of the people, more especially of the Eoman Catholic
clergy, was very bitter against the English, and led to a
;

painful occurrence.

On

the 14th January Captain Ogilvie,

Description of Buenos

CHAP. XI.

Ay res.

171

while riding with Colonel Pack of the 71st Regiment

who

and his comwith

panion
Captain Ogilvie had been
difficulty escaped.
severely wounded at the first attack on Buenos Ayres, and
his loss was deeply regretted.
The command of the captive
Artillery now devolved upon Lieutenant Alexander Macdonald, who had received two wounds in the attack on
Buenos Ayres, and who had been recommended by Captain
Ogilvie as a most deserving and zealous young officer.
General Whitelocke decided on a second assault on Buenos
Ayres having first, and unsuccessfully, attempted to per-

was

also a prisoner of

war

was assassinated

suade G-eneral Linieres to release his prisoners. The failure

of his attempt on the city will, perhaps, be more readily
if a few words of description of Buenos
Ayres, as
was in 1807, precede the narrative.
The city extended for nearly three miles along the banks Major
of the Eio de la Plata, and its breadth at the widest point
f^^'j
was about a mile and a half. The population, including the ment, MS.
n
U
suburban villas or quintas, was about 70,000.
Like most R A Remodern cities in the United States and Canada, it had been cord Office
built on a fixed plan, not left to the distorted tastes of ing

understood,

it

g?

dividual proprietors

as is not unfrequently

the case

in and

Capt.

and squares were

England.
large, broad, and Letters* t^
convenient ; and although the individual houses did not D A Gen
always harmonise, and were rarely impressive, they did little
injury to the general effect. Most of them were two-storeyed,
Its streets

and built in Moorish fashion, in the form of a square, with

one large entry, the different apartments on the ground floor
opening into the square, and the roof flat, and occasionally

The

terraced.

parapet of

was a miserable work, with a

more than two feet in height. In many

Fort, or Citadel,

little

was incapable of resisting artillery fire, and, at the

best, was of little use save in overawing a mob, or as a
The
receptacle for the city treasure and the public records.
most important public buildings were the Cathedral, and the
churches of St. Francisco, St. Domingo, St. Michael, and the

places

it

Jesuits
interiors,

imposing enough externally, but with gaudy

which offended the sober taste of English travellers.

all

172

Monte Video and Buenos Ayres.

CHAP.

XL

There was also a large civic hall, known as the Cabildos and
the Plaza de Toros, where the passion of the inhabitants for
The
bull-fighting was gratified, was a very striking place.
unsmall
and
theatres
were
and
Custom-house, Arsenal,
;

imposing.

For many reasons Buenos Ayres was admirably adapted

for defence against an enemy whose attack should develop
The barracks were
itself in the form of street fighting.

scattered over the city in low, retired squares, and the houses
were like so many small fortifications. Their shape rendered

each perfectly distinct, and not easily assailable save from a

This one weak point led to the passing
roof.
of a law, which might have led at times to embarrassing

neighbouring

under which the proprietor of one house was perwhom he might detect on the roof
an
The
one.
of
adjoining
gates and doors of the houses
were very strong, made of wood several inches thick, and
heavily bolted and barred; the windows had strong iron
results,

mitted to fire at any stranger

and heavy wooden shutters with iron fastenand

the flat roofs were very useful, both for
ings within;
offence and defence.
Altogether it was as awkward a city
to take in the way unhappily chosen by General Whitelocke
railings outside,

as can be imagined.
In most of the squares enclosed

by the larger houses there

but the water was brackish, and the inhabitants
preferred the water from the river, which was sold in the
streets, and which, although somewhat muddy, became clear
were wells

when allowed

to stand, and,

alum, was believed

with the addition of a

little

have peculiar virtues for clearing and

the
voice.
The river, between Buenos Ayres
strengthening
and Colonia, was about thirty miles in breadth and it should
be mentioned that the latter place had already surrendered to
to

a force of 800 English troops, under Colonel Pack of the 71st,

who had made his escape from Buenos Ayres shortly after the
assassination of Captain Ogilvie.

The Artillery with this

force

was commanded by Captain Wilgress, who had recovered from

the wound he received at Monte Video only to receive a second
and more severe injury at Colonia. His detachment manned

CHAP. XI.

Description of Buenos Ayres.

173

two light 6-pounders and two light 3-pounders ; and he had

in addition eight Spanish 1 6-pounders, with which it was
intended to arm the defensive works proposed to be erected

Had

these last-mentioned guns, and the siege

ordnance left at the village of Keduccion and at Monte Video,
at Colonia.

been brought against Buenos Ayres with a view to its bombardment, there is no doubt that the city, whose streets
proved a tomb to the attacking forces, would have been their
prize.

The country round Buenos Ayres was

well wooded, and

the land in the immediate vicinity rich and singularly proThanks to the inquiring minds of General Beresductive.

was ascertained that beef, mutton, fowls, and

were cheap and abundant, bread excellent, and the
markets filled daily soon after sunrise with wild-fowl, quails,
and partridges in abundance. The last-named birds must
ford's force, it

river fish

have resembled the Canadian tree partridge, *as they were

caught with ease, even in the immediate suburbs, by means
of a noose at the end of a stick.
There was abundance of
larger game in the cduntry, both four-footed and winged, and
" vultures and birds of that
class, luckily very common too,
"

otherwise the air would be infected by the quantity of

"
carrion left after the men, dogs, and pigs had been
"
satisfied
Bullocks are here what the cocoa-trees
" are in
India.
They turn them to the following uses food,
"
fuel, shoes, ropes, trunks, sacks, covering for houses, beds,
"
bridles, saddles, bird-cages, drinking-cups, &c
" Their horses are the accidental breed
of the country, de"
scended from those originally brought by the Spaniards.
"
They are undersized, but show some blood, are very tract"
Each proprietor affixes his mark on his
able, and hardy.
"
droves, makes geldings of them, and they run wild till
:

"

They are driven in now and

The King of Spain is a proprietor
"
his mark is the tip of the left ear cut off.
They are of
"
very trifling value in the drove not more than half a

required for use or

" then
for inspection.

"

"

dollar each.

horse

is

sale.

It is not

uncommon

jaded to catch another

for a traveller

and leave his own.

whose

The

Major

Monte Video and Buenos

174

CHAP.

Ay res.

XL

"

Peons, or country people, who have more Indian than

Spanish blood in them, are very expert horsemen. They
" tame a wild horse in a few
hours, but by severe treatment.
" Their bridles are those used
by the Mamelukes, and they
" use
stick and spur without reluctance."
"

The chief exports from Buenos Ayres were hides, tallow,

skins of valuable animals, bark, coffee, and spices ; the imwere

ports

wearing apparel, glass, earthenware,

So extensive was the trade of the place, and so

cloths,

cutlery, &c.

keen were the inhabitants for

wondered

to be

at

that, in

its

the

development, that
first

flush of

it is

not

short-lived

conquest, the English commanders dwelt on its possible advantage to Great Britain in terms which the hope of justifying an unauthorized expedition
somewhat fervent.

may

possibly have

made

The moral aspect of Buenos Ayres in 1807 seems to have

been very uninviting. Immorality of the grossest description prevailed in both sexes and in all classes; indolence and
intemperance characterized the lower orders, and the whole
community was priest-ridden to an intolerable extent. The
all ranks and classes
and when he went anywhere in state, every one knelt to him,
the guards even presenting arms to him kneeling. During
the short time that General Beresford commanded, the
Bishop demanded the same ceremony from the English
troops but it was refused, and he never forgave it. He was
a very crafty man, and to the last he affected good- will to

Bishop, in particular, tyrannized over

but by his orders every pulpit was used for

threats
against them, and for inventing and
fulminating
of
tales
English atrocity. To such an extent
exaggerating
the English

was

this carried, that the better class of the inhabitants did

not dare to make any advances to the English

officers, or show
them open kindness, although they always welcomed them to
their houses if they came uninvited.
The revenue of the
and
included
a
fourth
Bishop was very great,
part of all sums
at
births, marriages, and funerals, the amount of
paid as fees

which varied with the will and ability of the parties concerned,
Another fourth went to the King, and the

or their friends.

CHAP.

XL

Dual Government of Artillery.

175

remainder to the canons of the church in which the necessary

ceremony was performed. The clergy of Buenos Ayres were
very numerous, and their private

life

was said

to be

most im-

As regarded the people

generally, Major Nicolls wrote

With respect to religion, they appear to attend pretty
"
regularly to its exterior forms, especially the women, who

moral.
"

" attend mass

daily, in which, however, the men do not show
" so much
zeal.
Since, however, vice of every description
"
follows, it does not appear likely that forms of this nature
" would be
very useful, either in this world or as a prepara" tion for that to
come. On General Beresford's taking the
"
thousands
of indulgences and remissions of all
city, many
" kinds
were found, which have ever proved a source of re" venue and
and are
to the Koman Catholic

power

clergy,

" here made the tools of Government. 1

The Bishop amuses
" the
and
some
low
week
with
pompous procession
every
high
"
or ceremony to make the great remember that there is such
"
To the sick he holds out forty days'
a thing as religion.
"
for
plenary indulgence
going to mass and giving alms ;
" and the
poor are governed by a promise that their sins
" shall be
forgiven. On our landing, the Bishop induced the
"
people to swear they would defend the place to the last,
" for which their sins should be
forgiven."
this
General
Whitelocke
resolved to move the
city
Against

greater part of his force, leaving small garrisons in Monte

Before describing the Expedition, an

Video and Colonia.

worthy of mention, as showing, what has so

been
shown already, the evil effects of the dual
frequently
of
the
Artillery which existed in the days of
government
There is deposited in the Koyal
the Board of Ordnance.
anecdote

is

Artillery Kecord Office the original order to Captain Frazer, Dated

6
signed by General Whitelocke, desiring him, as commanding

y^

and representing the Ordnance Depart" to

ment,
pay the sum of forty pounds sterling for every
"
field-piece that may be captured from the enemy during
officer of Artillery

The Bishop was

a leading

member

of the

Koyal Council.

6 June >

Monte Video and Buenos Ayres.

176

CHAP. xi.

" the
approaching service at Buenos Ayres, according to
" the established
usage of the service in such cases."
In the same office is a correspondence in which Captain

Frazer

is

forbidden by the Board to make any such payment.

for consideration is not whether the General or

The question

the Board was right in the interpretation of the Kegulations.

The error of the system was that the officer who received an
order from the General, under whom he was immediately
serving, was made the channel for conveying to that General

an intimation that his order was wrong, and was not to be

The marvel is that, under such a system, harmony
was ever possible between the commanding officer of Artillery
obeyed.

and his General

;
and, certainly, if tact could have been
a
at the Academy, along with his matheto
cadet
imparted

matics, he would probably have found it the

accomplishment of the two in his after career.

The arrangements made by Captain Frazer

more useful

for the trans-

port and service of the Artillery were admirable and exIn General Whitelocke's report of the subsequent
haustive.
operations, he used the following terms of commendation
:

London

ordinary,

" I cannot
sufficiently bring to notice the uncommon exer" tions of
Captain Frazer, commanding the Royal Artillery,
((
the fertility of whose mind, zeal, and animation, in all cases

"

1807.

left difficulties

behind." That Captain Frazer was staunchly

officers and men under his command is

from
his
letters.
Captain Dickson, whom he had
apparent
and
under
whom,
superseded,
singularly enough, he was

supported by the

destined to serve in the Peninsula, was most loyal in his

"
I
exertions, and earned the following acknowledgment
Captain
ra ei t
" have met with so much assistance from
Captain Dickson,
^ ^ G en
"
21 June,
whom I found in command of the Artillery on my arrival,
" that it is at once
my duty and my inclination to report
" to
the
I
sense
entertain of his valuable assistance.
you
" But it is
unnecessary for me to mention more than the
" name of a brother-officer who is
at once so highly and so
"
deservedly valued." And again, after the conclusion of
:

'

the campaign

"If, in

my

several letters to you, I have not

will, I trust,

" mentioned
Captains Hawker and Dickson, you

c H AP.
"

A rtillery at A ttack on Buenos Ayres.

I.

77

a delicacy in venturing to
express an opinion of officers of equal standing in the
"
Kegiment with myself, and with whom, in many cases, I
"
to be

impute

this to the real cause

"

should feel myself flattered

compared."
Captain Frazer had urged the propriety of heavy artillery
accompanying the army, with a view to a bombardment of
the city, prior to an assault ; and in answer to an argument
employed that Monte Video would be left unprotected

he drew out a detailed statement showing that no less than

145 guns, mortars, and howitzers would be left mounted in
He further showed that
that city, besides 270 dismounted.
there was an abundance of ammunition for these guns and
;

he detailed three

officers to

remain behind, of

whom

he was

"

Colonel Brown, Commandant of Captain

r e
Video, has expressed to me his high f ^ ^ G
" sense of the exertions of
Captain Durnford and Lieutenants R A.
"
and
whose
exertions were unremitting
Stopford,
England
"
during our temporary absence." But his appeal was to
no purpose. General Whitelocke had determined to land at

afterwards able to say

" the
Garrison of Monte

place about thirty miles from Buenos Ayres, called

Enfinada de Barragon, and thence march over the swamps
which intervened, and which would have made the movea

ment

of heavy artillery very difficult.

With great

difficulty,

Captain Frazer obtained permission to take three 24pounders, two 12-inch Spanish mortars, and two 5J-inch
howitzers as a reserve, in addition to his field guns ; but these,
which would have been so useful in the subsequent attack,

were not allowed to proceed farther than the village of

Keduccion, where the first encounter with the enemy took
The following was the detail of the Eoyal Artillery
place.
which actually took part in the attack on Buenos Ayres, on
the 5th July, 1807 :1st

Brigade

Captain A. S. Frazer.

2nd Captain W. D. Nicolls.

Lieutenant Lloyd Dowse.
2nd Brigade

VOL. H.

Captain James Hawker.

2nd Captain Henry Lane.
Lieutenant Thomas Trotter.

98 N.C. officers and men.

4 6-pounder guns.
2 3-pounder

100 N.C.

officers

and men.

5 4-pounder guns.
1 S^-inch howitzer.

MS. Returns in
R- A. Record Office.

Monte Video and Buenos Ayres.

178
3rd Brigade

Captain Alexander Dickson.

Lieutenant J. Mackonochic.
Falkner Hope.

CHAP.

XL

100 N.C. officers and men.

3 12-pounder guns.
4 6-pounder
2 5J-inch howitzers.

Captain Frazer erred rather in being too minute in his

arrangements, than the reverse; he wrote his orders with

own hand, and knowing the nature of the country which

the men would have to traverse after disembarkation, he
issued the most detailed instructions before leaving Monte

his

Video, as to dress, diet, horses, &c. These are too long for reproduction, but some are quaintly amusing, and one suggests
" The men
a new use for foot-straps to a gunner dismounted.
"
will land with one great coat and blanket each, with a
" flannel
waistcoat, brush, comb, razor, and shaving-brush
" rolled
up in the blanket ; and with such proportion of
" cooked
provisions as may be directed.
Every man to have
"
tied
round
his
shoes
to
shoe-straps
keep them on in boggy
"
the
hair
to
be
men's
(/round ;
plaited up behind, not tied
" in a
the
coats
and
blankets to be rolled up
great
queue
"
to
them
so as
leave
as much as
the full and free
;

possible

"

use of their limbs."

To each Brigade of guns was attached, a cart containing

long troughs, which were laid over very swampy ground or
across ditches, and in which the gun-wheels were made to
which otherwise would have sunk to the axletrees.

travel,

In fact everything which ingenuity could devise to lighten

the difficulties of the operation was thought of by Captain
That he was rewarded by success is apparent by
Frazer.
Captain

R!HJL'

"
the following extract
During the advance the Artillery
"
exerted themselves to the admiration of the whole army ;
"
the Artillerymen pulling at the drag-ropes up to their
"
waists in water. ... In the most difficult ground they
"
were continually obliged to restrain their zeal, lest they
"
should outmarch the army, whose repeated intimations of
"
Easy the Artillery !' were most gratifying." Of the
:

to

D. A. Gen.

'

own troop of Horse Artillery, Captain Frazer

" The conduct of the officers and men was
admirable,

services of his

wrote
"

yet

it

were better that the praise due

to

Quartermaster-

Plan of Attack.

CHAP. XI.

179

"
Sergeant Hay and the men of the Horse Artillery should
" come from
any other pen than mine ; but their gallantry
" and
intelligence have ensured the respect of the whole
"
army. It would be injustice not to mention in terms of
"
the most unequivocal commendation Quartermaster-Ser"
geant Hay, in whom the valuable qualities of clear ar"
rangements and undaunted courage are joined to the
"
greatest zeal ; this man is cast in no ordinary mould."
On arrival at Buenos Ayres, after two engagements at

Eeduccion and Passo Chico, in which the English were

successful, General Whitelocke completely invested the
The plan of attack on which he decided was to enter
city.
the place in separate columns by totally different entrances
and streets ; each column to march " along the street
"
directly in its front, till it arrived at the last square of
" houses next the Eiver La
Plata, of which it was to possess
"
on
the
flat
itself, forming
roofs, and there wait for further
"
No firing was to be permitted until the columns
orders.
" had reached their final
The reader,
points and formed."

who has already been informed of the size of Buenos Ayres,

and the style of the houses, will at once see the madness of
such a method of attack but the extraordinary thing to be
;

that General Whitelocke employed, as an argument

the course he adopted, the very circumstance which

noted
for

is

should have forbidden him to hazard his troops in the

dangerous and unsatisfactory occupation of street fighting.

The knowledge," he wrote, " that the enemy meant to

"

"

"

"

occupy the

flat

roofs of the houses gave rise to the plan of

attack."

The guns accompanied the columns

but " the detachments

Horse Artillery were not mounted, and of the Cavalry

two
only
squadrons had their horses." The attack took
on
the
5th July, and if endurance and courage among
place
of the

"

the troops could have redeemed their General's blunder, this

would have been done. At the end of the day no fewer

men were

wounded, or prisoners. The

was just what might have been foreseen. In General
Whitelocke's own words, "The nature of the fire to which
N 2

than 2500
battle

killed,

'

Gazette,

Monte Video and Buenos Ayres.

180

" the
troops were exposed was
"
Grape shot at the corners of

violent

in

CHAP. XI.

the

extreme.

the streets, musketry,

"
from
the tops of all the
and
stones
hand grenades, hricks,
" houses
his
with
householder
negroes defended his
;
every
"
itself
in
a fortress, and it is
dwelling, each of which was
"
not, perhaps, too much to say that the whole male popula" tion of Buenos
in its defence."
was
all

employed
Ayres
subsequent conviction hy courtincapacity might have been assured on his own

Whitelocke's

General

martial for

testimony.

The only

real gain to the English army at the end of the

the
and its
was
possession of the Plaza de Toros
day
situation was such, that, if fortified, it would have commanded the town, and perhaps compelled the inhabitants to
insist on a surrender.
Captain Frazer urged this without
success he pointed out that with some guns captured that
day from the Spaniards he could construct a battery of
26 guns, immediately serviceable, and strengthen it by
unspiking 10 other pieces of ordnance which had been for
:

a time rendered unserviceable by the enemy, prior to their

capture he assured the General that there were not less
:

than 600 barrels of powder, captured that day in the

Arsenal of Buenos Ayres, and an apparent abundance of
every requisite for the service of a battery; and he reminded

him that each gun which they had brought from Monte
Video was provided with 200 rounds but all was to no
purpose. A loop-hole for an escape without utter disgrace,
:

as he thought, was opened to General Whitelocke, of which

he availed himself, and which he thus described in his
"
On the morning of the 6th inst. General
official report
:

" Linieres addressed a letter to

me, offering to give up all
"
his prisoners taken in the late affair, together with the
"
71st Kegiment and others taken with General Beresford,
" if I desisted from
any other attack on the town, and with"
drew His Majesty's forces from the Kiver Plata, intimating
" at the same
time, from the exasperated state of the
"
he
could
not answer for the safety of the
populace,
"
Influenced
prisoners, if I persisted in offensive measures.

CHAP. XI.

Conduct of General Whitelock.

181

"
by this consideration (which I know from better authority
" to be
founded on fact), and reflecting of how little ad"
vantage would be the possession of a country the in"
habitants of which were so absolutely hostile, I resolved to
"
forego the advantages which the bravery of the troops had
"
obtained, and acceded to the annexed Treaty, which I
"
trust will meet the approbation of His Majesty."
It

may

be here mentioned that the Treaty was carried

out; the English army returning to Monte Video, and

But as, fortunately, an immense MS.
thence to England.

number

Nar-

and unpublished papers on this subject c^'tains*"

had been accumulated by Sir A. Frazer, and ultimately Hawker
reached the Koyal Artillery Kecord Office with a view to ^nd Lieut?
embodiment in some such work as this, it seems desirable to Trotter,
analyze the conduct of General Whitelocke at this crisis, attack on
and to ascertain, as far as is practicable, whether any other
of private

course would have been successful.

murdering the prisoners should have

Whitelocke's mind at once.
from
General
been dismissed
'of
With his powers
retaliating after any such atrocity,
First, the threat of

Diary, a
Official

the Captain
being, as he was, in possession of part of the town,
threat was an empty one ; and between civilized communi-

most unlikely of execution, even if the control of the

But, as a matter of fact, General
Linjeres' power and popularity among the inhabitants at
ties

General had been weak.

a rumour of his having fallen

the time were very great ;
a
the
during
day produced profound depression, which made
the reaction of joy the more intense when it was found that

he was uninjured. That such a crime against humanity

would have been allowed by one who was admitted by all to
be chivalrous in the extreme, is utterly improbable; and
the use of the threat merely showed that he found it
necessary to make use of every argument, real and unreal,
to secure his purpose ;
that his position was not sufficiently
strong to dictate terms to an enemy, even in the first hour
and, possibly, that he measured the
to deal, and acted accordingly.
Secondly, the very eagerness of General Linieres to let the

of his discomfiture

man with whom he had

Monte Video and Buenos Ayres.

82

let
troops go, and his ready permission to

CHAP.

them take

all

XL
the

which they had captured, should have suggested to

General Whitelocke that these were not the characteristics
of a General confident in his own strength, and in his
guns, &c.,

enemy's inferiority.

And,

thirdly, were the inhabitants so bitterly hostile to

the English as General Whitelocke assumed ? Doubtless

they were not likely to evince much amiability while having
to fight for their lives and homes ; but, had a different mode
of attack been adopted blockade with a threatened bombardment, followed by the occupation in force of one or two

would it not have been possible so to

English trade with the inhabitants as to ensure a
thoroughly friendly feeling? This was evidently believed
by those whose written opinions are extant opinions formed

commanding points

foster

and after careful inquiry. They said that had

the Bishop been strictly watched, and warned that he would
be sent to Europe, should he be detected in any political

in the city,

had all the

conspiracy, or countenancing any irregularity ;
and
been
officers
sent
to
Spanish
regular troops
England
immediately, and all the arms and ammunition of the inhabitants removed
had the chief public officers been removed, but no injury done to the private inhabitants, and
;

had honesty and uprightness been displayed in the English

administration, the country might have been easily retained
as a very useful* appendage to Great Britain.
The presence
of an English army would have raised the price of nearly
every commodity, and at the same time the system of readymoney payment would have benefited the local trade, and
would have given the stock-owners a very strong interest in
the presence of the English.

The people

of all ranks in

Buenos Ayres were fond of copying English fashions in

dress and furniture, and the facilities for
comparing these
would have been favourable to the invaders. The people
born in the country, who were despised by the Spaniards,
would have been raised to a degree of consideration unknown
to them previously
and it would have been politic to place
many of them in the situations of which the Castilians had
;

CHAP.

XL

Demoralization

among

the Troops.

183

been deprived. As for the Indians, the gain to them would have
been immense, for their furs and hides would have met with
Commercial intercourse
a ready sale at an increased price.
between England and Buenos Ayres once established, every
vessel that sailed

between their ports would have spun

another thread in the web which bound them together,

what at first might have been a mere commercial

would have ended in a firm friendship and union.
All these possibilities were frustrated by the ignorance of
His landing so far from the city was one great
a General.
blunder his sub-division of his army, leaving part at Keduccion and part at Colonia, was another: his dispensing
and his crowning
with siege artillery was a fatal error
of
the
a
trained
was
employment
soldiery in street
folly
of
them
the
opportunity of exerfighting, thus depriving
cising the qualities which a disciplined army possesses, and
compelling them to meet an enemy under the very circumstances which that enemy would himself have chosen.
General Whitelocke had sufficient troops to prevent the
or he
entry of supplies into the city if he had chosen
Buenos
have
entered
two
when
before,
might
Ayres
days
there was nothing but the wildest confusion within
or he
might have confined the attack to the side of the Kitoro, and

until

alliance

approached the Citadel by regular parallels, using the streets

and ending by an assault

which would have certainly been successful.
But he took the very course which was certain to be fatal
and the army he commanded, after performing useless pro-

to a great extent for that purpose,

had to succumb to terms which were openly

Monte Video, while the army was awaiting em-

digies of valour,

talked of at

barkation for England, as disgraceful.

And with this irritating consciousness of failure, there
came among the troops, when at Monte Video, not a little
demoralization.

Crime was general; desertions frequent

unknown and capital punishment was

insubordination not

resorted to to enforce discipline.

It is with pride that the
Frazer's
learns
from
Artilleryman
letters, that not a
Captain
desertion
occurred
from
the
of
ranks
the
single
Koyal Artillery,

Monte Video and Buenos

184

Ay res.

CHAP.

XL

The

a General's incapacity ought

possible consequences of
to master his proa
determination
to
officer
to stir every
his ignorance may some day be
the cause of unnecessary slaughter, or may neutralise the
bravest efforts of his men, and tarnish his country's honour,

The thought that

fession.

ought

make

to

man

afraid of being found

wanting when

In the success of a great General, the officer

called upon.
who loves his profession traces means and maxims which he
himself may study; and in the failures of an incapable
for blunders

commander, he searches

The study

which he may avoid.

of both will be found useful to the

some day have

to lead others,

and would

man who may

fain lead

them

to

victory.

by Captain Frazer from Monte

he and his troop might be
that
one
Video was
imploring
attached to any portion of the army which might be on

The

last letter written

He seemed

active service.

eager to drown the recollection

some more

of failure in the excitement of successes under

And, as

able leader.

this history will show,

he was not

The time was near when England was to

disappointed.
draw the sword on behalf of suffering Spain, nor to sheathe
it again until the invader had been driven from Spanish soil,
But
albeit at a terrible cost to herself of life and treasure.
with all their attendant sufferings and cost, those were days
to gloat over

now, alas

"
.

Man

Even thus

No man

is it

parcelled out in

is

men

because for any wrongful blow

not stricken asks, ' I would be told
:

'

Why

dost thou strike

'

He

he, I

is

not too often found that

am

That the earth

'
!

falls

'
:

By

but his heart whispers then,

this

we know

asunder, being old."

ROSETTI.

CHAPTER

XII.

THE OLD TENTH BATTALION.

TT

necessary to distinguish this battalion as above,

because it was reduced after Waterloo, and another
is

10th Battalion added to the Kegiment subsequently, in 1846.

As, however, there was no connection between the two in
any way, not even a battalion head-quarters, or a company

however small, left of the old 10th, this chapter

from all the preceding histories of the battalions,
in being merely a sketch of a part of the Eegiment, whose
traditions can be handed down to no lineal descendant, and
cadre,

differs

are the property of the Corps at large.

In the year 1807 the Kegiment consisted of 12 troops of

Horse Artillery, 90 marching companies, and 12 companies

of invalids, besides the Kiding-house establishment, the lastnamed of which had been formed in 1806. There were also

10 companies of the Driver Corps. The Board of Ordnance

decided on augmenting the Eegiment by another battalion of
10 companies ; and this was the last augmentation of this
description which took place during the great wars with
France. The second 10th Battalion, as has been stated

and the others as follows

and 12th Battalions in 1848; 13th Battalion in 1854;
and 14th Battalion in 1855. All the augmentations which
took place between the formation of the old 10th and the
above, was not formed until 1846

llth

Battle of Waterloo were in the form of additional numbers

to the ranks of the existing troops and companies.
The receipt in Woolwich, in the winter of 1807, of

1000

stand of arms, was followed in February 1808 by the formation of a new battalion of 10 companies, in every respect R.H.Oew,

B. of
Ordnance.
1

The llth Battalion was formed

senior existing battalions.

of

the 9th Companies of the eight

The Old Tenth Battalion.

i86

MSS.

R. A.

Record
Office.

The

like those already existing.

follows

Robert Lawson.
(

Colonels

< K. Dickinson.
(

Company

Charlton.

appointed to the various companies on their

formation were as follows

1

Thomas

William Dixon.
1st Lieutenant William Wylde.
Samuel Barnes.

Major
Adjutant
Quartermaster
officers

John Schalch.

(Henry Hutton.
(G. A. Wood.

Lieutenant-Colonels

No.

the brigade was as

Coloi iel-Com uiandau t

The

staff of

CHAP. XII.

CHAP. xil.

History of the Companies.

The history

of each

company may be shortly

187
stated

Company. This company formed part of the Expedition to Walcheren in 1809, returning the same year.
Its next foreign service was during the second American
War. It embarked at Plymouth in March 1814, and landed Captain J.
clach ~
at Quebec on the 3rd June, accompanied by the whole of its
{^
officers. On the 5th June it left Quebec, in boats, and arrived 2nd Capt.
No.

on the Niagara Eiver, in the end of the n o c hie!

Lieut
the 3rd July the Americans crossed the river
into Canada ; and on the 5th, part of the company, with 1st Lieut.
at Fort George,

On

month.

Captain Mackonochie and Lieutenants Shipperd and Hunter,

For his
was in action with the enemy at Chippewa.

conduct on this occasion

^^j
R-

Tom-

yns

Captain Mackonochie was men-

tioned in despatches by General Eiall.

On the 10th July, Annual
part of the company, with two field guns, under Lieutenant
<

Tomkyns, was engaged with the enemy near Fort George ;

and was thanked in General Orders. On the 25th July, the
whole company was engaged with the Americans near
Niagara Falls, and Captain Maclachlan was severely
wounded, losing the use of his right arm.
He, Captain
Mackonochie, and Lieutenant Tomkyns were specially
mentioned by General Drummond in his despatches. On
the 13th and 14th August, the company, with its three

was engaged in the batteries at Fort

and on the 15th August, at the assault on the same

subaltern

Erie

officers,

From the 16th August to 16th September, they

were engaged in the batteries at Fort Erie ; and on the
17th September, assisted in repulsing a sortie made from the

place.

'

Fort by 5000 Americans. On the 30th September, the

company, with its subaltern officers (both Captains being

was engaged in repulsing a general attack

on the British lines on the Chippewa; after which the

sick in hospital),

Americans, having completely failed in obtaining possession

of Upper Canada, recrossed the Niagara Eiver into the

United States.

In October the company took part in fresh

Fort
operations
George and Fort Niagara; and Lieutenant Tomkyns, with two 6-pounders, was attached to the
37th Eeginient, when sent to drive a strong party of
at

ibid.

General

J^,~
Despatches,

u
^g 14

y>

ibid.

2
Jsil"
ibid.

'

88

77/6'

Old Tenth

Battalion.

CHAP. xn.

Americans out of the country, who had remained on the

British side, plundering the inhabitants in the neighbourhood of Turkey Point, on Lake Erie. In the spring of 1815,
the company was sent to Amherstburg ; on the 23rd July,

1817,

it

month

it

returned to England
ceased to exist.

and on the 31st of the same

No. 2 Company. This company, under Captain Lloyd,

and with 2nd Captain Marlow, 1st Lieutenants Baker and
Wells, and 2nd Lieutenant Manners, took part in the Expedition to Walcheren in 1809.

Its

next foreign service

It embarked at Plymouth on 14th

was very important.
January, 1815, and sailed for Cork to join the fleet destined
for the American Coast
after remaining there ten weeks it
to
the
but
second day after doing so, it
sea;
proceeded
received counter orders to proceed to Ostend, where it
arrived in the end of April.
The company, with Captains Lloyd and Kudyerd, and Lieutenants Wells, Phelps, and Harvey, was engaged against the
French on the 16th, 17th, and 18th June, commencing at
Quatre Bras and ending at Waterloo. During these engagements, Captain Lloyd was mortally wounded, and died at
Brussels on the 29th July following and Lieutenant Harvey
:

arm.

To any one

familiar with the story of

the Artillery at Waterloo, the subsequent reduction of this
It accompanied the
gallant company seems almost a crime.

lost his right

remained until March 1816

disembarked at Eamsgate, and
proceeded to Woolwich, where, on the 28th April, 1817, it
fell a victim to the reductions which economy rendered
necessary, but which the Artilleryman must always bitterly
into France, where
returning then to England,

army

it

it

regret.

No. 3 Company. This company, with Captain Adams, 1st

Lieutenants Otway and Moore, and 2nd Lieutenant Weston,
took part in the Expedition to Walcheren in 1809.

6n the 16th March, 1814, the company, with Captains

Adams and King, 1st Lieutenant Day, and 2nd Lieutenant
Pickard, embarked at Portsmouth for North America, and
In the July fol-

disembarked at Quebec on the 30th May.

CHAP. xii.

History of the Companies.

189

lowing Captain King and Lieutenant Pickard, with part of

the company, were ordered to march to Chambly, where
they were attached to a battery of 6-pounder field guns, for
duty with that part of the army serving under MajorGeneral De Kottenburg. In the beginning of August, this detachment, with two 6-pounders, and one 5^-inch howitzer, was
ordered to the frontier to act with the army under the com-

mand
it

of General

De

Watterville

and on the 4th September

moved forward with the army commanded by Lieut. -

General Sir George Prevost to Plattsburg, at which place

it was removed from its field guns, and posted to a battery
of

two 8-inch mortars,

for service against the

American

lines

From this place the army retreated on the

llth September. No part of the company was engaged sub-

and gun-boats.

sequent to this date; and the head-quarters remained at

Montreal, under Captain Adams. On the 17th June, 1817, it

embarked at Quebec
the 23rd July.
was reduced.

On

for England, landing at Woolwich on

the 31st of the same month, the company

No. 4 Company. If. regret is unavoidable when one reads of

the reduction of the companies already mentioned, a much
stronger feeling inspires the Artilleryman a feeling of

when he finds that this, Sir Alexander

righteous indignation,
Dickson's own company, shared the same fate.
Just as its
Captain

in his position of confidential adviser to the Duke of

raised the position of an Artillery commander on

Wellington

service, so did the

Cairnes

who was

company, under

its

gallant

2nd Captain,

Waterloo contribute
no mean share to the meed of glory, and work well done,
which attached to the representatives of the Corps in the
killed afterwards at

Peninsular campaigns. What battery is there now in existence but would give a great price to be able to say that the
following records of No. 4 Company, 10th Battalion, were its

own property by

right of uninterrupted descent ? And yet,perhaps, it is well that praise, earned in such words as recognized the labours of Sir Alexander Dickson's company, should

be viewed as a regimental, instead of a battery inheritance.

Let the record be briefly stated.

190

The Old Tenth Battalion.

CHAP. xn.

In February 1810, the company embarked at Woolwich on

board the troop ship Alert/ and disembarked at Cadiz on
The officers of the company present with it
the 1st April.
'

2nd
were Lieutenants Woolcombe, Kaynes, and Talbot
in
June
and
it
Lieutenant
Cairnes
1810,
Captain
joined
;

Bridges in September 1811.

Leon during the

It

was stationed at the

Isla de

siege of Cadiz, taking its tour of duty in

The blockade continued from April

1810 to August 1812. In the beginning of 1811, 30 noncommissioned officers and gunners, with small arms, were
told off under Lieutenant Mainwaring, Acting Quartermaster, as an escort to the ammunition accompanying the
the advanced batteries.

expedition under Lieut. -General Graham, which resulted in

the battle of Barossa, on 5th March, 1811. This detachment

was present at that

Lieutenant Eaynes,

battle, as

were also Captain Cairnes and

who were attached

to Major Boberts'
and Lieutenant Woolcombe, who acted as
Adjutant to Major Duncan, who commanded the Artillery.
Lieutenant Woolcombe was mortally wounded, and died on

brigade of guns

the following day.

In the month of September 1812, Colonel Skerrett was
ordered to join Lord Wellington's army with 4000 men of
the Cadiz division.

Captain Cairnes with the whole of the

company marched from the Isla de Leon on the 12th September, and on their arrival at Seville they were posted to a
brigade of 9-pounders. Captain Cairnes, having been severely
wounded by the explosion of a powder-mill near Seville a few

days previously to the march of the division, was left behind.

The brigade, under the command ^of Lieutenant Kaynes,

marched from Seville on the 30th September, and joined the

army under Lieut.-General Hill at Val de Moros. On 30th
October it was present at the affair of Puente Largo, near
At the close of this year's
Aranjuez, but was not engaged.
the
was
stationed
at Val de la Mula, on
campaign,
brigade
the Portuguese frontier. Here it was rejoined by Captain
Cairnes, and shortly afterwards moved to Pena ma Cor.

On
of the

the 6th June, 1813, the brigade joined the 7th Division
army at Yillalba, the following officers being present

i r

A p.

with

XI I.

it

T;iH)ot,

History of the Companies.

191

Captain Cairnes, Lieutenants Kaynes, Bridges,

and James, and Assist. -Surgeon Kenny.
It was

present at the battle of Vittoria, and received the following

mention in orders
:

Extract from Division Orders ly the Earl of Dalhousie.

"

Camp

in front of Vittorici,

" 22
June, 1813.

" The Lieut.-General desires to

express his high admi" ration of the conduct of the 1st
Brigade, and of Captain
" Cairnes'
of
guns yesterday. Nothing could surpass
brigade
" the steadiness and
of the men and officers.
To

bravery
Captain Cairnes, the officers, and men of the brigade of
"
guns, the Lieut.-General offers his warmest acknowledg" ments for the steadiness and excellence of their fire at the
"

" different
points where Captain Cairnes brought it to bear
"
the
during
day.
"
F. D'OYLEY, A.-A.-G."
(Signed)

The brigade was afterwards employed in the blockade of

Pampeluna in conjunction with the Spanish troops. On the
27th July, the right wing being driven back from Koncesvalles, after a series of auctions commencing on the 25th,
Captain Cairnes' brigade was ordered to take up a position
on the heights near the village of Oracain, commanding the
high road to Pampeluna. On the 28th July, the Artillery of
the 6th Division not having arrived, Lieutenants Eaynes and

James were detached with two guns to the support of that

division; and during the action Lieutenant Talbot joined
with another gun.
General Packe, who commanded the
division, stood near the guns, and afterwards was pleased to
"
The guns were brought up at a most critical moment,
say
:

" and
served with all that gallantry for which the Corps is
"
remarkable." On the 29th July, this detachment rejoined

Captain Cairnes, who was ordered to take up a fresh position, and on the following day an action commenced at daybreak.
The enemy had previously endeavoured to surprise

The Old Tenth Battalion.

192

CHAP. xil.

The brigade
the advanced posts, but was soon driven back.
was heavily engaged from daybreak till noon, when the
enemy, driven back at all points, retreated. These two
actions of the 28th and 30th July formed part of what are
" Battles of the
Pyrenees." The brigade remained in the neighbourhood of Pampeluna until the 1st

known

as the

November, when the place surrendered.

On the 10th November, the brigade was present at the
held in reserve. On the 20th of the same
battle of Nivelle
to the rear and cantoned near
ordered
it
was
month,
it
remained
where
Fuenterabia,
during the winter. In consequence of a deficiency of horses for the pontoon train,
those belonging

to

the brigade were given up for that

service.

On the llth February, 1814, Captain Cairnes having been

appointed to the Koyal Horse Artillery, the command of the
company fell to Lieutenant Kaynes. On the 19th February,
it marched to St. Jean de Luz, to take charge of rockets to
be given over to Captain Lane.
On the 22nd February, Lieutenant Eaynes received the

following order
"

Lieutenant Kaynes with three non-commissioned officers

" and 4
gunners, with spikes, will cross with the first party,

"
and spike the guns of the battery at the mouth of the
" Adour which
;
being accomplished, Lieutenant Kaynes will
"
return to the left bank of the Adour, and take charge of
" the rocket detachments on that
which
will

side,

"

"

previously told off as follows, viz. :"

"
One-half to be employed against the
for this duty,

have been
'

'

Sappho

frigate

Lieutenant Bridges.

"

"

The other half against the enemy's vessels, should any

attempt to come down the river for this post, Lieutenant
:

"
Elgee.
"
The
"

"

parties under Lieutenants Bridges and Elgee to

accompany the 18-pounders on their march. Lieutenant

Kaynes

to

accompany the pontoons.

"
(Signed)

"

22 February, 1814."

A. G. FRAZER, Lieut.-Colonel.

History of the Companies.

CHAP. XII.

On

193

the 23rd February, the passage of the Adour took place.

The company remained before Bayonne

when it was ordered to Eeuterix (Spain)

until 8th March,

to assist in pre-

paring the battering-train for the proposed siege of Bayonne.

On the llth June Captain Close joined and took command

and on the 20th of the same month it embarked for England, disembarking on 12th July at Woolwich,
and proceeding to Chatham.
It should have been mentioned that when the company
of the

company

was not actively employed, its officers often volunteered for

other services. For example, from October 1811 to February
1812, Lieutenant Eaynes was employed with another company at the siege of Tarifa. Lieutenants Bridges and Talbot,
also,

took part in the Expedition to Carthagena.

The company went from Chatham

to Ireland,

and was

reduced, while serving in that country, on the 31st May,

1817.

No. 5 Company.

This company embarked at Woolwich

on 28th February, 1810, for Cadiz, and landed at that place

on the 1st April.- The officers who accompanied it were
Captain Shenley, 2nd Captain Mallett, 1st Lieutenants
Maitland and Godby, and 2nd Lieutenant Cator.
The

company was employed

in the batteries

and

lines in

the

defence of Cadiz until June 1812, when the French abandoned the siege. On the 16th August, 1814, it embarked
at Cadiz for England, and landed at Woolwich on 27th

September, 1814.

On

the 28th February, 1818,

it

ceased to

exist.

No. 6 Company. This company embarked at Gravesend

on 28th February, 1810, for Cadiz, and landed there on
1st

and

The company was employed in the batteries

April.
lines in the defence of Cadiz until the abandonment

by the French in June 1812. The officers with

company were Captain Koberts, 1st Lieutenants Dundas
and Cozens. During the siege Lieutenant Cozens lost a
Part of the company, under Captain Roberts, was
leg.
detached in February 1811 on an expedition to Algaziras,
and afterwards was present at the battle of Barossa.
of the siege

the

VOL.

ii.

The Old Tenth Battalion.

194

CHAP.

xn.

Second Captain Gardiner joined the company in 1811, but

exchanged shortly afterwards.
On the 9th August, 1812, part of the company, under
Captain Koberts, with Lieutenants Eaynes, Maitland, and
Brett attached, embarked at Cadiz with a brigade of 6pounders under the command of Colonel Skerrett, and was
present at the taking of Seville on the 27th of the same
month. Here Lieutenant Brett was killed, and Lieutenant
Maitland so severely wounded that he died a few weeks

From Seville the detachment returned to Cadiz,

where on the 16th August, 1814, they embarked for England
with the whole company, arriving at Woolwich on the
27th September, 1814. The company was reduced after
Waterloo on the 31st March, 1817.
after.

No. 1 Company. This company served in Gibraltar from

March 1810 to April 1817. On its' return to Woolwich,
it was reduced,
on 31st May, 1817. Its reduction dislocated

no

traditions.

No. 8 Company. The history of this company

to the dates of embarkation, with that of No. 7.

tallies,

even

No. 9 Company. This company served at the Cape of

Good Hope from March 1811 to August 1817. It was
reduced at Woolwich on 31st December, 1817.
No. 10 Company. This company served in Malta from
December 1810 to March 1817. It was reduced while in
Malta, the men being transferred to the 1st Battalion, to
a company which is now called A Battery, llth Brigade,

Royal Artillery.

The battalion head-quarters and Adjutant's detachment

were reduced on 28th February, 1818.
This summary of the history of the old 10th Battalion
companies should be read
fication

of,

the

American Wars.

chapters

connection with, and in amplion the Peninsular and Second

^in

CHAPTER
PENINSULAR

WAR

BoLigA, VIMIERA, CORUNNA.

"

Time,

XIII.

Saw

like a pulse, beat fierce

Through

all

the worlds."
Bossetti.

THE

history of the Eegiment between 1808 and 1814 is

concentrated in the Peninsular campaigns, with the one

As the war in
exception of the Expedition to Walcheren.
to
a
the
American
drew
Second
which had
close,
War,
Spain
in the

meantime

arisen,

increased in importance, reaching

culminating point in 1814.

It is proposed in this chapter to treat of that section of

its

the wars in the Peninsula which terminated in the sad but

After a diversion on the

glorious victory of Corunna.
of
the
Walcheren
subject
Expedition, the Peninsular narrative will

be resumed, and be continued uninterruptedly to

its close.

The reader

will doubtless

remember that

in the spring

1808 the Spaniards rose as one man to resist the schemes

of Napoleon, who had placed his brother Joseph on the

of

throne of Spain.
to

assist

The English Government, always ready

any country which defied the French emperor,

placed a force of 9000 men under the command of Sir Arthur

Wellesley, who sailed for Portugal on the 12th July, to coThis force was subseoperate with the Spanish forces.

but the conflicting

instructions given by Government, and the utter ignorance
of the real state of affairs in Spain, prevented the possibility

quently increased to nearly 30,000;

of

harmony

of action

among

the English forces, and had

2 o

Peninsular War, &c.

196
ultimately

much

to do

CHAP.

xm.

with the abrupt and mistaken Conven-

tion of Cintra. Portugal

had recently suffered dismemberment

at the hands of

Napoleon as a penalty for its friendship

with England the English Expedition had therefore a double
the delivery of Portugal, and co-operation with the
motive,
How terrible the errors of the English GovernSpaniards.
;

ment were
Napier,

L,eb*pter

realised
* ne

war

in

organizing this Expedition

can

only

be

by a study of the celebrated and standard history of

>

an ^ sucn a study

is

necessary to enable one fully to

realise the marvellous genius of Wellington, and his determined vigour. It is sufficient for the purpose of this work

show

Royal Artillery shared the glories of

also
from the very first shared his diffiWellington, they
culties
which were certainly not lessened in their treatment
to

that, if the

by the Ordnance. The conflicting instructions given by

Government to Sir Arthur Wellesley were matched by the
total absence of any information from the Board to Colonel
Robe, who had been appointed to command the Artillery of
the Expedition.

A man

one of the best practhe

Artillerymen
Regiment has ever produced
he naturally sought by every means in his power to ensure
the completeness in every respect of the equipment of the
tical

full of zeal

whom

How completely he was foiled by

the masterly silence of the Board will be seen by the following letters written by him after his arrival in Portugal.
force under his control.

That, in spite of all his difficulties, he succeeded in earning

the warm commendations of a chief who was rarely guilty of

many words
*

Times,'

J an>
Jg 7 3

of praise, is merely another instance of the truth

"
of the saying of a recent writer
The student who reads
"
the history of the Royal Artillery can hardly fail to be
"
struck by proof after proof that the progress of the Regi:

"

ment has been due

to the

"

energy and manly courage of

individual officers within its ranks in spite of the wither"

ing cold of officialism. ... So it must be, and ever will be.
"
Boards and clerks will bind chains in peace round the
"
men of talent, who will either break them when a crisis
"
comes, or die in the effort to do so."

The correspondence was

as follows

CHAP. xin.

Errors of the Board of Ordnance.

"

197

'

Kingston
"

Transport,

Mondego Bay,
"

July 30, 1808.

"...
"

"
"
"

you

I shall therefore take the liberty of mentioning to

some points which it maybe essential should on future

occasions be put right on the embarkation of Artillery.

... It appears to me necessary that the officer appointed
to

command

Artillery

Lieut.-Coi.

Br^-Geu
Macieod.

on any expedition should know

"

something more of the nature of the service intended than

"
I did, and that he should not be made to take upon trust

u that
everything necessary for his service will be found on
"
board his ships. Our equipment is not yet arrived at the
"
state of perfection to render such a mode efficient ; and if
" it
is practised, the commanding officer of Artillery will
"
find, as I have, that his brigades will be wanting in articles
"
extremely necessary, and be very short indeed in stores
"
intended for repair or for keeping them in good order.
"
He will perhaps find also, as I have, that intrenching
"

and even platforms, are sent with the Engineer's

department for a species of service for which he has not a
"
I do not
gun, nor a mortar, nor a round of ammunition.
"
make this a matter -of complaint to you. I complain not
"
of anything, because I can go no further than use to the
"best of my ability the means put into my power; but I
tools,

"

"

confess it would have been much more satisfactory to me

had I been permitted an opportunity of stating before I
"
embarked what might have been sent with me for the
"
real benefit of the service, and I don't think it would have
"
occasioned an hour's delay to the embarkation, or have

"

"
"

"

"
"

"

added a shilling of expense to the country, because the

essential articles, if not supplied, must be purchased.
I

have so often mentioned horses that I ought perhaps to

apologise for again recurring to that subject ; and perhaps

it
may be said that I have no reason to mention them,

having the horses of the Irish Commissariat ordered to be

turned over to me on landing. Fortunate, indeed, I think
"
myself to have even them. I know not what figure we

"

"

should have cut without them

but when you learn that

a
A

Peninsular War, &c.

198

CHAP. xin.

"

they are acknowledged to be cast horses from the Cavalry

turned over to the Commissariat, you will readily think
"
that we are not likely to make a very capital figure with
"
them. I have heen also fortunate enough to obtain with
"

" them a
promise of shoes from that branch, sufficient,
"
with the one hundred sets supplied to me, to shoe them on
"
Future service must be supplied as it can,
first going off,
"
and I shall not let it go unsupplied."
[

This letter was written by Colonel Kobe before he had

whole of his wants, and how admirably the
Honourable Board had succeeded in proving their ability
realised the

"

How not to do it." The truth dawned on him very soon,

and his language of remonstrance became stronger. His
next letter is dated the 7th August, 1808, from the camp
above Lavos, Mondego Bay, and contains the following
passages
"
Lieut.-Col.

Brig -Gen
Macleod.

now deem

it

my

duty (which were I to neglect I should

"

^ e highly culpable) to point out to you in the strongest

"

manner the impolicy

of sending Artillery to a foreign

country without horses. Even the horses we have now,
"
old, blind, and casts from the Cavalry as they are, we find
"
superior to what we can obtain from the country. The
"
latter are good of their kind, but small, and not of sufficient

"

"

weight for our carriages. Three hundred good horses would

have cost the country no more for transport than as many
"
bad ones, and what we shall do for the brigade now to be
"

"

landed remains to be decided.

"

the proportion

"
"
"
"

"
11

...

I must also mention

which you, sir, know
Artillery cannot do without, and which ought to be sent
out with every embarkation.
Had I been made acwith
what
to
was
been embarked, I should
have
quainted
not have gone on board ship till the proper proportion
had been furnished. I did everything in my power to obtain
the

information

"
,

of general

from

who himself

"

information.

the

stores

Board, and was referred

to

Mr.

at the time ivas not furnished with any

I did at hazard request Mr. Spencer to put

CHAP. xni.

Errors of the Board of Ordnance.

199

" on board
one hundred sets of horse-shoes and some nails,
thinking them an addition to what would be provided
" for
us.
These are all I have had for the horses of three
"
brigades; and had I not obtained some more from the
"

"

Commissary-General, belonging to the horses delivered

must have taken the field barefoot. I

" to
us, the horses
" have made

demands for some, and for such things as are

most immediately required, and what may be wanted in the
"
meantime must be purchased here.
"
I write this to you officially, and must not be considered

"

"

"
"

"
"

"

"

My

as individually complaining or making difficulties.

people of all classes exert themselves, and I am determined
to

get on

where much
service

but I know that, engaged in a department

is

expected, I

am

doing

my

country greater

by pointing out what may render that department

as complete as it is supposed to be, than if I

remain for ever silent on the subject."

were to

Then followed the battles of Eolifa and Yimiera, to be

alluded to hereafter, and merely mentioned here to show
that before the date of his next letter Colonel Eobe had
been able to form a very practical opinion of the Board's
shortcomings. Writing after Vimiera, on the night of the
21st August, 1808, he says " My men are staunch, and the
:

Lieut.-Col.

"

admiration of the army ; and had they been properly sup"

plied with horses and with stores, as artillery should have

"

embarked from England, Europe would not have produced

"
a more efficient artillery.
I shall have occasion to write
"
to you and to the Board on the latter
subjects, as soon as

"I
"
"
"

"

can obtain time; but give me leave. to say now that

never more will I leave England taking my provision of

Artillery upon trust, and coming upon an army burthened

with cast horses, or no horses at all, or with brigades

unsupplied with any one store to make repair, and scarce

a shoe to
put on horses when I could beg them. This may
"
be strong but I have reason to use the expressions after
"

"

suffering the inconveniences occasioned by

"
these supplies."

the want of

Brigadier

Macleod

200
Lieut.-Coi.

Peninsular War, &c.

CHAP. xin.

On

the 1st September, 1808, Colonel Kobe pointed out to

who had arrived to take command of the
" not
in
less than two hundred and
Artillery
Portugal, that
"
horses
be
would
fifty
required to render that Artillery
"
Those
efficient for taking the field for a length of service.
"
received originally from the Irish Commissariat were old
"
cast horses of Cavalry, and many of them blind.
They
"

Colonel Harding,

Colonel

Haniing.

now

fall off

very fast."

The reader

will be eager to learn how the Board explained

shortcomings, and what reparation it proposed to make
to the brave officer who had gained honour for his Corps in
For calm, cool assumption, perspite of official blunders.
its

Board of
e

to'i!ieut. .

Col. Robe,

It bears
haps, the reply sent by the Board is unsurpassed.
dat e the 6th October, 1808, after the news of the English

successes,

and the gallantry of the Artillery under Colonel

Kobe had reached England, and after Colonel Kobe had been
twice specially mentioned by Sir A. Wellesley in his despatches. It was written, let the reader remember, on behalf
of a Board whose errors were not confined to those quoted

which had actually sent guns without their ammuniand

ammunition which would have been useless, had
tion,
not Colonel Kobe succeeded in borrowing suitable guns from
the navy.
It was addressed to an officer who had been
straining every nerve, night and day, to remedy the defects
due to official ignorance, or to what is much the same, official
affectation of omniscience
to an officer who, in spite of the
remonstrances which had been extorted from him by his
discovery of the Board's incapacity, had never attempted to
shelter himself behind the faults of others, but had, instead,
toiled to remedy them.
Let the reader bear these facts in
above

mind, as he attempts to realise the feelings with which

Colonel Kobe must have perused the following lines
"
In reply to the parts of your public correspondence in
"
:

which you

"

have so very warmly complained of some

omissions and deficiencies, particularly in the Light Bri"

gade of Artillery shipped at Plymouth, I am to say that

"

his Lordship has,

upon inquiry, ascertained that there were

CHAP. xiii.

The Board's Explanation.

201

" some
irregularities in the embarkation, and that he has, in
consequence, expressed his displeasure through the Board

"
"

to

the parties concerned, in a

manner

make

to

a lasting

"

impression. His Lordship has, besides, issued such orders,

"
and made such regulations, as must effectually preclude
"

every plea or excuse for irregularity or omission in future.

" The
Master-General, in desiring me to give you the
" above
information, has directed me to add that, although
" he is
willing to ascribe much of the style and many of the
"
expressions in the letters to your known zeal for the service,
"
an officer
the
the moments

and

anxiety attending

during

"

of preparation for the field, yet his Lordship cannot but

"
regret that, instead of forwarding a complaint, which it
"
would be the wish and the interest of the Ordnance to

" attend

to,

you should have allowed yourself

to arraign,

"

with such improper and unmerited asperity, the conduct

"

of the

Ordnance Department in general."

Officialism, on being detected in error,
old, old story
and
with
attempts at dignity, assumes an air of
hurriedly,
and
neither forgives nor forgets the uninjured innocence,
is the means of revealing its shortcomings.
soldier
who
happy
What a contrast does Colonel Eobe's dignified and soldierlike

The

Having first
acknowledgment of this reprimand present
the
of
the
Master-General on
acknowledged
congratulations
the conduct of the Artillery at Eolifa and Yimiera, which
he had caused to be read to the men on parade, and entered
"
in all the order-books, thereby, as he wrote,
awakening
!

"

every joyful feeling that could arise in the breasts of

"

"The latter part of

soldiers," he proceeded as follows:
your letter is indeed a great source of grief to me, and
"
has hurt me more than I can express. I had hoped to

Lisbon,

"

"

have obtained for

my whole conduct the approbation of his

and the Board of Ordnance.
the
Master-General
Lordship
"I set out with the most earnest desire to fulfil, to the
"

"

my abilities, every duty I might be honoured

and
to
abide in the strictest manner by their orders,
with,
"
for which purpose I applied for instructions and such
extent of

"

"

information as the very limited time prior to

my

departure

igo9.

202

Peninsular War, &c.

CHAP. xin.

"

would admit. The shortness of that time, our expected

destination (which, as you know, we had reason to believe
1
"
was far more distant than it proved afterwards to be )
"
certainly produced in me an anxiety that the branch of
"
service entrusted to me should be supplied in the manner
"
most conducive to the end for which it was sent out. This
"
anxiety may have caused a warmth of expression not
"
deemed advisable in public correspondence, however good
"
And that an unfavourable impression has
the intention.
" been
received in His Lordship's mind I, with pain, per"
ceive, and submit in the most respectful manner to the
"
animadversion you have received His Lordship's commands
"
to make
Whatever the warmth of my feelings
"
have
been
which
might
impelled me to the remarks that
"
have caused His Lordship's displeasure, I entreat that
"
they may be ascribed to the peculiar situation in which I
" was
letter to you was written on the ground
placed.
"
of, and almost during, the action, and, consequently, that
"
degree of coolness was not attended to which ought to
"
have been manifested."
"

My

The

difficulties

of the

campaign of August 1808 were

increased by the insincerity and disunion of the Spaniards,

the feebleness of the Portuguese support, and the extraordinary conduct of the English Government in sending General
after General with conflicting instructions.
The supersession of Sir Arthur Wellesley at a critical moment, uncalled

and undeserved, would have paralysed a less determined

commander. To his resolution, his singleness of purpose, and

for

his tact in dealing with the Portuguese authorities, is the

fact due that, brief as the campaign was, it was marked by

two

brilliant

engagements, and established already the mili-

tary reputation of the English troops.

The British army

was gathered from the four winds of

heaven, without harmony either in instructions or management, and destitute of adequate equipment or supplies. The

in Portugal, in 1808,

The

force

had originally been destined

for

South America.

The King's German Artillery.

CHAP. xin.

203

main body, which sailed from Cork, had been intended for
South America the contingent brought by Sir John Moore
had been sent in the first instance to Sweden, on an errand
;

rendered fruitless by the obstinacy of the Swedish monarch;

and the rest of the army was gathered in instalments from
The
Gibraltar, Madeira, and various parts of England.
annexed table, prepared from the embarkation returns,
shows the method in which the Artillery portion of the army
was collected
at first destitute of horses, and, later, embarked with so much precipitation, that in many instances
the horses died from long confinement on board ship and in
:

was found that animals had been hurriedly purchased, and embarked afflicted with fatal and infectious
diseases, which spread rapidly among those which were
The horses which were purchased in the country
healthy.
were small, and unfitted for Artillery work. The roads
round Lisbon, and in the district traversed by Sir A. Weland Colonel
lesley's force, were of the worst description
Eobe and his successor, Colonel Harding, wrote to the Board,
others

it

expressing their thankfulness that, for the three brigades

engaged at Kolifa and Yimiera they had been able to procure oxen to draw the guns, with horses as leaders
The
remonstrances of Colonel Bobe and his successors succeeded
!

in procuring from England, as the annexed table will show,

a suitable supply of horses as the year advanced ; but the

honours gained by the Corps had been earned before these

arrived (see p. 204).
In addition to the companies (Captain Geary's and Captain

Raynsford's) which embarked with Colonel Kobe to form

part of Sir A. Wellesley's force, 161 of the King's German

The services of this Corps

during the Peninsular and Waterloo campaigns were of the
The head-quarters of the Corps were at
highest order.
Artillery were also detailed.

this

2 Brigade',

d 7 Bat17 Brigade,

time at Porchester, and the strength in 1808 was as

follows

4 staff officers, 6 staff sergeants, 3. Two

Horse Artillery, consisting in all of 372 officers
and men, and 186 horses.
Field

officers,

troops of

Muster-

K?G! Art ii1808

lcr .v >

Peninsular War, &c.

204

CHAP. XIII.
I

?i

Ot>
CMt^

M
-3

<

II

<Mi-"(M<NCO

II

COCOCOOO
^irHt^t^
(NrH
'0

!!
*l

rHT-IOlCOCO
.OOOOOOi-l
<M
*

r-l

rH

rH

i-H

!!

'K

-s

(M

II

CO

CO

c3

WP
C<1

<

Tfl

S
CO

CO
O
*"

I>
00
1

CO
00
rH

-HlOO
O5OO

r-li-H
O
CO
CO
<M<Mi-r-l

-i!
PH

<

:2
O-N

II
^o
^ 9
^ss
S

-*

"b

|g

"

<3

?5

^
1

8-

3""

a-i

S|J

.#

'

II

!l

an

various

1 i
'

OFFICERS

from

i
'S

.2

I5

g.s
e-J

'^

iS

!i
^?
H S
2S J

^J
i

Withdrawal of the French.

CHAP. xiil.

Four marching companies,

in all

714

205

officers

and men

with 67 horses.

One of these companies was stationed

An

in the Mediterranean.

addition to Colonel Kohe's force of a doubtful value

was received from Gibraltar. Lieut. -Colonel George Eamsey

was ordered from Gibraltar with three companies to meet
the Artillery expected from England, and a car brigade of
guns, as it was termed, was issued from the Ordnance stores,
for the service.
Two of the companies, and Colonel Eamsey,
were sent back to Gibraltar immediately on their arrival in
1
only one, Captain Morrison's being allowed to proceed in charge of the guns.
Colonel Kamsey, however, had
time to inspect the car brigade which had been issued to

Cadiz

him, and his official report on it was not complimentary to

To D A G
the store-keepers.
A similar
brigade, it would appear, had
*
.
from Cadiz,
.,
,1
i
been sent to Sicily, a few weeks before ; and the clerk ot 21 July,
-

IIP

-,

-,

,,

had hopelessly confused the two. The shafts for the 1{

howitzers had been sent with the 6-pounders
seven gunwheels had been put on board for use with the waggons,
although not interchangeable, and one waggon was entirely
useless.
The stores were inadequate and unsuitable and
there was neither a commissary, nor an artificer, with the
detachment. A little further vacillation on the part of the
authorities led to two companies leaving Gibraltar for Portugal immediately after the return of those under Colonel
Ramsey and one of these, Captain Skyring's, had the good Now

stores

fortune to join Colonel Kobe in time for the battle of Yimiera.

Colonel Eobe's force anchored in Mondego Bay on 28th

July ; and on the following day Sir Arthur Wellesley, who

had preceded the army, and had been engaged in diplomatic
as well as
military duties, arrived,

disembarkation.

and gave orders

The French withdrew from the

for the

coast,

and

the inhabitants showed

symptoms of co-operation with the

which
English,
were, however, sadly neutralised by the
conduct of their rulers; while Sir A. Wellesley pressed forward, on the 9th August, to Leiria, hoping to cover the disAfterwards 8 Battery, 13 Brigade, but reduced on 1 Feb. 1871.

e Brigade!

Peninsular War, &c.

206
.

CHAP. xin.

embarkation of the additional troops which he now knew

were on their way from England, and perhaps at the same
time to strike an effective blow, as near to Lisbon as possible,
with the force under his command. This would have the
of asserting
effect of inspiring the Portuguese with courage
;

the right .of the English to control the military operations

of the Allies ; and of disarranging the plans of the French.
The English army was augmented at Lavos on the 6th

G. 0. dated
5

T^Au
isos.

'

August by General Spencer's contingent; and was divided

into six brigades, under Generals Hill, Nightingale, Crawford,
Bowes, Ferguson, and Fane. A demi-battery of Artillery was
attached to each brigade howitzers being attached to the
1st, 2nd, 5th, and 6th Brigades, and the 9-pounders being
kept in reserve. On the line of march, the Artillery always
;

moved

in front of the brigades to which they were attached,

and the Artillery of the reserve followed the Infantry.
The advance of Sir Arthur Wellesley was perfectly successful
he succeeded in cutting the line of communication
between Generals Loison and Laborde, and in inducing the
French Commander-in-Chief, Junot, to quit Lisbon, and take
the field with the reserve. The cowardice and self-interest
of the Portuguese leaders robbed him, however, at a critical
moment, of several thousand troops; so that in his first
engagement with the enemy he had the assistance of no
more than 1650 Portuguese. That engagement was the one
known as the combat of Kolipa fought on the 17th August,
with superior numbers on the side of the English, but against
;

a General, Laborde, who was not only very able, but also
occupied a position of great natural strength.
The attack of the English, who, with the Portuguese, num-

bered 14,000, was made in three columns, the left commanded by General Ferguson, the right composed of the
Portuguese, and the centre, consisting of three brigades,

commanded by

Sir Arthur in person.

The Eoyal Artillery
had 18 guns, one-half of which came into action to cover the
advance of the Infantry. So determined was that advance,
and so critical did General Laborde's position become, as the
left column, under General Ferguson, closed in upon his

rM

\ i.

1 1 1

right, that

Losses of the English

he

fell

and French.

2,0 7

back to a new and parallel position, on

The steep heights, and dense

the heights of Zambugeira.

brushwood, which had to be traversed in the advance of the

English, rendered the attack of this new position a more

and costly one, and the losses of the 9th, 29th, and
82nd Kegiments were especially heavy. The ardour of the
and Laborde again fell
troops was, however, irresistible
In a very
the
utmost
skill.
his
with
back, handling
troops
short time, after one or two attempts to make a stand, the
French were in full retreat " leaving three guns on the field
" of
battle, and the road to Torres Yedras open to the victors."
The loss of the French was admitted by themselves to be
600 killed and wounded but it was probably much greater.
Sir Arthur Wellesley, writing on the following day, said
the loss had been reported to be 1500 and Colonel Kobe,
difficult

Napier.

Wellington

in his despatch to the Ordnance, said that the loss of the

French far exceeded that of the English, which amounted

p. lie.

479 killed and wounded. The loss of the Koyal Artillery

on this occasion was, as Colonel Kobe wrote, irreparable.
Captain Henry Geary, an officer of great promise and exto

"

He was, by his own desire, and as Col. Robe

perience, was killed.
" senior
in
Captain,
charge of guns with the Light Brigade, G en R A
"
and was killed while pointing his gun within one or two 18 August,
"
hundred yards of the enemy. I regret him as an officer,
'

"

and as a friend and old fellowno

means
His loss to his family
less.
campaigner, by
"
cannot be appreciated but it will always be a comfort
"
that he died as he had lived, in the very act of doing his
for

he was invaluable

"

"

duty to his country, and a true Christian."

Artillery under Colonel Kobe's

660 of all ranks.

command

The force of Napier,

numbered
JJjjJj.

at Koli9a

The next engagement between the French and English

under singular circumstances. Sir Arthur

forces took place

Wellesley had been reinforced by the brigades under Generals

Ackland and Anstruther, thus bringing his force up to
exclu16,000 men, besides 660 Artillery, and 240 Cavalry,
sive of the Portuguese under Colonel Trant.
The greatest
number which Junot could bring against this army could

CHAP. xni.

Peninsular War, &c.

20 8

Further English
was known hardly exceed 14,000.
reinforcements being known to he on the way, Sir A. WelUnfortunately,
lesley decided on assuming the offensive.
it

H. Burrard, one of the three Generals sent out hy the

English Government to assume the command, arrived on the
night of the 20th August, and Sir A. Wellesley was obliged
No arguments that he could
to wait on him for orders.
Burrard
to attack before the
H.
Sir
could
persuade
employ
arrival of the expected reinforcements; and Sir Arthur
parted from him with feelings of the most bitter disappointment. Fortunately for him, and for the army, Junot, who
by this time had reached Torres Yedras, resolved himself
and to attack the English in their
to assume the offensive
Sir

The battle commenced

position near the village of Yimiera.
at seven o'clock on the morning of the 21st August, and
For at Yimiera,
deserves a special mention in this work.
Napier and Gust show, did the French
between the English forces and those
for the first
with whom they had hitherto been contending
time did they appreciate those qualities with which they
"
the stolid firmness and resowere so soon to be familiar
"
lute thrust of the Infantry, and the wonderful skill and

for the first time, as

realise the difference

"

No chronicler of this battle

precision of the Artillery."
" murderous fire of Eobe's
the
of
fails to speak
Artillery ;"
a

fire

which told with admirable

effect at

the most critical

The number

of guns present
was small, only 18, as at Eolipa but on this occasion all
were engaged, the reserve as well as the divisional Artillery

periods of the engagement.

being brought into play.

The right wing of the English army consisted

of the 1st

Brigade, under General Hill the centre, of the 6th and 7th,
under Generals Fane and Anstruther the left, of the 2nd,
;

and 8th, under Generals Ferguson, Nightingale,

and
Ackland and the reserve was composed of the
Bowes,
5th Brigade, under General Crawford.
The attack of the French was made with great gallantry,
in spite of many difficulties caused by the broken and wooded
nature of the ground, and was directed against the English
3rd, 4th,

Battle of Vimicra.

CHAP, xin.

centre

the

in

first

instance,

That

209

and mainly against General

wisely availing himself of a

discretionary power granted him, and seeing that the position
was a favourable one for the employment of his Artillery
Fane's

brigade.

officer,

against the advancing columns, brought up the guns of the

reserve at once, and with those of his own division formed
"
such a
a battery, which played on the advancing foe with
" shower of shell and
as
have been sufficient

grape

Oust.

might

"

to stop any troops ;" and although the French troops did
reach the summit of the hill on which the English stood,
"
shattered by the terrible
they were, as Napier writes, so
" fire of Eobe's
that
Artillery,"
they fell an easy prey to the

gallant charges of the 50th Eegiment.

At another part

of

line, where skirmishing between Anstruther's brigade

and the French was going on, the Artillery played an equally
A column of Grenadiers had been sent
important part.
forward by Kellermann to share in this part of the battle,
and " coming at a brisk pace, these choice soldiers beat
"
back the advanced companies of the 43rd Eegiment but

the

Napier.

"
"

to avoid Eobe's artillery,

dipped a

little

into the

which ransacked their

ravine

left, they
on the right, and were

"
immediately taken on the other flank by the guns of the
" 4th
and 8th Brigades then, when the narrowness of the
"
way, and the sweep of the round shot, were crushing and
"
disordering their ranks, the 43rd, rallying in one mass,
"
went down upon the very head of the column, and with
;

"

a short

Yet again

made by

but fierce struggle, drove it back in confusion."

in the attack upon General Ferguson's brigade

Solignac,

who expected

to find a

weak

force on

strengthened with the

same forethought and skill as marked, in days coming on,
the tactics of Wellington at Waterloo,
we read of the
"
powerful artillery which swept away their foremost ranks."
the

left to

oppose him,

but found

it

As the reader finishes the account of this battle, and reads

French retreating in confusion, leaving thirteen of

of the

their guns on the field, he can scarcely realise that the

whole Artillery force of Sir A. Wellesley was little more
than the captured guns represented.
How much of the

VOL. n.

_^i"i

Peninsular War, &c.

210

effect of this force,

small as

it

CHAP. xin.

was, was due to the individual

exertions of all ranks may be gathered from the following

extract from Colonel Kobe's despatch to the Ordnance
:

cd

Robe to

Ug
i808

Never was man better supported by his officers and sol" diers than I have been. I would not
change one of them,
" fr
* ne Major to the youngest subaltern, for anything
" in the world and
;
only regret my son was not with me.
"
and the admiration of the army."
are
staunch
men
My

interest the professional reader to know that great

of
Colonel Kobe's report after Yimiera was occupied
part
with praises of Shrapnel's spherical case, of which he begged
He concludes with a sentence
large additional supplies.
It

may

which proves the entente cordiale which existed between

"
himself and his superiors.
Nothing but the unexampled
"
of
Sir A. Wellesley, and the
assistance and attention
"
general officers, could have brought this artillery into the
"
and I am proud to say they
field in an efficient manner
"
have never yet stopped an hour for us."
Sir H. Burrard, with the chivalrous courtesy which has so
often been repeated in the annals of the English army, did not
interfere with Sir A. Wellesley's command during the battle,
but at its termination he declined to accede to the proposal
of the latter to undertake an energetic pursuit, which would
doubtless have ended in an unconditional surrender of the
French troops. Of Sir Arthur's bitter disappointment, of
;

the further complication caused by the arrival of yet another

General to supersede Sir H. Burrard Sir Hew Dalrymple,

of the singular Convention of Cintra, which while it certainly succeeded in procuring the evacuation of Portugal by
the French, did so on terms which were very dispropor-

English arms, and of the

which
followed the news of this
England
marvellous treaty, it is beyond the province of this work
tionate to the

success of the

indignation in
to treat.
Wellington all

nSary
Despatches,
&c., vol.vi.

P 129

The

harmony

state of affairs in Portugal

the absence of
was such as to call from Sir

of plan or action,

Arthur Wellesley the expression, " Considering the way in

"
which things are likely to be carried on here, I shall not
,

be sorry to go away.

,,

March

CHAP. XIIL

The

recall

of Sir

Sir A. Wellesley to
Enquiry ordered to

to

Salamanca.

211

Hew

Dalrymple, Sir H. Burrard, and

England, on account of the Court of
investigate the circumstances under

which the Convention had been agreed to, left the comof the English forces in Portugal with Sir John Moore.
An army of 28,000 men was concentrated at Lisbon under
The command of the Artillery, which had
that General.

mand

been considerably reinforced, had been given to Colonel

Harding, who endorsed every complaint which had been
made by Colonel Kobe, but who seems to have been some-

what more of an optimist than that

"

for in one of
he wrote that " four

officer

his letters, describing his field artillery,

oxen and two horses bring along a gun famously." On

he found that he had to arrange for

his arrival at Lisbon,

the proper equipment not merely of his

own

batteries, but

4000 Spaniards at Lisbon,

whom the Convention had set free, and who, when armed
and equipped, marched for Catalonia.
Sir John Moore
also of the artillery of a force of

decided on taking the field in October 1808, but being misinformed as to the state of the roads, he decided on breaking

army, so as to march by different roads, and to unite

Salamanca with another army under Sir David Baird,
which had landed at Corunna. The Artillery was ordered

up

his

at

march through the Alemtejo and by Badajos to Talavera,

and was arranged by Colonel Harding as follows. He himself,
c
Lieut. -Colonel Wood, Major Viney, with the following com- Harding to
D> " A " Cl
to

Thornhill's, Drummond's, Wilmot's, Baynsford's,

Crawford's, Carthew's, and Skyring's, went with the army ;
the guns being four brigades of light 6-pounders, and one
panics,

of 9-pounders.
He was unable to take a brigade for each
for
lack
of horses.
Colonel Robe was left in comcompany,

mand

at Lisbon, with

of the King's
of the Eoyal

Major Hartmann and three companies

German

Artillery, Captain Bredin's company

Artillery, and half a company of the same

under Captain

Lawson.

The guns

to

which these were

attached consisted of a 12-pounder brigade, three brigades

of light 6-pounders, a few howitzers, and the car
brigade
of

3-pounders

from

Gibraltar,

mentioned

above.

p 2

The

CHAP. xin.

Peninsular War, &c.

212,

force of Artillery with Sir David Baird's army, which

had landed at Corunna, was commanded by Colonel Sheldrake, and consisted of four companies and a proportion
of drivers.
The guns used hy this force, and by the Horse
Artillery under Colonel George Cookson, which arrived
also at Corunna
on the 8th November, 1808, were as follows
One 9-pounder brigade and three brigades of light
6-pounders, which moved on to Betanjos one 9-pounder
brigade, and one of light 6-pounders, which remained at
Corunna and one light 6-pounder brigade, and a brigade of
:

Colonel
S

D -A

-Gen

Corunna,

moun tain

artillery, for service

with the Cavalry, as soon as

horses and mules could be obtained.

Of

1808/

all

of 1808

the difficulties encountered in the winter campaign

by the Koyal Artillery, the scarcity of horses was

The table given in a former part of this

that
shows
after the first gross omission in the case
chapter
of Colonel Eobe's force, the Ordnance Department endeavoured, as far as numbers were concerned, to send an
the greatest.

adequate supply of horses to ensure that mobility without

field artillery is a sham.
But that the simplest

which

precautions as to quality and soundness were overlooked is

too evident from the monotonous protests of all the officers

who found themselves

in

position

of

responsibility.

Colonel Harding, writing from Lisbon, reported that he had

obtained permission to sell the Artillery horses he had
received from England, as useless and
purchase those of the French army,

worn out, and to

which was then

embarking under the provisions of the Convention of Cintra.

Colonel Cookson had not reached the Downs ere he had to
report the appearance of glanders among the horses entrusted to him ; and Colonel Eobe had to report the death,

immediately after landing, of 75 out of 300 horses more

than half occasioned by the same complaint. The officer in
charge of the drivers attached to the Artillery under the

command
"

of Colonel Sheldrake, reported that

"

all his

horses

were in dreadful order when they embarked, that he had

"
lost many, and that he attributed it in a great measure to

"

the horses being a great

many very

old."

Mules were

CH A p. xin.
difficult to

Scarcity
obtain

of Horses.

213

the horses of the country were few and

of small size; and in spite of the plaintive appeals from

" it cost no more to
the country to
successive officers that
"
a
bad
than
horse
a
one," shipload followed
good
keep

shipload of cripples from England, and nothing but superhuman exertions on the part of all on the spot enabled the

The desperate state of affairs may

Artillery to move at all.
be gathered from a report of Colonel Kobe's, in which he
described the means left to him for horsing the brigades in
his charge, after Colonel Harding's force had left Lisbon

With 52 field-guns, liable to be

any moment by Colonel Harding, he had only
but this number was lavish compared with that

with Sir John Moore.

demanded
500 men

at

"

"

"
is a state of
The, following," he wrote,
the horses left with me on the departure of the army for

of his horses.
"

Spain

" Since died of

general decay, or

destroyed for glanders

"

'

The

Robe to

^*^

'

1808.

"Effective
"
Sick or lame

"

Col.

Horses.

Mules.

15

49

3
4

G4

57

Eemaiiiing

sick of these are reported to be in a very bad conand nearly the whole of them to be at present

dition;

"

unserviceable, from lameness, age, and sore backs."

So grqat was the scarcity of horses, that when the

Horse

Artillery landed at Corunna, the officers' horses were taken

on repayment without their consent, and they were left to
purchase any animals they could find in the country. That

Colonel Robe had good reason to fear a demand being made

on his small depot may be seen from the following account

number of horses, which the state of the roads

between Lisbon and Spain had rendered absolutely necessary
for the
brigades which had marched with Colonel Harding,

of the

Every
horses

artillery
;

carriage,

of whatever

the long 6-pounder

gun had

8,

official

had 6 S?urIl to
B
and the 12-pounder rani, Nov.
description,

1,

1808.

CHAP. xin.

Peninsular War, &c.

214

had 10. Besides this, horses were required for the officers,
and the
non-commissioned officers, and for park duties
ammunition waggons, for conveyance of such as could not
be carried on the limhers, were drawn by a motley collection
of horses, mules, and oxen.
Six days after this return was
Kobe's
Colonel
supply had decreased to 40, and the
prepared,
;

Colonel

D^L-Gen
6 NOV.

demands from the front were such that he declared no

less

than a reserve of 600 horses would be required to meet them.

There is a danger, in perusing the noble story of the
Peninsular War, lest all the reader's admiration should be
given to the courage and endurance of the men, or the skill
of the leaders.

rather

But there were men who would

have endured

bodily

suffering

than

infinitely

the

charge

which neglect or ignorance at home had thrust upon them.

To

feel in all its terrible reality the starvation of equipment,

without which no adequate results can be expected either
from skill or courage; to know that if that equipment is

not in some

way forthcoming, the

disgrace

of failure

or

consequent disaster will be transferred from those to whom

it is due, and will be visited on themselves ;
and at the

same time to be certain that any responsibility which they

may assume is at their own peril, and can only be exercised
with a halter round their neck of possible disallowances,
reprimands, and suspicion, all these produce in men a state
of mind beside which danger or bodily hardship seems
almost repose and it was in such a condition that many of
England's best soldiers had to live during the war in Spain
enduring more than has formed the theme of song and
and yet bearing it without sympathy, without
story
:

acknowledgment.
No one can thoroughly understand Sir John Moore's
campaign in Spain without bearing in mind the boasting
and lying of the Spanish Generals, with whom it was intended
that he should co-operate, and the yet more extravagant
falsehoods of the Spanish Government.
Deluded by these,
Sir John Moore, even after he had heard of the surrender of
Madrid to Napoleon, pressed on to Majorga in the hope of
effecting a junction with the Marquis Koinana, and of

CHAP. xin.

receiving

Sir

Retreat

to

Cornnna.

215

David Baird's reinforcement from Cornnna.

of 25,000 men he pressed still farther

on to Sahagan, where for the first time he heard the whole
truth, and realised the strength of the French armies which
were being directed against him, under Napoleon himself.
With every Spanish General already beaten in detail, Madrid

With an English army

hands of the enemy, and greatly superior forces

hurrying to meet him, he commenced a retreat which has
become famous, the first step of which is thus described
"
We fully expected to have engaged
by Colonel Harding
the

in

"

the

"
the
" the
" the

"

An

morning of the 24th.

intense hard frost, and the

whole of the roads one sheet of ice from the snow thawing

"
during the day, was much against the march of Artillery,
" as
we had not time to rough all the horses. The march
"
of the troops was stopped an hour after they marched off ;
"
some of the troops, particularly Downman's troop, were
"
out till 2 in the morning.
The General received some
"
information immediately after the troops marched off,
"
which caused their sudden return. We now seem to be
"

pointing towards Corunna, and forming depots that way.

"

Our movements have lately been so intricate and unexhad had time to write to you, I could give
"
Lieutenant-Colonel Cookson
you little information.
"

pected, that if I

"

has the

"
line,

"
"

Colonel

enemy on the 23rd, about five leagues from Sahagan D _^ !5je

army was in full march at 8 o'clock on the night of Majorga,
23rd, and hoped to have fallen in with them early in

command

of the three brigades on the right of the

Evelegh's, Bean's, and Wilmot's. Lieutenant-Colonel

has charge of those on the left of the line, Down-

Wood

man's, Drummond's, and Carthew's. Four reserve brigades

with the park are Raynsford's (9-pounders), Crawford's,
"
The
Brandreth's, and Wall's (light 6-pounders) brigades.
"
Thornhill.
under
are
and
ammunition
Major
park, stores,
"
The depots advanced are under Captain Skyring. There
"
is a
brigade of mountain guns somewhere, which I hope
"
have lately
will not join us, but return to Corunna.
"
not
received 59 prize horses, which, although
good, are a
"
great help to us, from our great loss."
"

We

CHAP. xni.

Peninsular War, &c.

216

a
English troops are apt to become demoralized during
retreat; and in the retreat to Corunna, irregularity was
increased by the intense cold, suffering, and hardship which
The conduct of the rear-guard and
the men had to endure.
of the Cavalry was, however, beyond all praise; and was due
in a great degree to the constant presence of Sir John

*Moore himself, whose skill, firmness, and powers of persuasion never shone more clearly than at this time.
But,
even when irregularity was greatest, it vanished when an

engagement appeared probable

it

that perfect discipline prevailed.

was

at such times as these

The Artilleryman reads

with pleasure that while 2627 men strayed from the English
army during the retreat, not one belonged to his corps and
that Sir John Moore himself was so struck by this fact and by
;

their general conduct, that he wrote,

" of
particularly well-behaved men."

"

The

Artillery consists

These words are the

more gratifying as the strength of the Artillery was conand the duties of the
eleven brigades of guns,
siderable

men were

very arduous.

Several affairs of small importance took place between the

two armies, but the English came in sight of Corunna withThe dismay which seized
out any general engagement.

every one on learning that the transports had not yet

arrived may be imagined ; fortunately it was short-lived, as

they soon made their appearance.

The

story of the Artillery at the end of the retreat, and

during the battle of Corunna,

may

be summarised from

Colonel Harding's reports. On the llth January the army

took up a position about five miles from Corunna ; but on
the 14th, being unable, with their reduced numbers,

suffi-

occupy
ground without danger of being outto a position about three miles
withdrew
flanked, they
nearer the town, leaving their original ground to be occupied
ciently to

by

this

Soult, before the battle.

On

the 12th

all

except the brigades required for outpost

duties, was ordered by Sir John Moore to be

same time

the Artillery,

and rearguard
embarked and
;

magazine containing 12,000 barrels of

powder, situated about four miles from Coruima, was blown
at the

The Story of the Artillery.

CHAP. XIII.

up with great

skill,

under

the

supervision

217
of

Colonel

This was not done, however, until some 400

barrels had been carried for the use of the Artillery, along
dreadful roads, for a distance of four miles, on the shoulders
Cookson.

of the Artillerymen; while at the

same time serviceable

arms were issued from the stores to all the troops, in

the
exchange for those which had become useless during
A supply of ammunition at the rate of 70 rounds
retreat.
These measures had the
per man was also given out.
double effect of destroying valuable stores which must have
inevitably fallen into the hands of the enemy, and of giving
an advantage to the English army in the battle which
ensued, which was denied to their opponents, whose arms
and ammunition had suffered greatly during the harassing
marches of the preceding days.
All the Artillerymen, who could be spared from the
embarkation of guns and stores on the 14th and 15th, were
employed in the destruction of the guns and mortars on the
sea front of

Corunna (which would otherwise have been used

against the English- fleet, on the occupation of the town by

the French), and also of those mounted on a small island in

heavy guns and 20 mortars were

thrown
over the precipice, and their
dismounted, spiked, and
In this the men were
carriages and beds destroyed.
the bay.

Upwards

of 50

by the inhabitants, although, as Napier

were aware that the English army would
ultimately embark, and that they would incur the enemy's
anger for having taken part in any military operations.
This conduct, so inconsistent with the insufficient defence
made by the Spaniards as a nation, drew forth from the
historian a remark, which the events of 1873 have strangely
"
Of proverbially vivid imagination and quick rejustified
"
sentments, the Spaniards feel and act individually, rather
assisted cheerfully

points out, they

"

than nationally."

Artillery of the outposts, on which the brunt of the

action of the 16th fell, was commanded by Major Viney,
mid consisted of 145 officers and men of the Eoyal Artillery,

The

and 94

officers

and men of the Royal Artillery Drivers.

Official

MS

f-f^X
Colonel

Peninsular War, &c.

2i 8

CHAP. xin.

The guns employed

were seven light 6-pounders, one

5J-inch howitzer, and four Spanish 8-pounders.
The names of the officers serving under Major Viney's

command were

follows

as

Godby, and Greatley

Captains Truscott, Wilmot,

Lieutenants Sinclair and King and
:

The officers of
Assistant-Surgeons Price and Hutchison.
the Koyal Artillery Drivers were Lieutenants Abercromby
and Bead.

A slight affair of picquets took place on the 15th but

even as late as noon on the 16th, Sir John Moore told
Colonel Harding that he did not think the enemy meant
;

to attack, and therefore he continued the embarkation.

Most of the horses and appointments belonging to Downman's and Evelegh's troops of Horse Artillery had been lost
during the retreat and their guns, and those of several of
the other brigades, had been placed on board ship so that
many of the Artillerymen, who had been present during the
retreat, and were under fire on the 16th, were without
their guns on that day, and were employed in bringing up
ammunition for the army. The Artillery of the outposts,
;

although lightly armed, did good service but the ground

was not calculated for the manoeuvring of guns, either on
;

the side of the French or of the English.

On Monday the 16th, at 3 P.M., Soult advanced with

all

in three columns, his cavalry and artillery remaining on the heights to cover his formations. Two divisions of
his

army

the English army, under General Hope and Sir David Baird,
occupied the most advanced ground on their side, with their

Bay of Corunna a third division, under General

was
Frazer,
posted on some heights to the right more
retired
commanding the approaches to Corunna from the
" The action became
ToD.-A.-G.
Eoad.
Yigo
Captain Gardiner wrote
une
"
3
1809
general about o'clock, and an uninterrupted fire of cannon
L " an(^ mus ^ etr was
y
kept U P ^H one hour after dark. They
Ga^dine?
"
was Brievidently pushed for our right, which was our weakest
left to

the

'

gade-Major
to the R. A.
1

Captain Wilinot was in

command

of the

Company which

Battery, 4th Brigade.

is

now

Battle of Corunna.

CHAP. XIII.
"
"

219

in no way to be
point, but the firmness of our line was
shaken. At one time I feared they would outflank us from

"
but this was prevented by the movements
their numbers
" of the reserve under General
At a little after
Paget.
" 6 o'clock Soult
retired, leaving us masters of the field,
" and in
possession of a village he occupied in the morning."
This village, Elvina, had been to the battle of Corunna
what Hougomont and La Haye Sainte were afterwards to
;

that of Waterloo.

The

battle, at various periods of the day,

Here Sir David Baird received the

wound which compelled him to leave the field and it was
when watching the attack by the English reserve on the

raged fiercely

round

it.

French troops in possession of this village late in the day,

that Sir John Moore received the wound which proved fatal.
Its retention by the English at the close of the day was
therefore a distinct proof of victory.
But it was not a victory, as General

Hope

well said, Despatch

which could be attended by any very brilliant consequences

The utmost that could be hoped for was
to Great Britain.
the embarkation of the army without molestation.
Thanks
to the defeat of the

French, their want of ammunition, and

the friendly courage of the inhabitants of Corunna, the

whole army, with the exception of the rear-guard, was embarked with perfect order during the night of the 16th.

The incessant rumble

of wheels over the field denoted the

gathering of the wounded, and their conveyance in the artilThe guns which
lery carts and waggons to the beach.

had been engaged during the day were taken

for

embark-

ation to a sandy bay, south-west of Corunna, but, as Colonel

"
The weather would not permit it the
Harding wrote,
"
guns were spiked; the carriages destroyed; and the
"
whole thrown over a precipice into deep water."
:

The rear-guard had been

the land front of Corunna,
island in the bay,

and

to

to

keep possession of the small

the embarkation of the

cover

The
commanded by Major Beevor,

troops from the citadel.

by Sir John Moore

manning the guns on

detailed

himself, to assist the Spaniards in

Artillery attached to
assisted

it

was

by Major Thornhill,

220

Peninsular War, &c.

CHAP. xin.

Captains Truscott, Beane, Brandreth, and Greatley, and

Lieutenants Maling, Wright, and Darby. There were 36
non-commissioned officers and 253 men. The whole of the
rear-guard was embarked, but with difficulty, on the evening of the 18th and morning of the 19th. The voyage to
England was tempestuous in the extreme. Many officers

and men died on the passage

many others, including
Colonel Harding himself, only survived their hardships a
few months. The whole army landed in England at various
ports in such a state of destitution, that the whole nation
was shocked, and could not believe it possible that the story
of the final success was true.
These skeleton regiments,
starved and half-clothed, had not the appearance of an
;

fresh from victory ; and for many years the skill

displayed in the retreat upon Corunna, and the subsequent
success, received little, if any, credit from the people.

army

and with
which the
Duke of Wellington was the perfection, in which a sense
he yet possessed
of duty rises above every other feeling,
charms of character, denied to his great comrade, which
So ended Sir John Moore's campaign in Spain

it

his

won

for

troops.

life.

type of the

him the

same individuality

of

as well as the confidence, of his

what leader can
disciplinarian, indeed, he was

be great who

is

love,

not

something so winning

but, with all his strictness, there was

in his disposition, that even after a

lapse of fifty years, the writer of these pages has seen tears
in the eyes of a man who had served under him, at the mere

mention of his name.

The many
Colonel
a di g

D.

A G en?

letters

from the various

whose cor-

officers,

respondence with the Ordnance is extant, tell in simple

" You
words the worth of the leader who fell at Corunna.
"
"
of our terrible loss
we could
tave heard," writes one,
:

"
Captain

not believe he

was dead."

Another writes

"
:

General

"

wards'sir
R.) Gar-

U
L)

A Gen

Dope's despatches will acquaint you with our affecting

"
You will imagine how severely I felt it. I saw him
loss.
"
after he received the wound, but he was talking with such
"

firmness, that I did not apprehend the danger he was in."

" The
General Hope's words cannot be too frequently read.

Death of Sir John Moore.

CHAP. xin.
"

2,21

John Mooro has deprived mo of a valuable

friend, to whom long experience of his worth had sincerely
"
attached me. But it is chiefly on public grounds that
"
It will be the consolation of
I must lament the blow.
fall

of Sir

"

"

every one who loved or respected his manly character,

" that after
conducting the army through an arduous retreat
"
with consummate firmness, ho has terminated a career
" of
distinguished honour by a death that has given the
"
enemy additional reason to respect the name of a British
"
soldier.
Like the immortal Wolfe, he is snatched from
"
his country at an early period of a life spent in her
" service like
Wolfe, his last moments were gilded by the
"
of
success, and cheered by the acclamation of
prospect
"
like
Wolfe, also, his memory will for ever
victory
" remain sacred in that
country which he sincerely loved,
:

"

and which he had so faithfully served."

There is a pathos about these words which is not surpassed even in the lines which have given an eternal place
in English verse to the battle which has just been described.

But
all

all

the

the regret of friends, all the eloquence of admirers,

of poets, fade into nothing beside the simple

hymns

words of the dying chief, who uttered with his last breath
no appeals for praise, no boastings of difficulties overcome,
no chidings against those who had disappointed or deceived
him, but the quiet, confident expression of a soldier whose
"I
duty is done
hope that my country will do me justice."
:

The following return shows the strength

of the Eoyal

Portugal, after the evacuation of Spain by

Moore's army. It also shows the number who had

Artillery left in
Sir

John

returned at various times from the Peninsula, prior to 27th

February, 1809, having proceeded thither with the various
contingents detailed in the preceding table.

(See next page.)

Despatch
*

Sir

ig'ja'u.

1809

CHAP, xiii,

Peninsular War, &c.

222

S9840H

QO
<M

CO
rH
rH

OS
rH
<N

2
<M

B
CO

IO

CHAPTER

XIV.

WALCHEKEN.
A

**
by

now to be described to whose conand

partial execution justice has not been done
ception
Expedition has

historians.

mination,

it

is

Kemembered,

if at all, for its

not unfrequently classed

miserable ter-

among

the military

And
operations which an Englishman had better forget.
in
a
value
the
idea, which was
strategic
yet there was
proved even by its incomplete realisation and there was a
determination, and an uncomplaining suffering among the
English troops, worthy of note in military story, which
have been ill repaid ty the nameless graves which crowd the
island of Walcheren, and by the national forgetfulness of the
;

Expedition.

To an Artilleryman the Walcheren Expedition has an inwhich well repays him for turning his eyes and

terest

thoughts from the Peninsula to this strange island in the

Northern Sea. Here no less than seventeen troops and companies of his Corps were present; and so important was

duty considered, that the Master-General, Lord Chatham, who was also Commander-in-Chief of the forces em-

their

ployed, requested the Deputy Adjutant-General, Brigadier

Macleod, himself to accompany the army in command of
the Artillery.
And on this island, so baneful to our troops,

and yet so beautiful, a singular historical question connected

with the Kegiment was settled, which will receive detailed
notice in this chapter.

Forming the right bank of the West Scheldt at its mouth,

the islands of South Beveland and Walcheren, now united by

CHAP. XIV.

Walcheren.

224

a railway embankment, present to the traveller the most

Eich and fertile beyond measure, they

singular appearance.
are yet only saved from submersion by the sea by means of
In most
costly dykes, kept efficient by incessant labour.
places the island of Walcheren, especially, is many feet below
the level of the sea ; and even its highest points, the towns
of Middleburg and Flushing, have frequently suffered great

One such inundation

injury from the inroads of the ocean.
had occurred in 1808, and tended to make the autumn of
1809 exceptionally unhealthy.
Dykes now not merely
surround the island

and farmhouses on

itself,

but also the individual villages

giving a singular and fortified

its surface,

appearance to the whole.

Flushing and Antwerp, in the hands of Napoleon, strongly

fortified, and offering protection and anchorage to his fleets,
were a strong and perpetual menace to England, and gave
an appearance of probability to his threats of invasion, both
in the eyes of the English people and their Government.
One of the strongest arguments against the Walcheren
Expedition has always been that it was a dissipation of

England's military resources, which, if concentrated on the

Peninsular campaign, would have produced infinitely greater
results. But it is easy to argue thus with the wisdom which

The danger which was involved in the

Antwerp and Flushing was very present to
the English people; and immunity in that respect seemed
then more desirable than victory at a distance, even
although that victory might, in the end, have been a more
follows the fact.
fortifications of

serious blow at Napoleon's power.

Flushing, armed as it was, may be

And
now

the importance of
better realised by

imagining it in the hands of a powerful Continental dynasty,

not dismantled and disarmed, as it has been since the
but with batteries
siege to be treated of in this chapter,
sufficiently strong to protect the

anchorage in front, and

riding there within a few hours of the English

Were such a thing ever to occur again and it is by
coast.
no means impossible Englishmen would perhaps confess

with a

fleet

that there was more wisdom in the Expedition of 1809,

en

\r>.

XIV.

Officers

with the Expedition.

225'

which rendered Flushing harmless, than has generally been

allowed.

of the unpopularity attending it, and all the incompleteness of execution, were due to a want of harmony

Much

between the naval and military commanders, which has never

yet been satisfactorily explained, but which undoubtedly
was the main cause of the first part of the scheme the capture of Flushing
being the only part that was executed.
Lord Chatham would appear to have been much to blame in
but there has been a mystery connected with it

the matter

which cannot be cleared up.

all

incapacity there

is,

Of that nobleman's military

however, no doubt

nor

is

the reader

surprised to find that hia name disappeared, soon after this

Expedition, from the list of the Masters-General of the

Ordnance.

The troop of Horse Artillery which accompanied the force

was that commanded by Captain A. Macdonald, and is now
D Battery, A Brigade. The sixteen companies will be found
enumerated in the various tables of the battalions. General
Macleod took Captain afterwards Sir Robert Gardiner as
his

and it is from the private diaries of

main Eegimental incidents connected
been obtained. Captain Drum- Sir
have
Expedition

Brigade-Major;

these officers that the

with this

mond was the General's Aide-de-camp. The field

who accompanied the Artillery were Colonel Terrot,

J. T.

officers ?

Lieut.-

Colonels Dixon, Francklin, Cookson, and Wood, and Majors

The immense battering train
Griffiths, Dixon, and Waller.

and we learn that not

was
a
of
merely
Congreve's rockets taken for
large supply
as
employment
siege weapons, but also that every man in
the Eegiment who had been trained to the use of rockets
was ordered to embark with the army.
included 70 guns and 74 mortars

The name
1

of nearly every Artillery officer with the

The Infantry
The Cavalry

Sir J.'T. Jones,

force

with the Expedition numbered 33,096

3,015

from whose work these numbers are taken, gives only

fae field and not also the siege Artillery companies.

VOL.

II.

Expe-

A.-A -Gem
Neyille,
18 Jul 7

226

Walcheren.

CHAP. XIV.

dition will appear in the course of the narrative.

In the
of the force under

meantime the following numerical return

General Macleod's command will be found worthy of perusal.

(See opposite page.)

of the army, which General Macleod
from
the Downs on Saturday, the 29th
sailed
accompanied,

The Second Division

July, 1809, and anchored the same evening in the Stein

On the following day they weighed anchor, and
Diep.
moved into the Koom Pot, where they found the First
Division, and where orders were at once given for the troops
to land in light marching order.
At 4 P.M. the first six
battalions landed, without opposition, at the Bree Zand, and
during the night the remainder of the troops, under the command of Sir Eyre Coote, continued to disembark, with the

named
The following
this part of the army

several brigades of Artillery attached to them,

being under the command of Colonel Terrot.
detail

shows the Artillery attached

to

the last

Captain Marsh's Light 6-pr. Brigade, attached to Lieut.-Gen. Frazer.

Webber Smith's
Major-Gen. Graham.
Lieut.-Gen. Lord Paget.
Massey's
,

There was also a Heavy Brigade under Captain S. Adye.

About 3 P.M. the reserve, under Sir John Hope, proceeded
South Beveland (immediately adjoining Walcheren), accompanied by Captain Wilmot's Light 6-pounder Brigade.
to

On Monday,

the 31st July, Ter Yeer, a village at the opposite end of the island of Walcheren from Flushing, was invested, two guns of Captain Macdonald's troop and two 8-inch

mortars having been landed to assist; and it surrendered

Until the fall of Flushing, Ter Veer was
the following day.

employed as a landing-place and depot for ordnance stores,

The army then
the Balaclava of the Walcheren Expedition.
advanced across the island, and proceeded to invest Flushing.
siege, frequent reinforcements of the French
took
place, their troops being transported by sea
garrison
from Cadsand, and the weather being such as to render it very

During the

the English fleet to intercept them.

The defence
French
the
the
was
wretched
very gallant, although
by

difficult for

made

CHAP. XIV.

Numerical Return of Artillery.

838JOH

2
O

227
i

I
CO

CO

lO

I-H

^O

TH

28

O
O

I-H

00

'

'3

i M
to

I?

w
j

-53)5

wo

5
lo

I
a
Q 2

Waleheren.

228

CHAP. xiv.

inhabitants were the main sufferers during the bombardment.

By Napoleon's positive order, and notwithstanding the re-

monstrances of the French Commandant, one of the dykes

near Flushing was partly cut, and the sea poured into the
English trenches to a considerable extent, increasing the
discomfort and difficulties which the heavy and almost incessant rains had already produced.

The English army was drawn up against Flushing

as fol-

lows: General Graham's division on the right, General

Grosvenor's next then Lord Paget's at West Zouberg, and
General Houston's at Oust Zouberg. Six batteries were
formed, five of which were manned by the Koyal Artillery,
and one by seamen. The former were numbered and armed
;

as follows

No.

8-in.

6 10

Buttery.

1324-prs.
2 8-in. howitzers
.

morturs

1200 yards from the town.

This was evidently No. 5 Battery, accord>

ing to the numbering of the Engineers

j
.

vide Jones's 'Sieges.'

No. 3 Battery. 2200 yards from the town.

This was evidentl y No 1 Ba * ter y in th
mortars
(
I
Engineers' catalogue.
-

in.

No. 4 Battery. 1600 yards from the town.

4 10-in. mortars.
10 24-pouuders.

No. 5 Battery. 1600 yards from the town.

This was evidentl y No 7 Battei7 in lho
-

2 10-in. howitzers. /
\

Engineers catalogue.
17GO yards from the town.
3 24-pounders.
4 10-in. howitzers.

No. 6 Battery.

N.B. Two additional batteries, Nos 7 and 8, were afterwards armed

No. 7 with 2 10-inch mortars, No. 8 with 6 24-pounders.

These batteries were opened on the 13th August, at 1 P.M.

early morning on the 15th August Flushing surrendered.
Including the ammunition expended by the sailors from

At

The armament and numbering

of these batteries differ from those given in

but as they are taken from Captain Gardiner's MS.
written in his own hand they must be correct. Probably they show

Sir J. T. Jones's

diary

'

Sieges

;'

the armament of the butteries when the bombardment commenced; and Sir
Jones may give the armament when at its maximum.

J.

Surrender of Flushing.

CHAP. xiv.

229

No. 2 Battery, which was armed with six 24-pounders, and

opened on Sunday, the 14th August, the following was the
expenditure of ammunition, other than rockets, during the
short siege

24-j >r.

......

10-in. mortars
8-in.

........
......

10-in. howitzers
s-in.

N.B.

Sir

11.

Gardiner's

MS.

'J;i

......

:;M)

....

99U4

Total

J. T. Jones's

174o
1020

ngrees exactly in this particular with Sir

Sieges.'

Kockets had been used before the opening of the batteries, and continued to be employed in great profusion, and

Great part of the city, including the

with fatal effect.
Hotel de Yille, was burnt to -the ground, and hundreds of
the inhabitants were killed.
To this day shot may be seen
in the walls of

of the houses,

many

handing down from one

generation to another the traditions of the siege.

The

chief labour >and hardship, however, to the English

It was during
troops preceded the opening of the batteries.
their construction that the energies of officers and men

were most severely

tried.

The roads between Ter Yeer and

the trenches became almost impassable with constant traffic

and rain the landing of the guns and stores was attended
;

with great difficulty

it

was impossible

to procure cattle in

for purposes of Draught ; and many of

the horses intended for the later operations had to be landed
sufficient quantities

at

Walcheren

to

draw the

stores from Ter Yeer.

As

for the

trenches themselves, a few extracts from Sir E. Gardiner's

diary will enable the reader to realise the conditions under

which the Artillerymen worked

10th. Ascertained, by the saltness of the water,

"
that the dyke had been cut
The water making
"
great progress in the communication from the right to
"
West Zouberg. The cross-roads very deep and bad ; great
"
difficulty in drawing the guns from the park to the several
"

"August

.......

batteries.

"
"
"

CHAP. xiv.

Walcheren.

230
August llth.

and incessant

violent thunder-storm

rains during the night precluded all work the greatest

The water rose in the gun-battery on the left
part of it.

" about six inches.

"
August 12. The roads much worse,
"
in the trenches.
The

and the water

rose very high

water-gauge showed
" the
The magazine
4
the
to
be
inches.
of
water
rising

" of No. 1
Battery on the right was filled with water
"
the
during
night from the heavy rains, and it was feared
" would not be
The
ready to receive the ammunition.
" exertions
obstacle"
the
overcame
men, however,
of
every

Three companies, commanded by Captains Drummond,

Campbell, and Fyers, had landed at Ter Veer on the
8th August, and proved of great service in the batteries
at Oust Zouberg; but the Artillery before Flushing had
been weakened the previous day by the removal of the
detachments of Captains Buckner's 1 and Brome's companies,
with Captains Adye and Light, under the command of
Colonel Cookson, to join the force in South Beveland, in
consequence of a letter received from Sir John Hope.

There was considerable anxiety in South Beveland. The

and
forts had, certainly, been occupied by the English
in
unspiking and rendering
Captain Wilmot had succeeded
serviceable almost all the guns which they found but there
;

Provisions were not so

were many reasons for disquiet.
in such a country ;
had
been
as
obtained
expected
easily

the inhabitants, without exhibiting actual hostility, were

rumours were spread, which

magnified every hour, announcing large reinforcements, not
merely to Antwerp, but to every Dutch garrison, and describing swarms of French troops being pushed forward in
waggons and boats to form a large army at Bergen-opdecidedly cool and unfriendly

place, with a view to

the drains made on their resources

Zoom, or some such

offensive

assuming the
by the army

and the disagreein Walcheren alarmed the military chiefs

ment between the Admiral and Lord Chatham as to the
;

Now

No. 3 Battery, 3 Brigade, H.A.

End of the

CHAP. XIV.

231

Expedition.

method of conducting future operations had already ceased

to be secret.

It does not, therefore, surprise the reader to

nd that when, after the fall of Flushing, all the troops

and horses which had been originally intended for the
second operation, as the design on Antwerp was termed,
I

were

about

to

return

to

South

Beveland,

decided

among the authorities, which

ended in a suspense from further action. Before the end of
August, the whole of the Horse Artillery, Cavalry, and all the
hesitation

manifested

itself

horses of the battering train had returned to

England

Captains Wilmot's, Buckner's, and Brome's companies were

ordered to follow, after dismantling the forts in South
Beveland; on the 2nd September, Lord Chatham's head-

on the
quarters were moved to Middleburg, in Walcheren ;
3rd, the embarkation of much of the ordnance, stores, &c.,
on the 10th, Lord Chatham
England commenced
announced that he had received the King's commands to
return home; and on the 14th, accompanied by his staff,
including General Macleod, he sailed from Flushing.
The much-vaunted Expedition was therefore at an end ;
for

and with the exception of the garrison of Walcheren, the

army returned home by instalments.

But

in the successful

the capture of Flushing, there is more

part of the campaign,
than a crumb of comfort for the Artilleryman who is in
search of incidents creditable to his corps.
The words

penned

after the siege

by Lord Chatham, who was obare worthy of a high place

servant, although incapable,

in the Eegimental records.

"

"

It is impossible"

he wrote,

Lord

me

to do sufficient justice to the distinguished con"

duct of the officers and men of the Koyal Artillery, under announcing

"

"

for

the able direction and animating example of BrigadierGeneral Macleod."

And in a letter presently to be

quoted, the reader will see that in the duller work of dismantling the works, under circumstances of great difficulty

and sickness, the men of the Koyal Artillery earned noble

words of commendation.
Walcheren has been remembered for the sickness which

J^^^f
Flushing.

Watcheren.

232

CHAP. XIV.

scourged the English army in 1809, when

it has been forand the sickness certainly was

more to exposure, injudicious
inefficient
and
diet,
hospital arrangements, than to any local
conceived by superstition and fear.
such
as
were
influences,
The former, it is known, did exist and their results have
been seen in later days, during the first winter of the war
in the Crimea, much as they were in Walcheren.
But the
the mysterious local fevers, which were believed to
latter,
be indigenous to this island, seem to have marvellously dis-

gotten as to everything else ;

fearful ; although perhaps due

appeared, or to be innocuous, as far as the healthy, contented,

its beautiful villages are con-

and long-lived inhabitants of

cerned.

Be

that, however, as it

may

the sickness

among the

1809 was very great. On the 30th August

there were 5000 sick; on the 3rd September the number
increased to 5745 on the 5th September it rose to 8000
and on the 8th it was no less than 10,948, with fresh cases
English troops in

occurring every hour. The sickness in the Artillery may be

gathered from a return which is extant. On the 27th Sep-

tember there had been left in Walcheren a total strength

of 1089 officers and men belonging to the Koyal Artillery
Before the 16th Ocand Eoyal Artillery Driver Corps.
255 had been sent sick
in less than three weeks,
tober,
to England, 396 were sick at Walcheren, and 109 were in
their graves.
From a return of the officers who were invalided to England, we find the names of many not yet

Captains Oliver, Monro, Parker,

and Scott; and Lieutenants J. Evans,
Parker, Dalton, Pringle, Grant, Chapman, and Drawbridge.
The names of others, who remained to the date of the
evacuation of the island, will be mentioned presently.
After Lord Chatham's departure, it was intended at first

mentioned,

Wallace,

including

G-reene,

to strengthen the island for defence in the event of a Erench

Napoleon being, however, as he said, perfectly

attack.

satisfied

any

that the English should die in Zealand without

and the continued sickness ap-

assistance from him,

palling the authorities,

it

was decided

to

dismantle the

CHAP. XIV.

Dismantling of the Batteries.

233

newly-armed batteries with a view to the evacuation of

This was done under the control and superthe place.
vision of Major William Dixon, B.A., assisted by the remnants
of the twelve companies, left as part of the garrison of the
island.
On his arrival in Woolwich, with these companies,

he made a report to the Deputy Adjutant- General, which

nmnot fail to be interesting. " It would be of no use now,
"sir," he wrote, "to enter into a detailed account of the
"state of defence in which Walcheren was placed at the
" moment the order
came to withdraw ; but, in justice
"
to the officers and men I had the good fortune to com"
mand, you will permit me to state that, up to the 15th
"
November, every possible exertion was made to withstand
"

"

"
"

an attack in the
All the

field,

or a siege in the fortified places.

of the guns were ex-

Dutch mortars and many

changed for English

the extra foreign ammunition sent off

England ; Flushing, Veer, and Kammekens completed ;

the coast strengthened by batteries mounted with heavy
"
ordnance ; the field brigades distributed to the different
to

"

"

and depots of ammunition established

These labours were effected without any
throughout.
"
assistance from the troops of the Line, and under circorps of the

army

"

"
"

cumstances peculiarly trying

by sickness

the companies diminished

to one-third of their

"

original strength,

and

even then jaded and worn by an oppression and feeling

"
from climate which I cannot describe, but which actually
"

did not

amount

to

disease.

Yet, sir, notwithstanding

performed every part of their
"
duty without a murmur, and obeyed every order with
"
zeal and alacrity.
"

this, I

"

"

am happy

It will

to say they

be plain to you,

sir,

that as

we had

risen to this

state of defence, so in
proportion were our labours in"
creased when we came to dismantle.
All that was done
"
had to be undone ; and every article of guns, ammunition,
"
and stores throughout the island, to be embarked in the
"
least possible time.
The same diligence was continued,
"
and within the given period not a trace remained in the

Major

^
3
**

Jail.

CHAP. xiv.

Walcheren.

234
"

works of the ordnance with which they had been deWithout meaning to take at all from the
"
general report of the good conduct of the officers and men

"

"
"
"
"

"

fended.

employed in the island of Walcheren, but as you are aware

that, from various causes, there are degrees even in excellence itself, I hope I shall not be considered as acting
inconsistently when I recommend the following officers

more particularly deserving your approbation.

To
Maitland
I
am
and
indebted
for
Light
greatly
Captains
" their
activity and zeal in completing the defences of
"
Walcheren. To Captain Adye I owe everything for the
"
assistance he gave in dismantling the works, and embark"
ing the guns, ammunition, and stores and to his name,
as

"

"

which, in every respect, deservedly stands first, I beg

"
leave to add those of Captains Eawlinson, Maitland, and
"
Macartney, in the same undertaking. The whole of the
"
subalterns went through every part of the duties imposed
" on them with zeal and
goodwill, even in serving on board
" the shutes 'with
parties of gunners to load and unload
" these vessels. I could
no reliance on the Dutch who
place

"

"

navigated them, but was thus compelled to ensure their

their escape.
The navy, I
not
ivould
could
(for they certainly
not) grant us
presume,
"
skill
we
were
not
Nautical
supposed to
any assistance.
"
at
I
length, helped us to find it.
possess, but necessity,
" shall
conclude, sir, by recommending to your favour
" Lieutenant
Anderson, the acting Adjutant, whose zeal
" and
activity neither sickness nor fatigue could arrest, and
" I
him one of the finest
hesitate in
services

by guarding against

"

cannot

pronouncing

"

young men I ever met in my life."

The amount of ordnance and stores captured in the
islands of South Beveland and Walcheren, and either sent
Sumto England or destroyed, was very considerable.
marised, according to date of capture, the following
1
list of the guns and mortars which were taken.

From MS.

return found

among

Sir A. Dicksun's papers.

is

CHAP. xiv.

List of Captiired Ordnance.

235

CHAP, xiv

Waleheren.

against any attack from the enemy, whose vessels had been
and
accumulating for some weeks in the neighbourhood
;

the troops on board the English ships were held in readiness

for immediate disembarkation, should the expected attack
take place.
Some reinforcements which reached the island

from England during the embarkation, including two companies of Artillery under Lieut. -Colonel Gold and Major
Carncross, were not required to land, but their arrival had a
moral

ensuring a peaceable evacuation of the place.

Colonel Gold, who landed for a few hours, a graphic
description of the state of Walcheren was forwarded to
effect in

From

General Macleod in Woolwich.

Major
Dixon

to

D.-A.-Gen.
4 Dec.
1809.

Colonel

Gold to

-A.-Gen,
10 Dec.
1809.

Major Dixon had previously

boasted of the thoroughness of his measures in destroying
"
I am most happy," he wrote, " to say
the fortifications.
" that not an article in
point of honour or value will be
" found in the island when the
enemy again takes possession
"
never was there a clearer sweep (I mean in a military
"
point of view) ; and I am satisfied that he will not for years
"
be enabled to use the Bason for the purposes of the navy.
"
All the parapets are also thrown down, and not a vestige
" is to be
seen of gun, ammunition, or store throughout^the
"
This picture was confirmed and completed by
island."
" I
Colonel Gold, who wrote as follows
arrived just in time
"
to witness the destruction of the Arsenal, which is com"
pletely effected ; the entrance to the Bason, in which the
" French
navy were sheltered last winter, is entirely choked
"
up by blowing up the pieces of the flood-gates. Never
" was a scene of
On putting foot on
greater public mischief.
"
shore I found Macartney in the midst of a wreck of car"
riages, and, at Flushing, Pilkington and Dixon surrounded
"
by their own conflagrations ; while Middleburg presented
" the most
pacific appearance, and even at a church in
"
Flushing, immediately opposite to the scene of destruction,
"
divine service going on as if nothing unusual had oc" curred
I have been across the island to-day, and
"
although, from the many good descriptions I had heard,
" I
was fully prepared, I could not have conceived any
"
country so intolerably bad for military operations ; and
:

c H A p.

Failure of Supply.

v.

237

" that
you (General Macleod) made your batteries and got
"
your guns into them is surprising."

From

these extracts,

it

will be seen that the first object

of this much-abused Expedition was completely effected, and

Walcheren rendered innocuous, as a means of menacing
England. That this was mainly owing to the energy and
perseverance of the troops has, it is hoped, also been made

Alas that the story of this Expedition, as of so

apparent.
from England, would be incomplete without the
others
many
!

mention of failures in the supply departments of the army.

Three months after the fall of Flushing, the troops were
" It will
still suffering from want of necessary comforts.
"
"'

"

Dated

"2
" if
be doing us a very great favour," wrote Major Dixon,
^J^
you can by any means expedite the arrival of the bedding. 1809.
1

'

and I am convinced that much

from the want of necessary ac"
commodation and comfort. By a letter from the Honour"
able Board (two packets ago) I expected bedding for the
"
whole of the Ordnance Department, but nothing of the

"

now miserably

It is

cold,

of our indisposition arises

"

kind has yet appeared." From complaints like these the

reader cannot fail to suspect that much of the exaggerated
abuse of the climate of Walcheren was employed to shield
those departments, whose members, in this as in other wars,
have evinced a belief that the army exists for them, not they
for the

army.

only remains to tell the singular story, whose conclusion

has affected the regimental privileges of the Eoyal Artillery
It

from the

made

fall

of Flushing to this day.

Mention has been
work of a custom, which placed

several times in this

the bells of a captured city, or an equivalent, at the disposal

commanding officer of the Artillery of the besieging
force.
The privilege as the reader will remember had
of the

been exercised so recently as at the siege of Copenhagen.

After the surrender of Flushing, General Macleod preferred
the usual claim.

the

Commandant

The Mayor and Corporation replied through

that they acknowledged with due respect

a right established
by custom immemorial that the bells
to
the
belonged
commanding officer of the Koyal Artillery,

Lieut.-Coi

^jj
Colonel

Walchercn.

238

CHAP. xiv.

thought proper to enforce his claim, but that they were

persuaded he would grant consideration to their already
sufficiently distressed condition, and not deprive the unif lie

fortunate town of

its

bells,

which they would be as inca-

pable of replacing as they felt unable to tender any compensation for them. On the following day General Macleod
replied that, in consideration of the destruction brought
upon the town of Flushing by the system of defence which

the French General had thought proper to adopt, he had no

wish to add to the misery of the inhabitants by seizing the

by demanding a

strict compensation to the full

In consenting, however, to sacrifice
to a great extent his own rights and pretensions, he could
not, he said, in any degree compromise those of the Corps.
bells,

or

amount

of their value.

He

must, therefore, demand a modified sum in order specifically to mark the transaction, and to enable him at the

same time to contribute to the comforts of the officers

and men who had partaken in the artillery duties of the
siege.

Yaluing the

bells at 2000?.,

his readiness to accept 500Z.

M. Becker
Colonel**"

Mosheim,
Pt>

i809

General Macleod expressed

This

offer

was communicated

by the French commandant to the Mayor of Flushing, but

"
was rece i ve d with indignation :*
On nous a rapporte,"
"
wrote the Mayor, que Messieurs les officiers de 1'Artillerie
"
Eoyale persistoient dans leur demande a ce que la ville de
"
Flussingen leur offrit un compromis en indemnite des
"
suivant une ancienne coutume Anglaise
cloches, qui
" leur
reviendroient, comme une recompense de leur service
" contre une
place assiegee, qui s'etoit rendue par capitu" lation aux
troupes de sa Majeste Britannique, et qu'ayant
"
les
dites cloches a 2000Z. sterling ils avoient fait
suppose
"
a
la
ville, en consideration de son malheur, des trois
grace
"
de
cette
somme, et se contentoient par consequent
quarts
" d'un
a 5007. sterling.
montant
Vivement penetre
quart,
" du
sentiment de la situation malheureuse a laquelle la
1

The Dutch Mayor's French

the original.

petition

is

peculiar

but

it is

given as in

Demand for Church

CHAP. xiv.

Bells.

villo do Flussingen et ses pauvres bourgeois sont reduits,

nous ne cessons cependant pas d'etre nes descendans des
anciens Hollandais, et tous les desastres que nous avons

rprouves ne nous ont pas tellement enleve cet esprit franc

et sincere, qui caracterise notre nation, et qui rivalise en
ce point avec la nation Anglaise, que nous ne sentirions
pas 1'offense qui nous est faite, et que nous n'oserions

Oui, Monsieur! malgre tout ce qui puisse

nous en arriver, nous ne pouvons que regretter 1'offre
Nous avons de la peine a nous
qui nous est faite.
1'exprimer.

demande qu'on nous

persuader que

la

torisee par le

Commandant en

La

a faite a ete au-

Comment, Mon-

chef.

de Flussingen, ses malheureux habitans

qui excitent la compassion de tout le monde, qui sont
mines, sans ressource, qui n'ont pas de quoi pouvoir dans
sieur ?

ville

leur propres besoins

cette ville de Flussingen, ces habi-

tans, qui a plus d'un titre meritent la consideration particuliere du Gouvernement Anglais, et qui, nous n'en

doutons pas, deviendroient

Cette

ville,

et

ces

les

.habitans,

objets

de sa moralite

disons-nous,

seroient-ils,

apres avoir passe par tous ces malheurs, reduits a cette

extremite de voir laisser enleve ses cloches, faute de moyen

de representer la valeur supposee

possible que le

Non, Monsieur,

il

Gouvernement Anglais autorise une

im-

est

pareille

demande envers la ville de Flussingen, et nous sommes

fermement resolus de lui emporter nos plaintes, en cas
que Messieurs
leur

les Officiers

demande contraire a

de FArtillerie persistent dans

1'equite et a la capitulation

et

nous ne doutons pas que Tame genereuse de sa Majeste

Britannique n'y fasse droit. Vous-meme, Monsieur, qui
connaissez la situation de Flussingen, qui savez qu'une

somme de

5500f. de Hollande est au-dessus de nos forces,

montre compassion a nos maux, ne man-

et qui avez deja

querez pas nous nous en flattons d'employer vos efforts

aupres de Messieurs les Officiers de 1'Artillerie pour qu'ils
desistent de leurs pretentious.
Nous prenons la liberte de
vous
de

adresser

1'adresser a

un double de notre
son

Excellence

My

lettre,

vous priant

Lord Chatham,

et

Waleheren.

240
"
"
Dated
U
fm1

8 Sept.

d'appuyer aupres

de

son

CHAP. XIV.

Excellence nos

reclamations

raisonnables."

This appeal was "answered by General Macleod to the

he could not, under any consideration, relinquish
the rights of his Corps
that he persisted in his claim,

effect that

which had received the perfect approbation of Lord Chatham

but that, in consideration of the representations made by the
magistrates, he again renounced the idea of deriving emolu;

ment

to himself at the expense of the distresses of the inhabitants, but would persist in the right of his Corps, unless

the magistrates should consent to pay the still further

reduced sum of one hundred guineas in establishment of
"
the right ;
to be disposed of in charity to the soldiers'
"
wives and widows of the Eoyal Artillery, as may be
"
thought proper hereafter."
As General Macleod was on the eve of leaving Walcheren

England, he transferred the correspondence to Colonel

Terrot, with the intimation that he himself would have no
objection to an appeal to the English Legislature, should
for

Dated

9 Sept.

the magistrates of Flushing insist on it but " in that case,"

he wrote, " it is to be understood that the appeal is for the
"
whole of the bells, or for the full amount of their value.
"
The appeal leaves no room for generosity on either side."
The magistrates were obstinate, and the appeal was for;

warded

to

England.

On

the 12th

November intimation was

sent to Major Dixon, in Walcheren, now in command of the

Artillery, that the decision was unfavourable to the claims
Dated

c^m'ons
26 October,

of the Corps.
The following extract from the decision, addressed by Sir Charles Eobinson to the Earl of Liverpool,
"
With reexplains the grounds on which it was based.
"
of
of the
to
the
bells
the
the
demands
church,
spect
"
It
I
unsustainable.
conceive, altogether
Artillery are,
"
on
the
the
Prize
Comis apparently not supported
part of
"
missioners, since they do not advert to this claim in their
"
letter of the 4th of October.
Anciently, there prevailed
" a
law of pillage, which assigned to different corps and to
" different individuals a
privileged claim to particular ar"
Whether this was a privilege of the Artillery
tides.

Conduct of Artillery at Flicking.

CHAP. xiv.

241

" under the ancient custom of

England, as described in the
but in the modern usage of
informed
I
not
am
;
Petition,
"
and
public edifices, and more parrespecting property
"
for
divine worship, such a demand
set
those
apart
ticularly

"

"
"

What the custom may

cannot, I conceive, be sustained.
of
whether
be,
deserving
any compensation in the division

" of what
"
bo a

properly prize, or from any other quarter, may

subject of consideration according to circumstances.

"

"

But

is

am

of opinion that the

demand ought not

to be

enforced against the town."

From subsequent correspondence which is extant, and

which passed between General Macleod and Sir Anthony
Farrington, it is evident that the former felt much regret
that an old Eegimental privilege should have disappeared
during operations in which he had occupied so prominent a
place

but the reader will admit that no one could have con-

ducted the cause of the Corps in a more unselfish, chivalrous,

and yet resolute manner.

The comments

N.B.

of

an

officer

of the sister corps, on the conduct of

the Artillery at the siege of Flushing, were very favourable.

Two extracts
from Sir J. Jones's work may be given.
" The
guns of the batteries on the right of the attack were more par-

"

and take en echarpe the rampart of the

western sea-line, in order to silence the fire of its artillery on the fleet,
" now
preparing to force the passage of the Scheldt. This they accom"
plished very effectually, by disabling or very severely wounding many
" of the
traversing platforms and their carnages, and much injuring the
"
guns themselves."
ticularly directed to enfilade

"

Again

"

Discharges of carcasses and shells from the mortar batteries, with

"
powerful nights of rockets intermixed, were kept up throughout the
"
night on the devoted town, and frequently large portions of it burned

" with
fury."

VOL.

II.

JONES'S

'

Sieges,' vol.

ii.

pp.

269271.

242.

CHAPTEE
PENINSULAR

WAR

RESUMED.

XV.

PASSAGE OF THE DOURO,

AND TALAVERA.
" The deliverance of the Peninsula was never due to the
foresight and
"
perseverance of the English ministers, but to the firmness and skill of the
" British
Generals, and to the courage of troops whom no dangers could
" daunt and no
hardships dishearten, while they remedied the eternal errors
" of the Cabinet." NAPIER.

TN
*

resuming the story of the Peninsular War, it will be seen

that the narrative has to go back to an earlier date than

that of the expedition described in the last chapter,

Sir

Arthur Wellesley having returned from England to Lisbon, to

take command of the army, so early as the 22nd April, 1809.
But it has been thought better to clear the ground, so to
speak, of the Walcheren Expedition, and thus to enable the
reader to follow uninterruptedly the story of the operations,
which terminated in the glorious victory of Talavera, and the
subsequent withdrawal of the English troops from Spain to

Portugal.
The British Government

still

resolved that the English

army in Spain should be merely an auxiliary one, and remained still undeceived as to the real state of the Spanish
forces.
Perhaps it was as well, therefore, that the army
entrusted to Sir Arthur Wellesley was not a larger one for
the difficulty he encountered in obtaining provisions and
transport from the Spaniards would have been insurmount;

under his command been more numerous.

I do not think," wrote Sir Arthur to Lord Castlereagh,
"
that matters would have been much better if you had sent

able,

had the

forces

"

"

your large expedition to Spain instead of to the Scheldt.

could not have equipped it in Gralicia, or anywhere in
"
the north of Spain.
If we had had 60,000 men instead of
"
20,000, in all probability we should not have got to Tala-

"

You

CHAP. xv.

starving

Army.

243

"

vera to fight the battle, for want of means and provisions.

" But if
we had got to Talavera, we could not have gone
"
farther, and the armies would probably have separated for
"
want of means of subsistence, probably without a battle,
" but
certainly afterwards." The campaign of 1809, from be-

ginning to end, was marked by obstinacy on the part of Spanish Generals, and faithlessness on the part of the Spanish
Government by inadequate supplies of money from England,
;

and by difficulties with the Portuguese troops, not the less

annoying because they were often petty as well as by hardships which tried the discipline of the English troops quite
as much as the retreat to Corunna, and which drew from
"
L ord
We are an excel- CastleSir Arthur Wellesley
J the bitter words
"
but we are reagh,
lent army on parade, an excellent one to fight
" worse than an
enemy in a country and, take my word for Jtamtes,
"
The 17 June,
it, that either defeat or success would dissolve us."
1809
success which he almost dreaded came the 27th and 28th
July witnessed as gallant an exhibition of English courage
but in a few days Sir Arthur wrote
as has ever been seen
" A
To Marquis
is
actually worse than none. The soldiers
starving army'
"
lose their discipline and spirit ; they plunder even in pre- dated
;

"
"

sence of their

officers.

The

officers are discontented,

and

are almost as bad as the

men; and, with an army which

" a
beat
double
their numbers, I should now
fortnight ago
" hesitate to meet a French
corps of half their strength."
The administration which has so often marked our cam-

paigns with passages like this cannot be too distinctly held

up to view as a perpetual warning. No troops, as Sir Arthur
wrote, can serve to any good purpose unless they are regularly fed ; and yet it is in this very point the question of
supply that our military history abounds with failures.

The army which had landed in England from Corunna

was speedily organized, and sent back to Portugal. Sir J.
Cradock commanded the troops at Lisbon, some 14,000 in
number; Marshal Beresford had been appointed to the
command of the Portuguese forces, and was assisted in his
task of organizing them by several British officers.
All
arrangements were made for taking the field and this was
B 2
;

1809.

The Peninsular

244

War

resumed.

CHAP. xv.

done immediately on the arrival of Sir Arthur Wellesley,

who was appointed Marshal-General of the united armies.
Colonel Eohe had remained in command of the Artillery in
Portugal during the interval between Corunna and Sir
Arthur's arrival

General

hut he was now superseded by Brigadier-

afterwards Sir E.

Ho worth.

The number

of

troops and companies in the Peninsula in 1809 was only

There were, in addition, five at Gibraltar, five in
seven.
three in Malta.
and
Italy,
The Artillery officers first appointed for duty with Marafterwards Sir J. May and
shal Beresford were Captain
of
the
Captain Elliot,
Koyal Artillery, and also Captain
Arentschild, of the King's German Artillery. Lieutenant
Charles was attached to the Portuguese force raised by Sir
Kobert Wilson; and Captain P. Campbell and Lieutenant

Wills were employed with the Spanish troops at Seville and

Cadiz respectively.

General Howorth, on his arrival in Lisbon in the beginning of April, arranged, with Colonel Kobe's assistance, the
equipment of five brigades of guns, to take the field with
the army, viz., one brigade of heavy 6-pounders, three of
light 6-pounders,

and one of 3-pounders.

These were

all

he

could equip;

and, notwithstanding the opportune arrival,

from Ireland, of 170 drivers and 298 excellent horses, he yet
complained of the want of mobility from which they suffered,

ToD.-A.-G.
b

8A pTii,
1809.

mixed as they were with the horses of the country, mules,

and oxen. However, like Colonel Harding, he took a cheerful
view of matters, and pronounced the mules to be very fine
" the
animals, and
oxen, though slow, a steady, good
"

draught." The development of the Field Artillery during

the Peninsular War, from the wretched batteries employed
at its

commencement

to those

which attracted such admira-

tion at its close, will appear in the course of this work.

Suffice it, at present, to remind the Artilleryman, by way

of contrast, while the picture of the batteries of 1809 is

yet fresh in his recollection, that before the conclusion of
the Peninsular War, it was admitted by the artillerymen of

the country with which England was engaged in hostilities,

Affair at Algabaria.

CHAP. XV.

245

that "the English materiel might have been taken as a

"model by any nation in Europe ;" that, shortly tefore

Waterloo, Marshal Marmont remarked that the equipment of

the English Field Artillery was in every respect very superior to anything he had ever seen ; and that the French

Committee appointed in 1818

to

the various countries represented

lerie,'

%'

compare the Artillery of

in the review held that Hime

year in Paris, expressed unqualified delight with that of

England.

On

Arthur Wellesley's arrival in Lisbon, he found that

Soult was in possession of Oporto, and Victor in EstremaSir

He

to attack them in detail ; and,

of his operations, he requested the
Spanish General, Cuesta, to watch Victor's movements, while
he himself should march to the north against Soult. The

dura.

promptly resolved

making Lisbon the base

driving the French out of Portugal would,

be
felt,
very great all the more so as his arrival had
a
sudden
produced
hopefulness among the Portuguese, which

moral

effect of

he

was desirable not to disappoint.

Accordingly, on the 1st May, he moved his head-quarters
to Pombal and Coimbra, and found himself in command of
an army which, after deducting the sick and absent, numit

bered 20,653 rank and file, with 30 guns. On the 9th he

left Coimbra with the main body, and arrived on the Douro,
opposite Oporto, on the 12th, after a march of eighty miles
over infamous
" neither

Napier.

"

But," wrote General Howorth, ToD.-A.-G.

nor
difficulty
danger impedes Sir Arthur he is all Opo
roads.

'

"

and establishes confidence in the troops."

On the 10th, the left column of the army, which marched
from Aveiro, fell in with the enemy at Algabaria Nova. A
slight affair ensued, in which the Artillery and Cavalry were
and the enemy was repulsed with the loss
chiefly engaged
of a gun.
On the llth, the right column, which marched
on the Vouga, came up with the French between Algabaria
Nova and Grijon, and an engagement followed which lasted
two hours, ending in the retreat of the enemy.
On the
fire,

arrival of the English at Villa Nova, opposite Oporto, it was

found that the French had destroyed the bridge across the

1809.

The Peninsular

246

War

resumed.

CHAP. xv.

Douro, and removed every available boat to their own side of

the river. It was of the utmost importance that the English
troops should cross, so as to co-operate with Marshal Beres-

who, having crossed the river higher up, was now

menacing the left and the rear of Soult's army. The crossing was effected in a gallant, and yet singular and romantic
ford,

way, the details of which, too long for reproduction here,

render the passage of the Douro one of the most interesting
episodes in the Peninsular

War.

Wellesley saw a building

on the other side of the river here three hundred yards wide
called the Seminary, surrounded by a walled yard, capable
of containing two battalions.
Close to where he himself
stood was a rock, called Serra, from which artillery would

command

the passage of the river, and where he

therefore desired General Howorth to t place eighteen guns.
The guards on the other side seemed few and negligent.
well

Soult expected no danger on the part of the river above the

town, and had posted himself to the westward ; if, therefore,

boats could but be obtained, "Wellesley resolved to cross. A

small skiff was found, and Colonel Waters, a staff officer,

and found three large barges, which he towed back

Nova side of the river. The men were ordered
to embark, and, in the face of an army of ten thousand men,
the passage was effected. Yery few, however, had crossed
ere the alarm was given, and the French troops poured
down upon the Seminary. The alarm acted in one respect
favourably to the English for some of the citizens hastened
to unmoor some boats, and cross to Villa Nova, thus facilitacrossed,

to the Villa

ting the embarkation and passage of the troops. All this

time the fire of the Koyal Artillery from the Serra told with

great effect; and, as it completely swept one side of the

The
Seminary, it soon limited the attack to the other.

General Shergallantry of the Infantry was unrivalled.

brooke had crossed the river a little lower down, and was

now

in possession of the town of Oporto, and pressing, with

the Guards and 29th Kegiment, on the rear of the French

The Buffs
troops as they poured out towards the Seminary.
and their comrades in the enclosure rained showers of bullets

The Passage of the Douro.

CHAP. XV.

on the disorganized French

247

and in a short time they were

"

the artillery, from the Serra, still searching

"
the enemy's columns as they hurried along."
General
Howorth, in describing the battle, said that he never saw

in full retreat,

Napier.

ToD.-A.-G.
}g

ay '

anything like the gallantry of the English troops. Their

firmness was irresistible; nor could the French make any
impression ; and, from the position which he occupied, he

was able

to form a good opinion, as he could see everything.

Sir Arthur, in his despatch announcing the victory, after To Lord

enumerating the various officers who had especially distin- re^gh~

dated
guished themselves, said, in describing the services of the
" I
had every reason to be satisfied with i2May,
regiments engaged
"
the Artillery." That his satisfaction was also extended to 1809>
:

the previous operations and to the severe march of eighty

miles over most difficult country may be gathered from
General Howorth's words " I have reason," he wrote, " to
"
believe that Sir Arthur is perfectly satisfied with the
"
Artillery ; and, it must be owned, never was Artillery put
"
to such trial."
The French ordnance captured at the
:

recovery of Oporto included 56 brass guns and 3 brass

A considerable supply of ammunition was also
howitzers.
taken.

The pursuit of Soult's army was undertaken by Sir A.

Wellesley with as little delay as possible, although not with
sufficient promptness to
satisfy the demands of certain military critics,

knowledge
sufficiently

who

are ready to find fault, but slow to acthe way of armies.

That it was

difficulties in

prompt

to ensure

the success of

the English

General's purpose, may be gathered from the fact that on

the 18th May Soult and his army crossed the frontier into
Spain, having been driven out of Portugal with the loss of
artillery, stores, and baggage, and of no fewer than 6000

men

while of those who remained, many were without arms

and accoutrements, the majority without shoes, and all
utterly exhausted and miserable; and, further, that the
;

English army did not delay in the pursuit from any effeminate ideas of comfort or luxury may be gathered from the
following letter from General

Howorth

"
:

The

extraordi-

Napier,

The Peninsular

248
TO General "
Macleod,
dated

1809.

"

"
"

CHAP. xv.

resumed.

of events in this country, which have heen

nary
J rapidity
r
J .
xi
accompanied hy a succession of the most triumphant
.

"
24 Ma' '

War

/?

-i

operations against the enemy, left me no leisure to communicate them as they occurred. However, I am at last
here, after passing eight days in continued
marches over the worst roads I ever saw, through inces-

returned

"

sant rain, a depopulated country, quartered in uninhabited houses, and with no supplies whatever, but what
"
was scantily provided by the Commissariat Department.
"
During the greater part of this march the luxury of a
"
bed, or a change of clothes, which were always wet, was un"
We pursued to Montalagree, where
known to me
"
the enemy turned short to the left, over the mountains,
"
and took the shortest way into Galicia."
"

Napier.

Wellingsjlatchts.

During the pursuit, the English overtook Soult at Salamonde, and his rear-guard being in a confined space, some
guns were brought to bear on them with fearful effect.
" Man and
horse, crushed together, went over into the gulf ;
"
and the bridge, rocks, and the defile beyond were strewed
"
with mangled bodies." The furious peasantry also turned
on the French troops, and rendered their retreat which has
been compared with that of the English on Corunna infinitely more horrible.
As Soult sacrificed artillery and baggage in order to move
more rapidly, it was but natural that he should outmarch an
army which had not so disencumbered itself. But this pursuit has an importance to the Artilleryman in being a text
on which much useful argument was hung by General
Howorth and others, in favour of greater mobility than had
yet attended the brigades of Field Artillery employed in
the Peninsula.
The 3-pounder brigade was the only one
which was able to march with the army during its more

^^
24

May,

rapid movements; and therefore General Howorth made a

demand for additional brigades of that nature, suggesting,
with the assistance of Colonel Eobe, various improvements
in the equipment.
Among other changes, he
of
double instead
single draught, both for guns

recommended
and waggons

and that the brigades should be of four guns instead of

six,

CHAP. xv.

Reorganization of the

Army.

249

the howitzers being dispensed with, and a liberal supply of

the guns.
Another very
spherical case being issued for

"to have a
suggestive recommendation was made by him
" small
forge with each brigade of four guns ; the forge to
"
be placed on the frame of a small limber waggon ; it can
"
then follow the brigade, which is not the case with the present
" one."
The absence of a forge on the line of march must
:

have sadly crippled the batteries. He also sugthe span of the wheels should be narrowed to
that
gested
at times

prevent liability to upset from this cause)

be lowered on its carriage by adopting
should
gun
His next recommendation reveals a
a bare iron axletree.

4J

feet,

and

(to

that the

starvation of equipment which would account for almost any

shortcomings on the line of march. He urged the autho"
rities
to have spare shafts, wheels, axles, spokes, felloes,
" and
pintails supplied, none having been sent with the
"
"
He also made
present brigades, and now much needed
would
ensure
which
to the
greater
mobility
suggestions
!

heavier

brigades of 6-pounders.

The Artilleryman may

therefore date to the campaign of the Douro some of the

most valuable lessons taught in the Peninsular War, and can

that change in the opinions and experience of the

which resulted in so extended a use of
authorities
military
Horse Artillery in the Peninsula, and in so marked an imtrace to

it

provement in the brigades of Field Artillery before the conclusion of the war.

Marshal Victor, on hearing of the disastrous termination

of Soult's operations, fell back on Almaraz and Torremocha;
so that Sir A. Wellesley, who had commenced his southward

march through Traz-oz-Montes, resolved to halt at Abrantes,

and to commence a thorough reorganization of his army,
now sadly undisciplined. The correspondence of Sir Arthur
at this time reveals what one is apt to forget in reflecting on
The military
the glories of the Peninsular campaigns.
of
and
Duke
the
the
of
Wellington
courage of English
genius
are too

often considered to have been

the only
but
a
causes
of
success
of
the
;
necessary
study
appeals
made by him at Abrantes to officers and men, of the strict
soldiers

Wellington

pat

SuppleDespatches,

250

The Peninsular

War resiimed.

CHAP. xv.

on even the smallest matters, which he found it neand of the letters to ministers and friends,
cessary to issue,
in which he never failed to tell the truth about the army,
orders,

however unpalatable, reveals another most necessary element in the success which attended him in all his operations.
As the first thought in his own mind always was duty, so the
first and last thing which he held before his troops, as that
without which they would be worse than useless, was disThe arguments he used have a value for all time,
cipline.

and a special value for England at a time when she possesses

an armed force of Volunteers, who might possibly consider
that drill, instead of discipline, is the chief end of a soldier's
life; but whose discipline, on the other hand, if thorough,
would be nobler than that of regular troops, in being more
As for
self-imposed, and less dependent on a penal code.
the Duke of Wellington's remarks on the discipline of the
To Lord
reagh"
dated
US>

i809.

Spanish troops, they apply in a singularly exact way to the

" In
armies of Spain in the anarchy of 1873.
Spain," he
" the business of an
is
little
understood.
wrote,
army
They
" are
really children in the art of war ; and I cannot say
" that
they do anything as it ought to be done, with the
"
exception of running away and assembling again in a
"
The Government have attempted
state of nature
"
to govern the kingdom in a state of revolution by an ad"
herence to old rules and systems, and with the aid of what
"
is called enthusiasm; and this last is, in fact, no aid to ac"
complish anything, and is only an excuse for the irregula"
rity with which everything is done, and for the want of
"
discipline and subordination of the armies.
People are
"
to
that
believe
enthusiasm
carried
the
French
very apt
"
their
and
was
the
of
those
^Revolution,
through
parent
"
exertions which have nearly conquered the world but if
" the
subject is nicely examined, it will be found that en" thusiasm
was the name only, but t^at force was the instru" ment
which brought forward those great resources, under
"
the system of terror, which first stopped the Allies." In
;

his correspondence with Marshal Beresford, who found great

difficulty in organizing the Portuguese troops, he laid down

The Portuguese Troops.

CHAP. xv.

25

what may be considered a military creed. " They want the

"
"
and the spirit of soldiers, the habits
habits," he wrote,
"
of command on one side, and of obedience on the other
"
mutual confidence between officers and men and, above

Dated

fj
1809.

"

a determination in the superiors to

obey the spirit of
the orders they receive, let what will be the consequence ;
" and
the spirit to tell the true cause, if they do not." Poor
all,

"

Marshal Beresford had, indeed, need of support and sympathy in his task. Long habits of disregard to duty, and
of consequent laziness, made it impossible for the senior
officers to pay any regular or continued attention to the

and neither reward nor punishup against fatigue. By

replacing these by younger officers, or English officers detached from the various regiments, he ultimately succeeded
duties of their situations,

ment would induce them

to bear

making the Portuguese contingent a most valuable force ;

but this was only done by impressing on them the necessity
of discipline and unhesitating obedience.
More than sixty
in

years have passed away, and the same lesson, though more
difficult to learn, is not the less vitally
necessary. The spirit
of criticism spreads with the growth of education, and conThe reasoning obedisiderably out of proportion with it.

ence which a soldier should yield is, perhaps, confused with

an obedience which requires to know the reason of an order,
instead of that which is readily yielded in the belief that
what may be unintelligible in detail is necessary for the
general plan. That such obedience is not easy always to
give

may

self-denial
all

possession, with a strong

pigmy power,
undoubtedly trying; but the
is demanded stands among the highest of
is

which

military virtues, as

training.

The

be true enough.

will, of but

He

only

is

it is
fit

the very alphabet of

to rule

who has

first

all

military
learned to

obey.

Keference has been made to the association of English

officers with the Portuguese forces.
The appointment of
afterwards Sir Alexander Dickson, to the Portuguese Artillery, which took place after the Douro campaign,

Captain

was productive of so important results that

it

deserves

Suppie

of

D " ke

of

ton, vof.vi.
P- 362<

The Peninsular

25 2

War resumed.

CHAP. xv.

As Captain Dickson, he had acted as Brigade-Major to General Howorth during the recent operations.
He had, however, come to Portugal with the indetailed notice.

tention of obtaining employment in a higher local rank with

the Portuguese Artillery, and had only been deterred by
difficulties which had arisen as to the status and pay of

On the 4th June, he quitted Oporto

with General Howorth, who had been indisposed for some
time, and proceeded to Abrantes to join the army, and
officers so attached.

Marshal Beresford on the subject of employwith the Portuguese troops.

Fortunately, on his
he
found
then
that
in command of a
arrival,
Captain May,
also to speak to

nient
Dick-sou to
.3

July,

division of Portuguese Field Artillery, was on the point of

resigning, in accordance with instructions from England;

and Marshal Beresford readily appointed Captain Dickson

as his successor,
Captain May, in exchange, assuming the
duties of Major of Brigade.
So far all was well ; but Cap-

had no pleasing position.

rank of Major, which had been conferred on his

tain Dickson soon found that he

The

local

junior

officer,

Captain Arentschild of the King's

was refused

Artillery,
been irritated

to

German

him by Marshal Beresford, who had

by contradictory orders from the English and

Portuguese Governments; so that he found' himself under
The Portuguese officers were also
the orders of his junior.
very jealous of their English comrades ; and the seniors,
without incurring any risk themselves, made every difficulty

power when any suggestion was made which they

Letters from the British to the Portuguese officers
on official matters, and all applications for supplies, were left
unanswered; and yet "these same men," wrote Captain
Dickson indignantly, " are embracing you as often as they
meet !" He would gladly have given up his new appointment had he not felt bound by his promise to Lord Chatham
to retain it
so he set to work, in a true soldier-like spirit,
to perfect the two 6-pounder Portuguese batteries which
had been placed under his charge, and of which, even at the
beginning, he was able to write in terms of the warmest
As this narrative will show, he was rewarded
approbation.
in their

disliked.

CHAP. xv.

Spanish Insincerity.

2,53

remaining at his post. The local rank was given to him

ultimately ; and by its means he found himself commanding
many brother officers, much senior to himself regimentally,
and ultimately at the head of the Artillery of the armies of

for

the

Duke

of Wellington, while only a Captain in his

own

Corps.
It is

now

necessary to follow the movements of Sir Arthur

The English Government continued to overrate

Wellesley.
the value of the Spanish armies ; and the pressure brought
to bear upon the English General was such as he could not
resist.

He

proposed to the Spanish General,

with his army against Victor's forces,

therefore

Cuesta, to co-operate

and ultimately against Madrid.

Cuesta, whose treatment
of Sir Arthur Wellesley was, on all occasions, of the most
obstinate and boorish description, had an army of 33,000 men.
army, when he quitted Abrantes, numbered
20,997 men of all arms, with 30 guns. The advance of the
united armies against Madrid by the valley of the Tagus
had been foreseen by Napoleon, and he had ordered Soult,
Sir Arthur's

at the head of a powerful army, to concentrate his forces in

such a manner that, on the advance of Wellesley, he could
pass by his left rear, and cut him off from the base of his

Lisbon and its surrounding country. The English General was far from correctly informed either of the
strength or position of Soult's army ; he was urged by the
operations,

English representative, Mr. Frere, and by his own Government, to take the offensive the vacillation of Joseph Buonaparte tempted him to march on Madrid before further union
;

could be effected

among

the French armies

he was further

assured of the courage of the Spanish armies, the enthusiasm of the peasantry, and the abundance of supplies. On
the 27th June, therefore, he broke up his

and marched towards Oropesa,

camp

at Abrantes,

a junction with
The farther he advanced, the more doubtful did he
Cuesta.
become of the sincerity of the Spaniards a doubt which
to

effect

exhibited itself in the pertinacity with which he demanded

from Cuesta and the Junta solemn promises to keep the

English army supplied, during any farther advance, with the

Napier.

The Peninsular

254

War

resumed.

CHAP. xv.

The reader does not rerequisite transport and supplies.

quire to be reminded how shamefully these promises were

how thwarted Wellesley was,

alike by the intrigues

nor
and the conceited obstinacy of Cuesta
how faithful he was, amid all his difficulties, to the duty
which England had imposed upon him.
Standing beside
Cuesta like a better angel, and receiving the treatment not
unfrequently bestowed on such, calm under insult, his judgment never heated by an indignation which would have been

broken

of the Junta

he ultimately succeeded in placing the united

righteous,
armies in the very position in front of Talavera which he
had selected, when he saw that a general action with the

combined forces of Victor and Sebastiani was inevitable,

not, indeed, desirable.

Gurwood's
P

e S:

SeTe ctions ,
p. 278.

But not

until the

morning

if

of the

27th July, nor until Cuesta's folly and rashness had courted
and received, at Alcabon, a well-deserved defeat, did the
English General succeed in placing the Spanish forces in
the position he had chosen.
The quiet irony of the memorandum of Sir Arthur Wellesley on the battle of Talavera
cannot be seen without remembering the defeat just mentioned, and a disgraceful panic which seized on the Spanish
troops at the appearance of some French cavalry, on the
afternoon of the 27th, when 10,000 Infantry and all their
Part of these
Artillery fled, terror-stricken, to the rear.

were recovered before the following day; but the Spanish

contingent was weaker by the greater part of its Artillery,
and 6000 of its Infantry. With such troops as allies, no

wonder that Sir Arthur wrote " The position of Talavera

"
was well calculated for the troops that were to occupy it.
" The
ground in front of the British army was open that
"
in front of the Spanish army was covered with olive-trees,
:

"

intersected

by

roads, ditches,

offensive part of the battle

was

&c."
to fall

In other words, the

on the British, while

a masterly and imposing inactivity was

reserved for

the

Spaniards.

The
July.
tioned

was fought on the 27th and 28th

Spanish Artillery in the panic men-

battle of Talavera

The

loss of the

above was very serious, as the English had only

CHAP. XV.

Battle of Talavera.

255

30 guns, very badly horsed and of small calibre, to oppose

to 80 guns, admirably served by the enemy.
Fortunately,
the few guns of the Spanish Artillery, which were brought
into action, were gallantly fought ; and of those of the Koyal

and King's German Artillery, both the

officers

present and

At the
military historians speak in the highest terms.
defeat of the 4th French Corps by Campbell's division, the

all

British Artillery, as Napier wrote, played vehemently upon

at the critical moment, later in the day,
their masses
when the English centre was almost broken on account of
:

the injudicious advance of the Guards, and of the confusion

which seized the King's German Legion, the marvellous

which followed the arrival of the 48th Kegiment,

moving, amid all the confusion, with the steadiness of a
parade, was greatly heightened by the conduct of the Artillery,
" battered
the enemy's
which, as the same historian says,
" flanks
without intermission."
Sir Arthur Wellesley, in
addition to an expression of his satisfaction with the Corps
in the General Order after the battle, made use of the following expression in his despatch to Lord Castlereagh
"
The Artillery, under Brigadier-General Howorth, was also,
effect

"

throughout these days, of the greatest service."

Compared with the loss of the other arms, that of the

Artillery

wounded

was but small. On the 27th, only two men were

on the 28th, the loss was as follows
:

1 officer arid

Koyal Artillery.
wounded.
King's

German

Artillery.

geants and 27

men

killed

1 sergeant

officers

and 2 men

and 21 men

killed; 3 ser-

men wounded.

The officer who was killed was Lieutenant Wyatt those

who were wounded were Lieut. -Colonel Framingham, and
Captains Baynes and Taylor. In reporting the severe wound
;

Framingham, and applying

for a pension, General

were possible that any testimony or
"
praise of mine could add to the weight of this application,
"
or to the merit and brilliancy of Lieut.-Colonel Fra"
mingham's gallant conduct in the action of the 28th July,

of Colonel

Howorth

said

"

If

it

" at
Talavera, I should most freely have bestowed

it

but, as

TQ D
Dated

1809

"
<

War

The Peninsular

256

CHAP. XV.

resumed.

he distinguished himself on that occasion by a most skilful

discharge of his duty, I have only to wish him sincerely a

"

reward equal to his merits." On the retreat of the army

from Talavera, Captain Taylor, whose wound prevented his
removal, fell into the hands of the French, and remained a
prisoner to the end of the war.
There are several points connected with the battle of
Talavera which stand out prominently, and seize the attention of the student at once.

The weakness

of

King Joseph

in playing into the hands of the English General, and allowing him to fight under the terms most advantageous to

himself

the hard, honest fighting, as Napier calls

English troops, who,

force of double their
Sir A. Wellesley,

for hours,

it,

of the

were closely engaged with a

own numbers
who never missed

the watchful tactics of

a point during the whole

engagement, and was always ready at critical moments with

the necessary remedies and the heavy losses on both sides
over 6000 being killed and wounded on the side of the Engthese are
lish, and more than 7000 on that of the French
;

superficial reader. But

to the soldier there are several precious instances of steadi-

points which cannot escape the most

and discipline among particular regiments which

shed a glow over this well-fought field, the 45th and
gth B atta ii on O f t h e eoth being conspicuous for these quaness

Wellington
.

"

on the 27th, and the " stubborn old 48th on the 28th.
Napier's pages glow with the enthusiasm of a soldier as
he describes the movements of the last-mentioned regiment
on the occasion referred to above. " At first," he writes,
" it seemed as if this
regiment must be carried away by the
"
crowds
;
but, wheeling back by companies, it let
retiring
"
them pass through the intervals, and then, resuming its
"
proud and beautiful line, marched against the right of
"
the pursuing columns, and plied them with such a
"
destructive musketry, and closed upon them with such
" a firm and
regular pace, that their forward movement was
lities

"

checked."

The changes which have become necessary

war,

owing

to

the

improvement

in

in the art of

fire-arms,

may have

CHAP. XV.

Retreat from Talavera.

257

forbidden the use in battle of the line which the gallant

48th showed at Talavera ; but, in whatever form troops may

be called upon to fight, the qualities which animated that

regiment will

same

still, if

present, entitle their possessors to the

and the perfection of their drill and discipline

claim the words, " proud and beautiful."

epithet,

will still

The horrors

of a battle-field,

when

the deadly encounter

is

were aggravated at Talavera by a fire which caught

the dry grass, and which licked the ground where the dead
and wounded were lying, adding a new agony to the sufferings of the latter, and hideously scorching the bodies of
those whose pain was for ever at an end. This incident gives
over,

a ghastly element to the recollection of a field on which

English courage was so ably proved.

On

the 29th, Wellesley's

army was strengthened by the

arrival of Crawford's brigade, consisting of the 43rd, 52nd,

and 95th Kegiments, with Captain Boss's, " The Chestnut,"
1
troop of Horse Artillery, which, in their eagerness to reach

the field of battle, and undeterred by the

Spaniards,

had marched no

less

lies of

the flying

than sixty-two miles in

twenty-six hours, in the hottest season of the year, and in

heavy marching order. But news reached the English Ge-

him to fall back, and to have done

with the assistance of Spanish troops, whose worthlessness
he had now thoroughly tested.
Hearing that Soult was
neral which determined

pressing on by rapid marches, and with increased forces,

had already gained possession of one of his most important

communications with Portugal, and was threatening the
he resolved to leave his wounded at Talavera, and
others,
He did so by means of rapid
to fall back into Portugal.
but he still conducted them so as to show no
marches
appearance of flight, such as would have injured the reputa;

The

officers of

the Chestnut Troop on

its

arrival in the Peninsula,

2nd Captain Gr. Jenkinson,

Lieutenants G. J. Belson, A. Macdonald,and Smith, and Assistant-Surgeon
The following is a copy of the Embarkation Returns. See next
O'Brien.

were Captain

afterwards Sir H. D.

Ross,

page.

VOL.

II.

The Peninsular

258

War

CHAP. xv.

resumed.

giapunod-9
i

'

CO

dooij,

CO
<M

(M

f-

CO

M
CO
(N
CO
.

<N

OS

CO

Ci0
rH

rH

CO

<N

O
CO

O
rH

...
.

rH

T*

CO

<M

10
rH

CO
rH

<M

t>

rH

rH

<N

1O

p"1

s.t^ad uruj,

CO

CO

<M

(N

<M

<N

rH

l>

CO

rH

rn

ffjireuainarT

-co
'

'

_J
i

urajdeo puoD9S

N
and

ips'

^
1

Maste

.2

02

CHAP. xv.

Sickness in the Artillery.

2 59

in the eyes of the Spaniards

a most imGeneral Howorth, in alluding toToD.-A.-G.
portant consideration.
"
the retreat from Talavera, emphasises this point.
^J^oz
"
made a retrograde movement," he wrote, with a dignified 26 Oct.*
" deliberation
perfectly suitable to the gravity of Spanish

tion of his

army

We

"

The whole of his brigades of Artillery

deportment."
returned from Talavera complete, with the exception of one
6-pounder gun which had been damaged in the battle of
the 28th, and which, the General wrote, had been privately
buried, perhaps out of consideration for Spanish deportment

But

also.

the spare ammunition and stores had to be

all

abandoned, as the carts were required to carry the sick.

No less than 150 carts were so employed ; for the sickness

during the retreat, and even after the troops went into
cantonments at Merida, was very great. The well-known
sickness in the Chestnut Troop, which so nearly led to its
return to England, took place at Merida after the retreat.
So severely did it suffer, that, in sending in his returns
of available Artillery force at this time, General Howorth
wrote " I have one troop of Horse Artillery, Bull's, 1 and
:

" half
a one, Boss's.
"
sickness and death of

The

latter has suffered severely

men and

The

horses."

by

sickness was

aggravated by a dearth of medical officers and the unfortunate Chestnut Troop, which required medical assistance to
an extraordinary extent, was robbed of its own surgeon in an
;

"
Poor Doctor O'Brien," wrote General
inglorious manner.
"of
Boss's
Howorth,
troop, died last night, owing to his
"
servant's getting drunk, and giving him too strong a dose
" of
opium, which destroyed him." Ere many weeks passed,

the attempt to cope with the havoc made in the troop was
almost abandoned. Two guns and their waggons were sent
into store, from

want of men and horses

to

work them

and

orders were

given that, on the arrival of another troop

(Lefebure's) from England, the surviving men and horses of
the Chestnut Troop should be handed over to it, and Captain

Koss and his

The

officers

gallant

return to England to organize a

Norman Tainsay was 2nd Captain

of Bull's troop.

new

The Peninsular

260

War

resumed.

CHAP. xv.

troop.
Luckily for him, Captain Lefebure's troop suffered
so much from a storm on its way to the Peninsula that, on
its arrival, it

Memoir of
Ross.

meant

was

more

little

efficient

than the one

it

was

Captain Boss's delight, he had his

vacancies completed from the new arrivals, and Captain
Lefebure had, instead, the duty of rebuilding his troop.
to relieve

so, to

The head-quarters of the English General, on whom the

Lord Wellington was bestowed after Talavera, were

title of

at Badajoz until the

He

end of 1809.

devoted himself to

the strengthening of his position, with the double motive of

ensuring to himself the possession of Lisbon and the Tagus,

and of securing the unmolested embarkation of his troops,

should reverses render

it

necessary.

The

lines of Torres

Yedras, which were to play so important a part in the campaign of 1810, were matured in the winter of 1809. Lord

Wellington had given up all hope of succeeding by means

of the Spaniards; but he by no means despaired of offering
an effectual resistance to the most powerful French attacks
by means of the combined English and Portuguese army
under his command. He felt confidence in his troops. As
61 "

HiTton"
to Colonel

Badajo'
s Dec.

^ e Coasted
"

army."
^P a i n

to a correspondent,
Supplies in Portugal

"

command an unanimous

were better arranged than

tn tne remembrance fresh in his mind of

"
the hardest-fought
Talavera, which he himself pronounced
"
battle of modern days, and the most glorious in its results
"
to the English troops," he looked forward to the next
>

an(l,

campaign with quiet confidence, and displayed during the

winter an industry in strengthening his position which, at
all events, deserved success.

NOTE. Although the Peninsular War eclipses in point of interest any

other operations in which the Koyal Artillery was engaged in 1809, it would
be a great omission were no allusion made to the services of the Corps, in the

West Indies under General

Beckwith and Sir George Prevost, which resulted in the capture of the
French colonies of Cayenne and Martinique. Over 500 officers and men
of the Royal Artillery were present under the command of BrigadierGeneral Stehelin, and the value of their services may be ascertained from
beginning of 1809, during the operations in the

CHAP. xv. Services

of Artillery in West

Indies.

2,61

the following extract from the General Order issued at the termination of
the campaign
:

" To
Brigadier-General Stehelin, commanding the Royal Artillery, for G. 0.
" his
regularity in all interior arrangements, and especially for that order
" and
system established in this distinguished Corps, which led to those
" eminent services rendered
by them during the bombardment, and which
"
the Combrought the siciie to an early and glorious termination.
" mander of the Forces is anxious to renew all those assurances of
.

public

" and individual

consideration, to which from their distinguished services
"
they are fully entitled, and he requests, as an old soldier, that he may
" live in their remembrance and
friendship."

The

officers of

operations were

the Royal Artillery

in

addition

to

who were

present during these B. G.

Stehelin
Stehelin
Captains

Brigadier- General

Blaney Walsh, Unett, Phillott, St. Clair, Cleeve, Story, Du Bourdieti, 23

Clibbora, Butts, and Rollo and Lieutenants Spellen, Bell, Gordon, Lewis, 1809.
Mathias, Tucker, Turner, Heron, Scriveu, Simmons, and F. Arabin.
;

to]

262

CHAPTER

XVI.

BUSAOO AND TORRES VEDRAS.

T may

not be uninteresting to the reader, before resuming

the consideration of the Peninsular "War, to study some
statistics connected with the Eegiment in the year 1810, the
'[

"

period to be treated of in this chapter.

The number

of

exclusive of
troops and companies remained as before, 112
distributed
as
follows
the invalid battalion.
were
They
16 in the Peninsula, 5 in Italy and Sicily, 56 on home
:

Kane's

4 in Canada, 3 at the Cape of Grood Hope, 3 in

where
Ceylon,
they had been engaged on active service
the
during
previous year, 6 in Gibraltar, 4 in Jamaica and

stations,

West Indies (these ten companies being

in the defence of the colonies), 1 in Madeira,

6 in the rest of the

actively engaged
4 in Malta, 1 in Newfoundland, and 3 in Nova Scotia and

Cape Breton.

The following tables show the strength of the battalions,

and the proportions of the various ranks. They also show
the pay of the various ranks, less the charges for agency,
which are not deducted in the pay-tables published in
'

Kane's

But, in addition to the strength of the Eoyal

the
reader
will find detailed statements of the
Artillery,
other corps which swelled .the total Artillery force of Great
It is hoped that, by publishing these tables in this
Britain.
List.'

form, reference will be easier, and lengthy description may

be dispensed with. It cannot be too often repeated that the
services in the Peninsula of the King's German Artillery,
is given in the annexed tables, were of

the detail of which

the most gallant description, unsurpassed by those of the

The active service of
corps to which they were attached.

the corps, named the Eoyal Foreign Artillery, was chiefly

in the West Indies.

CHAP. xvi. Artillery Forces

of Great Britain.

263

STATEMENT OF THE ARTILLERY FORCES of GREAT BRITAIN IN From MS.

THE YEAR 1810 ACCORDING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT LAID
Library of
DOWN IN THE KlNG's WARRANT WITH THE VARIOUS RATES e R<^ al
United
OF PAY, LESS AGENCY CHARGES.
Service
Jj?

Institution.
I.

ROYAL ARTILLERY.
a.

STAFF.

264
Royal

Busaco and Torres Vedras.

Artillery, continued.

CHAP. XVI.

CHAP. xvi.

Royal Horse

Artillery Forces of Great Britain.

Artillery, continued.

Rank

Pay per diem.

-

each

32

If

If

J2 Wheelwrights
12 Trumpeters
/.

RIDING-HOUSE TEOOP.

1 Captain

15

1 Lieutenant, at
1
at

15
13
11

at

7 10

1 Quartermaster

2 Staff Sergeants
3 Sergeants

each

3 First Corporals
3 Second Corporals
1

032
022
020
1

Trumpeter

1 Farrier

..

1 Collar-maker

..

44 Eiders

01
3
01

each-

II.

10*
llf
2f
10f
3

FIELD TRAIN.

1 Chief Commissary.

1 Foreman.

5 Commissaries.

7 Smiths.

24 Assistant Commissaries.
113 Clerks of Stores.
115 Conductors.

6 Collar-makers.
7 Wheelers.
2 Carpenters.
1 Painter.

13 Military Conductors.

III.

d.

,.

24 Shoeing Smiths
24 Collar-makers

ROYAL ARTILLERY DRIVERS.

1 Major
2 Adjutants
8 Veterinary Surgeons
11 Captain-Commissaries

55 First Lieutenants
11 Second Lieutenants
55 Staff Sergeants
165 Sergeants
165 First Corporals
165 Second Corporals

each

110
10
080
090
032
022
15

..

..

..

020}
1

10}

265

266

Busaco and Torres Vedras.

CHAP. xvi.

Royal Artillery Drivers, continued.

Pay per diem.

Rank.

22
55
] 65
110
liO
55
4950

Farriers

d.

*.

each

Rough-riders

3*
21

Shoeing Smiths
Collar-makers..

Wheelers..

..

Trumpeters

..

101
101

Hi

Drivers

ROYAL FOREIGN ARTILLERY.

IV.

4 Corporals.

1 Major.

4 Captains.
4 Second Captains.

17 Bombardiers.
124 Gunners.

12 Lieutenants.

8 Drummers.

6 Sergeants.

V.

ARTILLERY OF THE KING'S GERMAN LEGION.

Officers.

1 Colonel

Commandant.

1 Lieutenant-Colonel.

2 Majors.

8 Captains.
8 Second Captains.
16 First Lieutenants.

16 Second Lieutenants.
1 Captain Commissary.
1 Paymaster.
1 Adjutant.

1 Quartermaster.
1 Surgeon.

3 Assistant Surgeons.
1 Veterinary Surgeon.
Sergeants and

Rank and

Horse Artillery.

File.

Staff Sergeants

Sergeants

..

..

Corporals

..

Bombardiers

..

Trumpeters
Farriers

..

..

..

Foot Artillery.

..

..

..

..

14

..

..

8
14
8
2

..

18
23

Wear and Tear of Horses.

CHAP. XVI.

Artillery of the Kiny's

German

267

Lvgion, continued.
Horse Artillery.

Smiths

Collar-makers

4
2

Wheelers
Gunners

186
116

Drivers

372

Drummers

..

DRIVER CORPS.
Sergeants and

Rank and

4 Sergeants.
8 Corporals.
4 Farriers.

File.

8 Collar-makers.
5 Wheelers.

189 Drivers.

9 Smiths.

The recruiting for theEegiment during the year 1809 had MS. 'Wear
been successful, no fewer than 1820 gunners and 868 drivers ^turns*'
having been enlisted. The establishment just given was f r 1809,
nearly maintained, and even occasionally exceeded, during
1810 ; and the us,ual decrease, caused by the discharge of
men by purchase, did not occur during that year, all such

Ordnance

discharges being forbidden. A falling off in the strength of

the Eegiment became apparent, however, in the winter
of 1810.

The

"

"

wear and tear among the horses of the Eoyal Horse

Artillery and the Eoyal Artillery Driver Corps had been
excessive during the year 1809, owing to the Peninsular
Campaigns and the Scheldt Expedition. No fewer than

2786 had either died or been destroyed and 3367 had to be

purchased to compensate for these losses, and to meet the
ever-increasing demand. Yery large numbers were sent to
Portugal during the year 1810 and, owing to the consequent increase in the numbers of the Driver Corps attached
to Lord Wellington's armies, it was decided to appoint a
;

field officer to

was given

command them.

This duty, with cavalry pay,

to Colonel Eobe.

The numerical force of Artillery, serving under General

Howorth in the Peninsula, in the end of 1809, was as
follows.

D.-A.-Gen.
to

28 Oct -

Busaco and Torres Vedras.

268
MS. Re-

om

Royal Horse Artillery

1S?
l

from 'the
Monthly

17 Dec.
1809.

j'

The
'

total

being 1057 of
'

number 357 were returned

whom
as sick

all ranks, besides a contingent

of drivers attached to (he Troops,

187 of

numbering] 06.

....

627 of all ranks, with 545 drivers.

322 of all ranks, with 1(JO drivers.

Foot Artillery
King's German Artillery.

Returns,

Woolwich

CHAP. xvi.

821 belon Sed to the Driver Corps. Of this

and there were in addition 39 prisoners of
;

war.

The numl)er

of horses attached to the Artillery in the Peninsula was 951,

and there were 132 mules, chiefly attached

of which 256 were returned as sick

to the brigades of field

and King's German

Artillery.

The following tables will show that before a year had

a very considerable increase to this force had taken
elapsed
55^5
Woolwich,
and
are also useful, as showing the companies which
;
place
MS. Re-

'

were present, and the names of the senior

site

officers.

(See oppo-

page.}

It is difficult,

this

period,

to

without a study of the correspondence of

realise the energy with which General

Macleod endeavoured to meet the wants of the Kegiment

abroad. Unfortunately, there was not similar energy in the

Large reinforcements, both of

were ready early in the summer of 1810
but no ships could be found for their conveyance until the
end of December. From the nature of these drafts, and
from various remarks in General Macleod's letters, it was
other public departments.

men and

horses,

made by the

clear that the remonstrances

various officers

concerned on the subject of the want of mobility of the

field

brigades had produced their effect, and the rapid increase in

the force of Horse Artillery in the Peninsula which took
Anplace between 1810 and 1814 was the consequence.
ticipating that Lord Wellington would prefer a complete
troop of Horse Artillery to more of the sluggish field
brigades, General Macleod suggested that the remnant of
Captain Lefebure's troop, which was under orders for Engand he despatched men
land, should remain in Portugal
and horses to complete it in that country. At the same time
he did everything in his power to improve the field brigades
in the point of mobility, by sending out large numbers of
horses.
No fewer than 500 were embarked in the first week
.

of January 1811.

CHAP. xvi.

Artillery Force in the Peninsula.

t^.t^o
o
o
t^
.

B39JOH

r-l

o
i-

269

o
t> t- oc o
o co
co

to

ri <M CO

rH

'-^i'

00 GO GO ~l CO ?

>

CO ~* GO O3

CC CC

r-l

<M rH rH

O t> rH 00

CO

3S
GCrtlOOOOOairHlMGOGC

siauunj)

'-HO

t> <* CO CC >M <N ^1

CO CO CO CO CO CO

rH (M <M <M

sioogjo

<?q

(M

PPIJ

s.

11

M rH CO

CD (N lO O5

rH *O b- GO GO

OOO

ri

F
els,

tains

ft ft ft

^^$66666666^66666
*

'OI8T

'

'OT81

Busaco and Torres Vedras.

270
MS. ReDa'teS

The numerical

Kegiment for home and

1810 was as follows

division of the

foreign service in the year

Woolwich,
19 Nov.

At Home.

Abroad.
All ranks.

All ranks.

Horse Brigade (including drivers)

1499

Marching Battalions

8235
822

Invalid Battalions

MS. Re-

CHAP. xvi.

The

433
5940
39

force in the Mediterranean garrisons, which was conavailable in event of sudden demands from the

Dated

sidered

Woolwich,

Peninsula, appears in the following tables (see pp. 271 and

272), which also show the names of the senior officers. With

1870.

these the statistics for the year to be treated in this chapter

will terminate, and the consideration of the campaign be

resumed.

The campaign of 1810 in the Peninsula was, in one sense,

the least active of any during the war.
Napoleon certainly
made a great effort to completely subdue the country, and
to expel the English armies.
For this purpose, Marshal
Massena was placed in command of the French troops but
the duty proved to be beyond his powers.
It is doubtful if
in any period of the Duke of Wellington's military career he
displayed more ability, more patience, more foresight, than
he showed during the first nine months of the year 1810.
Not merely had he to contend with local influences, but he
;

to secure the requisite support from the English

Government. There was at home a fear of losing power,
which led English statesmen to commit unworthy actions,
and to display a nervousness in administration which
failed

demoralized such of their agents as were not above the

ordinary standard. The wisdom of publishing the private

man is certainly questionable but once

published, they become the historian's legitimate property.
From the letters of the Duke of Wellington we have a
"
Gurwood's graphic picture of the Government in 1810.
What," he
e
tches
"
te
to
Admiral
can
be
from
men who
wr
Berkeley,
expected
of the
"
Duke 01
are beaten in the House of Commons three times a week ?
letters of a great

Wellington.
1
It will be observed that, as before stated, the Regiment had, before the
end of 1810, fallen below the establishment shown ut pages 263-265.

CHAP. xvi.

Remarks.

Artillery in Mediterranean Garrisons.

271

Bitsaco

272

and Torres Vedras.

CHAP. XVI.

Weakness of the Government.

CHAP. xvi.
"

273

done now, if there existed in

England less party, and more public sentiment and
" if there was
any Government." Again, in pleading his
great deal might be

"

inability to carry out certain operations, he urged, in a letter

to the Bight Hon. H. Wellesley, that he would have been able

"

to do so

"

if

the Government possessed any strength, or Gurwood's

desire to have anything done but

what

is safe

and cheap" ^S^*

The same hands that applauded the conqueror at Talavera Duke

strove, in timorous anxiety, to drag him back from any ton.
further operations.
The terror of the French armies, which
had obtained possession of the Portuguese Government and
The Government
people, seems to have reached London.
despatches to Lord Wellington breathed nothing but advice
to guide him wlien lie should le expelled from Portugal.
While he was ensuring in a masterly manner the safety of
Their
Lisbon, they were urging on him the claims of Cadiz.

'

of

and the tone of the public press swelled the despondency, the presence of which in Portugal Lord Wellington
lamented and his protests, assuring the Government that
he had left nothing undone, whether the event should be

letters

defeat or victory,
were treated as idle words, or as the heated
of
a
mere
soldier's hopes.
Had Wellington been
expression

a weaker man, the lines of Torres Yedras had been got ready
in vain, the battle of Busaco had never been fought, and
the unpaid arrears of the French troops would have been
liquidated by the plundering of Lisbon and Oporto.

But

his difficulties

of the Government.

men

were not confined to the chilling advice

At a time when he required the best

army to aid him, the exercise of home patronage

on him the most incapable assistants. Not merely
did he suffer from useless subordinate staff officers, but even
in the

inflicted

officers were not

always what he wished.
"
he
wrote
to
Colonel
when I reflect SuppieTorrens,
Eeally,"
"
the
characters
and
attainments
of
some of the n enta/T
upon
L/6Sp;it ell
"
general officers of this army, and consider that these are vol. vi.
p
" the
persons on whom I am to rely to lead columns against

his

general

"

'

" the
French Generals, and who are to carry my instructions
" into
execution, I tremble and, as Lord Chesterfield said
;

VOL.

II.

6.^

Busaco and Torres Vedras.

274

CHAP. xvi.

" of the Generals of his

I only hope that when the
day,
"
"
he trembles as I do.'
their
of
reads
the
list
names,
enemy
And at the very time that these men were being sent out to
'

'

him, he was debarred from offering reward, in the shape of

promotion, to any one under his command whose gallantry

No subject is more
to him to have earned it.
in
his
letters
than
to
The Governalluded
this.
frequently
ment would gladly make political capital out of his successes,
might seem

would greedily gather votes by making appointments to his

army, but declined to strengthen him by trusting his military
knowledge, or increasing his legitimate authority.
But the aggravation to which he had to submit in 1810
did not cease here.

While the French were advancing into

Portugal, and the English Government as little realised the

strength of the lines which Wellington had prepared for his
to
troops as Massena himself, the cry was always to embark,
to
devote
his
to
Cadiz
when
energies
quit Lisbon,
yet
;

and absolute necessity compelled him to

leave Ciudad Kodrigo to its fate, the same voices, in querulous
When he
terror, remonstrated with him on his inaction.

strategical reasons

gained the victory of Busaco, the first idea with the Government was, not recognition of his merits, but political capital.

And when,

after a fruitless

and self-destructive residence

before the lines of Torres Yedras, Massena was obliged to

retire from Portugal, who so loud in their cries for pursuit
as the very men who had scoffed at the bare possibility of
offering resistance to the

French invaders

The year 1810 was, however, not merely

a year which

tested the marvellous ability and patience of Wellington

also the year which placed on the
seal of ability to face their dreaded

was

it

Portuguese troops the

French enemies. At

Busaco, the courage of the Portuguese, under English disciand the value of this discovery
pline, was nobly manifested,
Supple-

mentary

was beyond expression at that most critical time. As Lord

Wellington said, the battle had the best effect in inspiring
it removed an imconfidence in the Portuguese troops
pression, which had been general, that the English intended
to fight no more, but to retire to their ships
and it gave
'

fc

Despatches,
vol. vi.

p 606
'

'

CHAP. XVI.

Combat of the Coa.

amusement

275

which they were

which they would not have
acquired in a position less strong than that of Busaco. Had
the battle been productive of no other gain than this, it
ought to have found favour with a G-overnment whose
the Portuguese a taste for an
not before accustomed, and

members desired that

When

their successes

to

"
might be cheap."

the campaign commenced, the head-quarters of the

English army were at Celorico; and Almeida and Ciudad

Eodrigo were organized for defence. The latter city, which

was defended by Spaniards, capitulated on the 10th July,

and Almeida, a small place with a
suit on the 28th August.
followed
Portuguese garrison,
the
of
the
latter
During
siege
place, the combat of the Coa,
as it was termed, took place
and, as the Chestnut Troop
took part in it, it deserves some notice. Crawford, who commanded the Light Division, and had the outpost duties to
perform, had retired before the French, after the fall of
Ciudad Eodrigo, under the walls of Almeida. The position
which he took up was very dangerous. The river Coa,
crossed by a single bridge, was in his rear, and an open
country in front. He had been ordered to cross this river
on the approach of the French, but had foolishly remained
with a small force of 5000 men and one battery of Artillery,
after a month's siege

the Chestnut Troop awaiting the arrival of Ney's force, of

more than three times the number. Kegardless of the fire

from the guns of Almeida, Ney availed himself of Crawford's

blunder, and attacked him with vehemence. The crossing of
the bridge, now absolutely necessary, was most difficult, and
could not have been effected but for the gallantry of the
regiments, and the precision of the fire of the Chestnut Troop,
which had been sent across the bridge early in the affair to oc-

cupy some rising ground, and to cover the retreat of the other
The bridge was crowded by the retiring columns of
troops.
the English, so as to be almost impassable and when, ultimately, the whole had succeeded in crossing, the pursuing
columns of the French blocked the passage in a similar
manner, and, under a heavy fire, were reduced into heaps of
killed and wounded, level with the parapet of the bridge.
A
;

T 2

Busaco and Torres Vedras.

276

tremendous storm of

which

rain,

CHAP. xvi.

set in, flooded the

pans of

the French muskets, and put an end to the engagement,

which, in point of losses, had been on both sides very severe.
this occasion, Napier wrote that it played
on both sides across the river and ravine, the sounds re-

Of the Artillery on

peated by numberless echoes, and the smoke, slowly rising,

resolving itself into an immense arch, spanning the whole

chasm and sparkling with the whirling fuzes of the

flying
'
Cust, in his Annals of the Wars,' describes the Chestnut Troop, from the high ground, sending well-directed shot
shells.

over the heads of the skirmishers.

1

Memoirs

commanded the
"

Ross/
pp. 11, 12.

The

troop wrote as follows

gallant officer

"
:

who

General Crawford

ordered a retreat.

Lieutenant Bourchier, of the Artillery,

the order to retire, as rapidly as in my power,
"
across the bridge, and to get my guns into position on the
"
opposite heights. At this time we had five guns in action.
"
Our fire was excellent, and broke them two or

brought me

" three times."

Captain Boss's brother, an officer of Enserving with the army, writes of this
combat of the 24th July " Hew's guns did their duty."
gineers,

who was

The

on the English side during this engagement was

over three hundred killed and wounded that of the French
was over a thousand.
loss

But a battle on a larger scale has now to be mentioned

Lord Wellington retreated towards Coimbra, followed by
Marshal Massena on the north bank of the Mondego. The
:

English General resolved to make a stand on the Sierra de

Busaco, a high ridge which extends from the Mondego in a
In the battle which
northerly direction about eight miles.

Lord Wellington displayed an ignorance of Artillery

tactics, from the results of which he was happily saved by
the intelligence and gallantry of the representatives of that
arm. This want of knowledge, which he never overcame,
was the cause of a not unfrequent irritation against Artillery
as an arm, and a tendency to depreciate its value.
At Bu-

followed,

Capt. T. B.

BuA^on
Practical
Artillery.

sac

>

instead of massing his Artillery in reserve until the

itself, the guns were placed, as a rule,

attack should develop

.

,,

in the easiest parts of the position,

where

it

was supposed

CHAP. xvi.

Battle of Busaco.

277

the French would attack; and they were massed in these

positions so as to form an excellent mark for the enemy's

This was more especially the case with Major Arents-

fire.

6-pounder and 9-pounder brigades of Portuguese

Fortunately, the Artillery was well served, and,
Artillery.
child's

as Sir

John Burgoyne wrote, "the guns had great

effect." 'Life of Sir

now
Captain Thompson's company of the 7th Battalion
D Battery, llth Brigade, Eoyal Artillery, was of essential

r"
'<!

^"

rot

i-

was broken up into divisions during the

who was 2nd Captain of the com- MS. Letter
Lane,
Captain
the
conduct of one division " My men cieavethus
describes
pany,
" did their
Lieutenant F. Bayley's conduct was ad- land s MSS
duty.
service,

although

it

battle.

'

"

time he had been in action, and

" no
The French Volold soldier could have acted better.
mirable.

It

was the

first

"*

tigeurs (37th Eegiment) came close to the guns ; and one

" was killed
An immense column
only eight paces off.
"
showing themselves in the ravine, we, with three cheers,
"
gave them a few rounds of case and round-shot together,
" at about
seventy paces distance, which drove them back."

The same

officer,

who was quoted above

as alluding to the

services of his brother's troop at the Coa, wrote of Busaco

" I
will venture to assert that the greatest loss the enemy 'Memoirs
U
"
sustained was by our Artillery ; and the guns that had
"
the most duty, and, I believe I might say, that were best
:

"

placed for effect

" manner in which
"
Hew's troop
" the field the
day
"

even

if

nothing

is

said of the admirable

the guns were fought were those of

Several officers who remained on
after the retreat,

among

others General

Crawford himself, were convinced, more than those who

"
only looked on it from the heights, of the immense

"

slaughter the

"

thrown from

"

enemy sustained from the Shrapnel

shells

brother's guns, aided for a short time

This opinion, which,
those of Captain Bull's troop."

my

by
coming from a brother, might perhaps be considered more
indulgent than just, was confirmed by the great historian of
In the resistance offered to the attack of Loison's
division, Napier says that Boss's guns were worked with
incredible quickness, and their shot swept through the adthe war.

Busaco and Torres Vedras.

278

vancing columns.

The attack having

failed,

CHAP, xvi

Crawford's

Artillery, with which was the gallant Chestnut Troop, was

equally useful against the attack of Marchaud's division,
which followed. " It heavily smote," writes Napier, " the

"
"

flank of Marchaud's people in the pine-wood; and Ney,

there in person, after sustaining this murderous

who was

" cannonade for

Lord Wei-

LordLiverted

Combra
so

Sept.'

an hour, relinquished that attack also."

Well might Lord Wellington say, " I am particularly in"
<*ebted to
Brigadier-General Howorth and the
" Artillei
7-"

The

force under

Lord Wellington's command on

this occa-

sion did not exceed 50,000, and extended over a distance of

The French are estimated by Napier to
eight to ten miles.

have been 65,000 in number; but Wellington considered that

they exceeded that number by 5000 men. The French loss

ibid.

amounted to 4500 killed and wounded, while that of the

was under 1300, the English having lost 631, and the
Portuguese 622. The absence of Artillery on the side of

Negro,

Allies

the French, who overrated the difficulties of the ground,

and the great activity shown in the use and service of the

guns of the

number

Allies,

accounted for the great difference in the

Much of the efficacy of the fire of

of casualties.

the Eoyal Artillery was due to the use of Shrapnel's sphea projectile which was daily increasing in
rical case-shot,
favour,
Dated

self.
1

a^Fe?
1812.

'

with no one more than with Lord Wellington himthe battle of Busaco," wrote Major May to

" At

"
Colonel Shrapnel,
your shells were of the utmost use, and
their destruction plainly perceived from the heights."
Marshal Massena, finding it impossible to cross the Sierra

de Busaco by either of the two direct roads, while such an

enemy lined the heights, but being resolved to press on to

Coimbra, turned the position by its left flank, Wellington

continuing the retreat which he had varied by so noble an
episode.

Massena reached Coimbra just as the English rearit; and his troops were there guilty of the

guard quitted

The English army continued slowly to

which its prudent commander had preand when Massena came up he found it

grossest licence.

retire to the lines

pared for

it;

Lines of Torres Vedras.

CHAP. XVI.

279

in a position which was almost impregnable, while his own

communications were interrupted, and his flanks and rear
The lines of
annoyed by levies of Portuguese Militia.
Torres Vedras were a masterpiece of military sagacity and of

engineering

skill.

Seated behind them the Allied

Army

re-

ceived a training which proved fruitful in the campaign of

the following year ; the Portuguese contingent was made

more

efficient

and the

folly of the

Portuguese Government

repeated rebukes from the mouth of a General

whose prudence and determination were never more clearly

received

shown than in the history of Torres Yedras and Busaco.

Croakers, as he wrote, might include the latter among useless battles

but an encounter, which made each Portuguese

soldier feel himself a

match

for a

Frenchman, was the best

Lord Wellington's

assistance which fortune could throw in

way.

Having

realised the value of this beforehand, his next

task was to ensure

it

independently of fortune.

280

CHAPTER

XVII.

BAROSSA, BADAJOZ, AND ALBUERA.

EAVING
]

had

Massena

in front of Torres Vedras, the reader

out foreign aid to raise the siege of the city

English Government thought

it

demonstration should be made.

Vide page

General

Major
10 '

is

requested to turn towards Cadiz. Here Spanish pride

long resisted offers of English assistance, hoping with;

but here the

very desirable that some

In 1810 the presence of a

British contingent was at length tolerated; and the Artillery element has been detailed in the preceding chapter.
Major Duncan and the companies under his command had
originally embarked for Gibraltar ; but the opening in Cadiz
Their arrival
led to their proceeding to that city instead.

having been reported, steps were immediately taken by

General Macleod to equip them for service in the field
and with this view, three batteries of six guns each, with
;

dated

23 April,

am
8 Ma'
isio.

D.-A.-Gen.

Duncan*

the necessary- equipment, were despatched from England,

and a small supply of horses, seventy-four in number, to

form a nucleus of a larger establishment.

it had been intended that Colonel Framingham should be
the officer to

command

the Artillery at Cadiz, as soon as the

Spaniards should deign to admit any. Fortunately for Major

it was found
impossible to spare that officer from

Duncan,

army and at the urgent request of

General Graham, who commanded the English troops at
Cadiz, the command of the Artillery with his force was left

the head-quarters of the

Major Duncan's hands, and remained so until 1812, when

he was accidentally killed by the explosion of a powderin

mill at Seville.

In the records already given of the services of the companies of the 10th Battalion, reference has been made to the
duties of the Koyal Artillery at

Cadiz.

In this chapter

it

CHAP. XVI I.

Battle of Barossa.

28

proposed to describe a battle which was fought by General

it has been said, the Arforce, and in which,
themselves
covered
with
The "gallant General
glory.
tillery
is

Graham's

stated that Artillery had never been better served ; but it

may be added that it had never been better handled than

General

^5^
Liverpool,

by him. His contingent was but small ten guns but it

was never idle, and always in the right place. The circumstances which led to the battle of Barossa may be summarised as follows: An attempt had been resolved upon
by the Anglo-Spanish leaders

in Cadiz to raise the

French

the opportunity being favourable, as the besieging

force did not at the time exceed 12,000 men.
The English
siege,

had 4200, and the Spaniards nearly 10,000. To facilitate

General Graham consented to serve under the
La Pena, although the event proved that
General
Spanish
there never was a man less fitted to hold a command.
The
to
the
of
action
allied
was
force
to
transport
plan
Tarifa,
disembark there, and effect a junction with another Spanish
force
and then countermarch the whole on the rear of the
Inclement weather prevented
besieging force at Chichlana.
the first part of the scheme from being carried out and the
matters,

landing was effected, not at Tarifa, but at Algesiras. The

whole army, however, effected a junction at the former place
on the 28th February, 1811, and, driving the French before

them, reached a place known as the Yigia de la Barrosa, or

Here they were enBarossa, at noon on the 5th March.
countered by the French Marshal, Yictor, who had been

warned of the expedition, and who promptly availed himself

numerous openings which the blunders and incompe-

of the

tency of the Spanish General offered.

The

tale of these is

too long to reproduce in a merely Eegimental

history ; suffice it to say that, owing to them, General Graham found

himself

in

an extraordinary and

embarrassing position.

Having been ordered to march from the height of Barossa,

which was the key of the whole position, and to proceed to
Bermej a 'through a

difficult

pine-wood, he obeyed, but with

Assuming that the important point he had just

be occupied by the Spaniards, he left his
would
quitted
regret.

Cost's

Annals -

282

Barossa, Badajoz,

and Albuera.

CHAP. XVI I.

To his amazement, he soon

baggage with a small guard.
learned that no such precaution had heen taken that the
French Marshal, detecting the omission, was already ascending the height; and that his own baggage-guard was
in extreme and imminent danger.
Ketracing his steps as
of
the
nature
wood
as
the
would admit of, he
rapidly
;

arrived in time to see the

enemy

in complete possession of

face with

the French, and

the
Spaniards. By what has been
utterly unsupported by
an
but such an inspiration as
called by Napier
inspiration
the height,

himself face to

never comes to the short-sighted or ignorant he realised

that retreat would be folly, and that his only hope of success lay in immediately

assuming the

offensive.

Massing

his Artillery, he desired Major Duncan to keep up a powerful fire, while he organized his force into divisions for

the attack. Of this fire Napier writes that it ravaged the

French ranks. As soon as the Infantry had formed, General
Graham advanced his Artillery to a more favourable position,
whence, as he afterwards wrote, it kept up a most destructive fire on the French columns now advancing.
The right
division of the English, under General Dilkes, and the left,
under Colonel Wheatley, encountered respectively the French
The Infantry
divisions under Generals Kuffin and Laval.
the
were
Guards,
28th,
7th,
67th, and
regiments engaged

the flank companies of the 1st Battalion 9th Foot,

87th,
2nd Battalion 47th, and 2nd Battalion 82nd, besides part of
the 20th Portuguese Eegiment.
gallantry, it may seem invidious

Where

all

to select

behaved with

any particular

regiment for notice but, at a most critical moment, the

defeat of General Laval's division was completed by a
;

advance of the 87th Kegiment.

Both the
French divisions were borne backwards from the hill and,
But
uniting, attempted to reform and make another attack.
their attempt was frustrated by the fire of the Artillery,
which from being terrific, as Napier termed it, became now
"
close, rapid, and murderous, and rendered the attempt
"
Marshal Victor, therefore, withdrew his troops
vain."
from the field, and the English, having been twenty-four
magnificent

Napier,

v
446"

CHAP. xvil.

Losses at Barossa.

283

hours under arms and without food, were too exhausted to

pursue.

In this battle, which only lasted one hour and a half, over
1200 were killed and wounded on the side of the English,
and more than 2000 on the side of the French. Six guns
and 400 prisoners also fell into the hands of the conquerors.
Of the conduct of his troops generally, General Graham
wrote to Lord Liverpool that nothing less than the almost
unparalleled exertions of every officer, the invincible bravery
of every soldier, and the most determined devotion to the

honour of His Majesty's arms in

all,

could have achieved

this brilliant success, against such a formidable enemy so

Sir Kichard Keats, the Admiral on the station, who To Admiral
posted.

had superintended the transport of the troops to Algesiras, ^ Cotton,

wrote that the British troops, led by their gallant and able dated
commander, forgetting, on the sight of the enemy, their 7 March,
own fatigue and privations, and regardless of advantage in lf
the numbers and situation of the enemy,
gained by their
determined valour, a victory uneclipsed by any of the brave
achievements of the British army.

The

special expressions used by General

despatch with reference to the services of the

Graham

in his

Eoyal Artillery
on this occasion are well worthy of a place in the records of
" I
the Corps.
owe too much," he wrote, " to Major Dun"
can and the officers and corps of the Koyal Artillery, not
"
to mention them in terms of the highest approbation
:

" never was

He recommended Major
artillery letter served"
Duncan for promotion, and the brevet rank of Lieutenant-

Colonel was accordingly conferred upon him.

The losses of the Artillery at Barossa were as follows

Died of

Woolcombe.
Wounded: Captains Hughes and Cator,
Lieutenants
and
Pester.
Mitchell, Brereton, Manners, Maitland,
Three rank and file killed, and 32 wounded besides of the
Eoyal Artillery Drivers, 1 sergeant, 2 rank and file, and 18
horses killed: 1 sergeant, 7 rank and file, and 22 horses
wounded.
The ordnance captured from the French was as follows
his wounds, Lieutenant

284

T WO

Major

Duncan

to

General

Barossa, Badajoz,
7_i nc h howitzers, 3
.

with their ammunition

and Albuera.

CHAP.

xvn.

1 4-pounder,
heavy
J 8-pounders,
r
r
waggons, and a proportion of

Graham.

The

Barossa might have been very

had the Spanish General been capable of unAs he
derstanding even the rudiments of his profession.
was at once ignorant and proud, General Graham found it
fruits of the battle of

considerable,

necessary to return with his force to Cadiz the object of

the expedition had failed, for the siege was not raised,
but Marshal Victor had received a check which alarmed
;

him

considerably, and which led to eager demands for reinforcements. In his conduct, both in the action of the 5th

March, and in his withdrawal to Isla de Leon on the following day, when he separated from the Spaniards, General

Graham

the warmest support from Lord Welwhose movements the reader is now invited to

received

lington, to

return.

After an inactivity of five months before the lines of

Torres Yedras, Massena commenced to evacuate Portugal.

He had no siege artillery with which to attack the fortifications behind which his

enemy was

securely sheltered

and

supplies were becoming every day more difficult to

obtain ; he therefore had no other alternative. As he retired,
his

he was closely followed by the English army, and many

smart affairs took place between the advanced guards of the

and the rear-guard of the French army, in which the

Royal Horse Artillery did good service. The limits of the
largest work and the patience of the most enduring reader
would be exhausted were these minor actions given in detail.
Suffice it to say, that the Artillery engaged on these occasions included the troops commanded by Captain Koss and
Captain Bull, that the names of the various actions are
given in the first volume of this history at pages 396 and
401, and that the way in which they performed their duty
may be gathered, in the first place, from Lord Wellington's
despatches, and, in the second, from the exhaustive narrative
In writing of the actions of the llth, 12th, and
of Napier.
13th March, 1811, at Pombal, Eedinha, and Cazal Nova,
latter

Losses at Fuentes d'Onor.

CHAP. xvii.

285

Lord Wellington said that the troops of Horse Artillery TO Lord

under Captains Koss and Bull particularly distinguished j^gjp o1
At the affair of Foz d'Arouce, on the 15th 14 March,
themselves.
he
also
wrote that the Horse Artillery, under CapMarch,
tains Koss and Bull, distinguished themselves.
Later, in dated
the affair which took place on the 7th April, during a reconnaissance, in which the English, under Sir W. Erskine,
drove a division of the French army before them across the
Turones and Dos Casas, Lord Wellington wrote that " Cap- ibid.
" tain's Bull's
troop of Horse Artillery did great execution 9 ^p^i
"
1811
on this occasion."
At the celebrated engagement of Fuentes d'Onor, 1 the Vol. ii.
c
dashing affair mentioned in an early part of this work took
place, in which Captain Norman Eamsay, of Bull's troop, so
'

1 ft1 1

'

On this occasion the losses

greatly distinguished himself.
of the Artillery were as follows
Koyal Horse Artillery 1 rank and file and 3 horses killed
:

and 3 horses wounded.

rank and file,

Koyal Foot Artillery

horses killed

1 sergeant,

4 rank and file, and 9

18 rank and file, and

1 captain, 2 subalterns,

21 horses wounded.

The

officers

wounded were Captain Thompson,

whose

brigade did as good service as it had done at Busaco, and

by its practice attracted universal admiration, Lieutenant
Martin, and a subaltern of the same name as the officer

The total
Barossa, Lieutenant Woolcombe.
on the side of the Allies amounted to 1786 those
The battle resulted in the evacuaof the French to 2665.
tion of Portugal by Massena, and the capture of Almeida by

who

fell

at

casualties

The

Artillery of the Allies at Fuentes d'Onor

was as follows

Koyal Horse Artillery

Royal Artillery

12 guns.
12

Portuguese Artillery

18

42

SIR A. DICKSON'S

MSS.

286

Barossa, Badajoz,

and Albuera.

CHAP, xvi I.

the English, although, unfortunately, not until the garrison

had made

its

escape.

During these continued successes, Lord Wellington was

and by
afflicted by a want of adequate supplies and money,

With a temerity such as

few commanders would have displayed, he did not hesitate
to point out to the Government how weak and mistaken
discouraging letters from England.

their vacillating, timorous policy was.

Still undeceived as
to the worthlessness of Spanish promises, the English rulers

urged upon Wellington to make Spain the theatre of his

operations, and yet declined to make him independent of the
Spanish authorities. His protestations, also, in favour of
Portugal as a base of operations fell on doubting and unEnglish statesmen seemed to live in a fools'
and
from their dreams it seemed impossible to
paradise:
wake them. On the 23rd March, 1811, Lord Wellington
^ a ^ ac tually to write, beseeching the Government to forego
an intention which appeared to have been formed of withfrom Portugal on account of the expense
^March, drawing the troops
181 1<
He had already urged on them the folly of
of the war.
starving an expedition in the hope of securing popularity
for their party; and he now boldly asserted that if they
carried out their intention, and freed the French from the
pressure of military operations in the Continent, they must
"
Then," he
prepare to meet a French army in England.
"
then would
would commence an expensive contest
wrote,
" His
Majesty's subjects discover what are the miseries of
"
war, of which, by the blessing of God, they have hitherto
" had no
knowledge." It was a difficult task which Lord
Wellington had to perform, not merely to fight his country's
not merely
battles under difficulties and discouragement,
the
of
which
was
to be exasperated by advice,
folly
glaring,
but also in his few moments of leisure to have to take up
The superiority
his pen, and teach her senators wisdom.
willing ears.

of England's greatest General cannot be realised without a

careful study, not merely of his campaigns, but also of his

correspondence.
It is necessary

now

to turn to

Marshal Beresford's

force,

CHAP. XVII.

Siege

of Badajoz.

287

with which was Major Dickson,

now

of the Portuguese Artillery.

had been hoped that

army would reach Badajoz

It

serving in

command
this

in sufficient time to raise the

French siege of that city hut a slight delay in Beresford's

movements, combined with undoubted treachery on the
part of the garrison, frustrated this hope, and rendered it
;

necessary to prepare for a siege of the city with its now

French garrison. From this time, the reader will enjoy an
advantage which cannot be overrated, and which appears

now

time in any narrative of the Peninsular War.

Alexander Dickson was not merely a great Artilleryman, but also a most methodical and industrious collector
and registrar of details which came under his notice. During
the various sieges in the Peninsula which were conducted
for the first

Sir

by him, he kept diaries mentioning even the most trifling

and on his return to England he procured from
facts
General Macleod the whole of the long series of letters which
he had written to him between 1811 and 1814. The mass of
information which he thus possessed was arranged, and at
:

his death the

whole passed into the hands of his son, Sir ColIn the hope that the papers of the most

lingwood Dickson.

prominent Artilleryman of the Duke of Wellington's armies

would be useful in framing a history of the Corps in which
he spent his life, Sir Collingwood kindly placed them at
the disposal of the author of this history. Priceless under
any circumstances, they are even more so from the fact that
several of the letter-books of the

Deputy- Adjutant-General's
department during the Peninsular War have been mislaid
and these refer chiefly to the periods covered by the manuOn the latter, therefore,
scripts of Sir Alexander Dickson.
the narrative of the period between 1811 and 1814 will be
;

and it is hoped that the reproduction of the

of one, so able to express the former
and
statements
opinions
with confidence and the latter with authority, will be a
welcome addition to the literature of England's wars in the

chiefly based

Peninsula. 1
1

In his notes on the various sieges in the Peninsula, Sir A. Dickson

But as the latter
frequently differs from Sir J. Jones's well-known work.

J
CO
(3

288

Barossa, Badajoz,

and Albuera.

CHAP.

xvn.

On tlie 9th April, 1811, Marshal Beresford advanced from

When he reconnoitred
the Guadiana and invested Olivenpa.
the place, Major Dickson pointed out an inclosed lunette in
front of the gate of San Francisco, from which he knew, by
a former visit to Olivenfa, that the curtain could be bartered

Approving of the suggestion, Marshal Beresford despatched Major Dickson to Elvas that night to bring
up the siege artillery. This consisted of six heavy brass
in breach.

24-pounders, .each provided with all necessary stores, and

with ammunition at the rate of 300 rounds per gun. To move
this battery and equipment from Elvas to Olivenfa 104 pairs
"

of bullocks were required, and a company of Portuguese ArOn the 13th April the guns
tillery attended as escort.

camp before Olivenca, and immediately proThe

ceded to the neighbourhood of the point of attack.
breaching battery for four 24-pounders had been got in comarrived at the

plete readiness, and an attempt was accordingly made at

once to put the guns in battery. It was found, however,

impossible to effect this on that day, on account of the

dreadful state of the roads, and the circuit which the guns
were obliged to take. By the night of the 14th, the com-

munications had been made practicable, and four guns were

placed in the battery, with ammunition and stores, in readi-

dawn. Two field batteries of the King's

Artillery were also placed so as to keep the enemy's
fire in check.
The field-pieces employed by these were five
6-pounders and one 5J-inch howitzer.
ness to open

fire at

German

The breaching battery did not open

fire

until 8 A.M. on the

15th, the point aimed at being the curtain to the left of the
San Francisco gate, and the distance being about 340 yards.
At 11 A.M. the enemy showed a flag of truce, which oc-

sioned a cessation of fire;

it

was resumed, and

but nothing definite resulting,

more rounds the enemy

after a few

had more to do with engineering details, and as Sir A. Dickson's MSS.

contain occasional marginal notes of later date, saying that his statement
is correct, and Sir J. Jones's wrong, it has been decided to accept his
account, when differing from the latter work.

First Siege of Badajoz.

CHAP. XVII.

289

Major Dickson was much pleased

with the practice made by the young Portuguese Artillerymen under his command. Only 320 rounds had been fired

surrendered at discretion.

and yet the breach was almost practicable.

A brisk fire from five or six guns had been kept up by the
enemy against the breaching battery, and had inflicted some
in the four hours,

slight loss ; but the field guns of the German Artillery did
much to moderate it, firing about sixty rounds a gun.

On taking Olivenfa the following ordnance was secured

Mounted. Brass, one 8-pounder and two 4-pounders ; iron,
five 12-pounders, two 8-pounders, and two 6-pounders. Dis:

Sir.

mounted. Brass, one 8-pounder ; iron, two 1 2-pounders.

On the 17th April, Major Dickson waited on Marshal
Beresford at Zafra, and received orders to proceed to Elvas
to make preparations for the siege of Badajoz.
On the 20th

Lord Wellington arrived

at Elvas, and issued instructions for

the carrying on of the siege to Marshal Beresford, Colonel
Fletcher of the Engineers, and Major Dickson, the lastnamed officer being appointed to direct the Artillery de-

From the 21st April to the

partment of the operation.
10th May, the greatest exertions were made, both at Elvas
and around Badajoz, to prepare the necessary ordnance and
stores for the siege, transport them, and make and arm the
The following shows, in a tabulated form, the
batteries.

nature and distribution of the ordnance employed

TABLE

A.'

Prepared
from

FIRST SIEGE OF BADAJOZ.

April 23, 1811.

Ordnance selected

for th<>

Siege

:
.

Sixteen brass 24-pounder guns.

Eight

Two
Six

The ammunition

16-poimd(T

10-inch brass howitzers.

8-

inch

to be at the rate of

800 rounds per gun, and 400 rounds

per howitzer.

VOL.

II.

Vide note at Table B,

A. DiclTson's

p.

299.

MSS.

290

Barossa, Badajoz^

and Albuera.

CHAP.

xvn.

First Siege of Badajoz, continued.

The following distribution of ordnance was determined on for the

operations of the siege, on the 8th May, 1811

first

1.

For the attack of

24-pounders

St. Cristoval

..............
............

8-inch howitzers

2.

For the

false attack

on Pardaleras

For the

false attack

3)

if

on Picurina

24-pounders

8-inch howitzer

On

the 9th

May, the

,-

2j

24-pounders
8-inch howitzer

3.

3)

following additional ordnance

for the St. Cristoval attack, viz.

was sent from Elvas

2)

24-pounders
8-inch howitzer

if

Four brass 12-pounders were

at the same time ordered from Elvas to

Four guns for the attack of St. Cristoval
were replaced on the llth May having been damaged by three heavy
12-pounders and a field howitzer.
enfilade the bridge of Badajoz.

On

the 12th May, four 24-pounders were sent from the great park to the

Cristoval attack.

On

the 13th

will hereafter be

May

the siege was ordered to be raised, as

shown.

Badajoz was invested on the right bank on the 8th May,

and on the morning of the llth the breaching battery
Being, however, totally unagainst San Cristoval opened.
a very heavy fire from that
and
to
resist
having
supported,
fort and the Castle, the young Portuguese Artillerymen
proved unequal to the contest. Their practice, after a few
rounds, became very uncertain; and in the course of the

morning the battery was

abled except one howitzer.

silenced, all the pieces being dis-

Failure of the Siege.

or\p. xvii.

291

On the night of the lltli, the battery intended to enfilade

the bridge was armed, and the disabled ordnance in, the
breaching battery exchanged.

Captain Hawker, command-

ing a 9-pounder field brigade of the Royal Artillery, lately

arrived from Lisbon, was directed to place himself under the
orders of Major Dickson, although regimentally senior to
that

officer,

and was placed in charge of the Artillery operaSan Cristoval.

tions against

The commencement

of the siege was very disheartening.

the day before the solitary battery opened fire, the Allies
had met with a severe loss during a sally made by the garrison ;

On

and now, in a few hours their one battery was silenced. Beresford was also disquieted by rumours which reached him
that Soult was on his way to raise the siege, and that he would

He therecertainly arrive before the city could be taken.

fore sent for Major Dickson late on the night of the llth,
and desired him not to bring forward any more ammunition
or stores from Elvas, and to be in readiness to remove at the
shortest notice what -had already arrived.
Colonel Fletcher

was ordered not

break ground that night against the

In event, however, of the operations proceeding, it
Castle.
was arranged that four 24-pounders should be moved from

also

to

the south attacks to that of San Cristoval, and that they

should be replaced by six additional guns of the same calibre

from Elvas.

On

the morning of the 12th intelligence reached Bereshim to doubt the accuracy of the reports
which had reached him on the previous day, and he ordered
ford which led

Additional guns
active operations to recommence at once.
were therefore sent forward from the park at Elvas, and at

night ground was broken for the batteries against the Castle.
The new activity, however, was but short-lived ; for positive
information was received at midnight as to the enemy's movements. On the morning of the 13th the siege was ordered
to be raised,

and Major Dickson directed

to send the

heavy
This duty
pieces of ordnance were

ordnance, ammunition, and stores back to Elvas.

was admirably performed.

at once despatched as the

As many
means of conveyance would peril

Barossa, Badajoz,

292

mit; and in the

first

and Albuera.

CHAP. xvii.

instance it was thought sufficient to

take the pieces across the flying bridge, and to park them in
On the Cristoval side
a situation not visible from Badajoz.
the guns were removed from the battery on the night of the

and at the same time the battery in the false attack

The 14th May was spent
against Picurina was dismantled.
in carrying away the ordnance and stores in such a way as
to conceal from the enemy the fact that the siege was being
raised and by noon on the 15th the whole of the besieging
artillery and ammunition from the great park had been
sent across the river, and the flying bridge removed, while
the park of the Cristoval attack had been taken back to
13th

"

the vicinity of Elvas.

The investing troops on the south bank were then withdrawn but a corps remained on the north bank to cover the
removal of the heavy artillery to Elvas. Of the duty per;

formed by Major Dickson on this occasion, under Marshal

Beresford's orders, Napier writes that " the arrangements
" for
carrying off the stores were admirably executed; ....
"
and that the transactions were so well masked by the 4th
"
Division, which, in concert with the Spaniards, continued
"
to maintain the investment, that it was only by a sally on
"
the rear-guard, in which the Portuguese piquets of the
"
4th Division were very roughly treated, that the French
"
knew the siege was raised."
The same author visits the failure of this siege, and the
losses attending all the subsequent sieges carried on
the
British in Spain, on the absence of any properlyby
equipped corps of Sappers and Miners to assist the officers

heavy

The want of such a corps, with the necessary

implements, rendered, according to Napier, the British sieges
a mere succession of butcheries.
But Sir Alexander Dickson
of Engineers.

was ready

Di'cksou'^

MSS.

B ackjoz
"
"
"

to accept part of the responsibility of this failure

own department.

for his

he wrote

"
:

In his diary of the first siege of

Every praise was due to the Portuguese

Artillery for the activity, zeal, and willingness they displayed in this service. Indeed, nothing could exceed their

personal exertions; but, from their professional inexperience,

Incapacity of Marshal Beresford.

CHAP. XVII.

293

"

Major Dickson has great doubts whether a satisfactory result

would have been obtained without the assistance of a pro"
portion of better-trained Artillerymen." At the same time,
however, he distinctly stated, in a letter to General Macleod,
that his wish was not to begin the fire from any one battery
until the whole attack should be more advanced, and that
"

Dated
.j^iia

l811

the Cristoval attack should be supported from other points.

He added that the battery against the Picurina, although
well placed as an auxiliary for general attack, afforded no
support to that against San Cristoval. In these points, he
"
wrote,
my opinions coincide entirely with those of Colonel
"
Fletcher (E.E.), with whom it is a pleasure to serve."

Marshal Beresford was brave, but was better as an administrator in peace than as a General in war. No praise can exceed
his deserts in reference to the organization and training of
the Portuguese army, or his fidelity to Wellington but his
;

abilities as a

commander in the field were feeble, and the success

of his troops in the battle which followed the raising of the

siege of Badajoz was. won in spite of, rather than by him.

Albuera was one of the

with

it

the

name

fiercest battles of the

Peninsula;
but
;

of Beresford will always be associated

chronicler will always have to register with the stories of

The policy of fighting
its gallantry that of his incapacity.

its

all
a question which lies with a General alone
was more than doubtful but, even admitting that it was
wise, his tactics were extremely faulty, and the errors were
expiated only by the courage and losses of his men. With
a General like Soult against him, the arrangement of his
army on the morning of the 16th May revealed a childlike

the battle at

innocence, which, in a General charged with the lives of

men, was criminal. Part of his army was still at Badajoz,
and could not possibly reach his position in time for the battle
;

had barely succeeded in doing so on the eventful

morning; he had, on the previous day," allowed the French
to occupy a wood on the other side of the Albuera Kiver,
where they could conceal their intentions
and, with marvellous blindness, he had allowed them to secure a hill in
the immediate front of his own right, behind which they
part

Barossa, Badajoz,

294
organized

the famous

and Albuera.
which

attack,

so

CHAP.

nearly

xvn.

proved

fatal.

On

the afternoon of the 15th, Major Dickson, having completed his duties at Badajoz, proceeded to Alhuera, where

the

army had taken up

mand

its position,

and resumed the com-

two brigades of Portuguese Field Artillery.

Ahout the same hour on the morning of the 16th as that
on which General Cole's division happily succeeded in joining Beresford's army, the enemy showed himself in force.
The first appearance was the advance of seven or eight
squadrons of cavalry, some light infantry, and a troop of
horse artillery, from the wood towards the bridge of Albuera
by the Seville road. This was a feint, but not immediately recognized as such by Marshal Beresford.
They
drove in the English piquets, and formed in the plain, where
they opened an artillery fire towards the village of Albuera,
a small place, which, with the exception of its church, was
almost in ruins, and which was without inhabitants. This fire
was answered by some of Major Dickson's and of the German
Artillery, which directed their practice against the cavalry.
At first Major Dickson thought it was merely a reconnoissance but it was soon seen that the real attack was intended
against the right, which was composed of Blake's Spanish
Beresford sent orders to Blake to throw back the
troops.
but the command was not
right at right angles to the line
obeyed until he went in person to enforce it, by which time
the French were upon them, harassing them, as they wheeled,
of his

with a murderous fire. From the position occupied by Major

Dickson near the bridge, which was opposite the centre
of the line, he first saw a column of infantry advancing to
the bridge by the same road as had been taken by the
cavalry, on which a brigade of General Stewart's division
was at once sent to the village to support Baron Alten, who

commanded

there.
Very soon afterwards, however, he saw
another column moving through the wood in the direction of
the Allied right, and as, at the same time, the column ap-

proaching the bridge

retire, it

first

halted, arid then

was evident that the

real

French

commenced
effort

to

would be

Battle of Albuera.

CHAP. xvil.

made against the

right.

295

Stewart's British brigade, there-

once marched from the village to the right, followed

by the rest of the division, and Cole's division formed up
fore, at

in support.
By this time a

heavy shower of rain had commenced,

which greatly favoured, the approach of the French columns
against the Spaniards on the right, and during which they
passed the river, and advanced upon and came round the
height which the latter occupied, and on which they were

In
then, in great confusion, wheeling into a new position.
the
of
the
conduct
at
describing
Albuera,
Spanish troops
Major Dickson, referring to this particular episode in the
battle,

wrote to General Macleod as follows:

"The

fact

is, TOD.-A.-G.

"

the Spaniards, once in line, could not be moved I mean,

"
could not manoeuvre and the Marshal was obliged to use
"
the British, that knew how to move, or else our flank
"
must have been completely turned."

This quite corroborates Napier's account of the battle.

^May
isii.

It

was on the hill occupied by the Spanish that the contest

was decided it was there that the gallantry of the French
Cavalry and the heroism of the English Infantry were manifested; there a murderous artillery fire of grape at close
range was maintained incessantly on both sides and it was
there that the grand final episode took place which was
;

described with poetic fervour by the great historian.

" Fusileer battalions of Cole's division advanced in

"

The

gallant

"

line, but, struck by the iron tempest, reeled and staggered

" like
sinking ships. But, suddenly and sternly recovering,
"
they closed on their terrible enemies ; and then was seen
"
the British soldier
and
what a

with

"

strength

majesty

Nothing could stop that astonishing inNo sudden burst of undisciplined valour, no
fan try.
nervous enthusiasm, weakened the stability of their order ;
their flashing eyes were bent on the dark columns in their
front, their measured tread shook the ground, their dreadful volleys swept away the head of every formation, their
fights

"
"
"
"
"
"
"

deafening shouts overpowered the dissonant cries that

broke from all parts of the tumultuous crowd, as, slowly

Napier.

296
"

and Albnera.

Barossa, Badajoz,

and with a horrid carnage,

it

CHAP.

xvn.

was pushed by the incessant

"

vigour of the attack to the farthest edge of the height.

"
.... At last the mighty mass gave way, and, like a
" loosened
The rain
cliff, went headlong down the steep.
" flowed after in streams discoloured with blood
and
;
"
the remnant of six
hundred unwounded

men,

eighteen

" thousand
unconquerable British soldiers, stood triumphant
" on the fatal hill !" Before this final
charge took place
the
battle
was
Beresford thought
lost, and commenced

He ordered the withdrawal

arrangements for a retreat.
of Alten's Germans and Major Dickson's guns from AlThis was strongly asserted by Napier,
buera bridge.
ToD.-A.-G.

although denied by one of his critics

by a passage in one of Major Dickson's
"

s ^ia ^ hi mse lf> f r

and

it is

letters.

"

confirmed

The Mar-

moment, thought he was defeated, as I

" received an order to
retreat, with my Artillery, towards
"
and
Baron
Alten
Yalverde,
absolutely, by order, quitted

ian^'

" the
All this was, however, soon
village for a moment.
" countermanded and rectified." To Colonel
Hardinge was

and successful advance.

The Artillery force at Albuera, on the side of the Allies,

due the credit of ordering the

comprised

final

Sir A.

Dickson to

NaTier

'

dated
16 Dec.

1830, and

daTed
19 March
1831, in
correction
of the
former.
'

Captain Lefebure's Troop of Eoyal Horse Artillery, consisting of 4 6-pounders.

Captain Hawker's Brigade of Royal Artillery, now No. 4 Battery, 7 Brigade,
B.A., consisting of 4 9-pounders.
Captain Cleeve's Brigade, King's
6-pounders and 1 5|-incli howitzer.
Captain Sympher's Brigade, King's
6 -P unders and ! Si-inch howitzer.

German

German

Artillery,

Artillery,

of

consisting of

consisting

Captain Braun's Brigade, Portuguese Artillery, consisting of 6 9-pounders.

Captain Arriaga's Brigade, Portuguese Artillery, consisting of 6 G-pounders.

Spanish Artillery, consisting of 6 G-pounders.

No explanation is given
why Captain Lefebure had

any of the Regimental records

only four guns it may, however,
be assumed that his troop had not yet recovered the drain on
its resources which was made on its arrival in the Peninsula,
when it was called upon to fill up the vacancies in the
in

Chestnut Troop.
A detailed statement of the services of the Artillery at

CHAP.

xvn.

Losses at Albuera.

297

Albuera was forwarded by Major Dickson to General Howorth, for transmission to England, but, unfortunately, was

The student has, therefore, merely a private letter

from Major Dickson to General Macleod to rely upon, whose
In
details are, of course, less ample than could be wished.
it he mentioned that the cannonade on both sides was tremendous during the whole battle, and that probably on few

lost.

such occasions had there been more casualties from artillery

Major Hartmann was in command of the British and

The
Artillery Major Dickson of the Portuguese.
latter behaved admirably.
Lefebure's
troop also
Captain
time
one
been
for
a
short
distinguished itself,
gun having
taken, but afterwards recovered. Captain Hawker's brigade,
from Major Dickson's personal observation, did great exefire.

German

cution.

General Cole spoke in the highest terms of Captain

Syrnpher's brigade and Captain Cleeve's guns went through

a number of vicissitudes.
Being placed on the hill, where
;

the great attack was made, the whole of them fell into the
enemy's hands, but were afterwards recovered, with the exception of one howitzer.
They were admirably served until
the French were actually amongst them ; and then retreat was
impossible, the enemy's cavalry having swept round the hill,

and taken them in

rear.

Modern battles may dwarf those of the Peninsula in point

of the numbers engaged
but it is questionable if the Bri;

tish courage displayed at Albuera, and the proportionate

losses to the number engaged, have ever been surpassed.

The

severe fighting lasted about four hours; and in that

time nearly 7000 of the Allies, and over 8000 French, were
On the side of the Allies, over 4000 of
killed or wounded.
the casualties were among the British troops, only 1800 of

the total

number engaged being untouched.

Major Dickson,

in describing the scene, said that every one declared they

had never seen such a field ; that on the hill where the great

struggle had been, in the space of from 1000 to 1200 yards,

there were certainly not less than 6000 lying dead or

wounded.

Napier's description of the field after the battle is

characteristically graphic, and leaves an indelible impression

Barossa, Badajoz^

298

and Albuera.

CHAP.

xvn.

Such was the crippled and famished

the Allies, that, had the French attacked again

on the reader's mind.

state of

on the 17th, resistance would have been impossible. Fortunately, Soult resolved to retire; and Lord Wellington, reaching
Albuera on the 19th, sent Beresford to watch his move-

'

ments, while he himself proceeded to reinvest Badajoz. The

order issued by Marshal Beresford, after the battle, included
"
To Major Hartmann and Major
the following paragraph
"
Dickson, and to the officers and soldiers of the British,
"
German, and Portuguese Artillery, the greatest praise is
"
In
due, and the Marshal returns them his best thanks."
:

ToD.-A.-G.

forwarding to the Ordnance a copy of this order, Major

"
The Marshal's
Dickson, with soldier-like generosity, added
"
orders are not strong enough in favour of the Fusileer
"
Brigade, who really saved the day." In Lord Wellington's
:

Kivas,

29 May,

Admiral Berkeley, dated 20th May, 1811, he said

that he considered the battle of Albuera one of the most

letter to

glorious and honourable to the character of the troops of any

that had been fought during the war. In Marshal Beresford's
report to Lord Wellington, dated 18th May, 1811, he said:
" I
have every reason to speak favourably of the manner
" in
which our Artillery was served and fought. Captain
"
Lefebure's troop of Horse Artillery did great execution."

On

19th May, 1811, Lord Wellington, Colonel

and
Fletcher,
Major Dickson arrived at Elvas, from Albuera,
to make preparations for resuming the siege of Badajoz.
Colonel Framingham had joined at head-quarters, and assumed command of the Eoyal and other Artillery but Lord
the

Wellington expressed a wish that Major Dickson should

all the arrangements for the siege, and
communicate directly with himself. This distinction caused
no jealousy in Colonel Framingham's mind; on the other
hand, that officer spoke of Major Dickson to Lord Wellington
in the highest terms, and during the siege assisted him in
every way. This was the beginning of a confidence between
Lord Wellington and Major Dickson, which only increased
and it is interesting to find, even thus
as the war went on

continue to direct

early, the latter officer speak of his great chief as follows

c HAP.

xv

1 1

Second Siege of Badajoz

299

" I
have transacted business with many Generals, but never
"
such an one as Lord Wellington, both for general know"
ledge, and attention to reason and suggestion."

The

story of the second unsuccessful siege of Badajoz, as

of the first, may be prefaced by showing in a tabular form

some of the more important Artillery statistics connected

with it.
These have been extracted from the voluminous
diary and almost daily correspondence of Major Dickson, on
which the summary, given afterwards in the form of narrative, is also based.

TABLE

B.

SECOND SIEGE OF BADAJOZ.

May

22, 1811.

The

was the appropriation of ordnance de-

following

termined upon for the siege

SOUTH, OB CASTLE ATTACK.

14

CEISTOVAL ATTACK.
24-pounders (brass)

. .

16-pounders
10-inch howitzers
8-inch howitzers

..

12

24-pounders (brass)
10-inch howitzers

..

8-inch howitzers

..

. .

. .

. .

..

..

..

..

20
22
In reserve
Detail of

24-pounders (brass) 4

men

for siege artillery

1st Regt. Portuguese Artillery

officers

and men

..

100
100
300
110

..

....

2nd
3rd

..

..

Koyal Artillery

..

..

610

Many of these guns were replaced during

may be gathered from the following table

the siege, as

24-pounders.

Disabled by the fire of the enemy

Disabled by the effects of their

own

fire

10-in.

8-iu.

howitzers

howitzers.

. .

Total

18

24.

ToD.-A.-G.
6^
Jj*

29 May,

and Albuera.

Barossa, Badajoz,

300

CHAP.

xvn.

Second Siege of Badajoz, continued.

The expenditure

of

ammunition during the

..

South, or Castle Attack

..

..

Total

was as follows

24-pr.

16-pr.

round

grape

round

shot.

shot.

shot.

5950
8419

200
441

1134
..

62
G40

989
1090

143C9

641

1134

702

2079

No. of rounds.

North, or San Cristoval Attack

siege

24-pr.

&
in

,,

ft

N.B. The totals given above, and in the first table (Table A), agree with
those given by Sir J. Jones; but the details here are more minute. It was
but natural that Sir J. Jones, being an Engineer officer, should devote more
space and detail to the labours of his own corps but his artillery details in
;

most sieges in the Peninsula were obtained from Sir A. Dioksun and Sir
May, and generally agree with the MSS. of the former.

On

J.

the 10th June Lord Wellington determined on raising

the siege.

On the night of the 80th May the trenches were opened

on both attacks, and great progress was made. The whole
of the guns for the batteries were also set in movement,
with ammunition at the rate of 300 rounds per gun.
Captain Kainsford's company (now No. 7 Battery, 17th
Brigade) having arrived from Lisbon, the Artillerymen were
divided as follows

ATTACK AGAINST THE CASTLE.

Major Dickson commanding.
Officers' Namc'8.

Royal Artillery
1st Reg. Portuguese Artillery

2nd
3rd

,,

,,

Total

55

100
100
50

officers
,

and men.

Lieut. Willis.

,,

305

ATTACK AGAINST SAN CRISTOVAL.

Captain Cleeves, (K.G.A.), commanding under Major Dickson.
Officers'

Royal Artillery
3rd Reg. Portuguese Artillery
Total

55
250

305

officers
,

and men.

Captain Rainsford.
Captain Latham.
Lieut. Saundcrs.

Lieut.

Names.

Hawker.

Lieut. Councl.

Second Siege of Badajoz.

CHAP. xvii.

301

This gave but a very small relief; and Lord Wellington

remarked, after the raising of the siege, that some of the
Royal Artillery were indefatigable, and had never quitted
,-,

Lord
^'['"Si.Karl of

Liverpool,

their batteries.

dated

Captain Latham was

116
the 2nd Captain of Captain Hawker's
jg^"
Field Brigade, and was lent for the service of the siege train.
Of him Major Dickson afterwards said: " I assure you the To D.-A.-G.
" assistance I
derived from his professional knowledge and Jgfj^
"
can
never be forgotten by me." Instances like 1811
activity
'

and others hereafter

this,

be

to

mentioned, when even

Horse Artillerymen served in the trenches, are arguments

against the necessity of any complete divorce between the
Field and Garrison branches of the Artillery service. Of
Captain Rainsford's company now 7 Battery, 17th Brigade
"
It was of wonderful assistance
Major Dickson wrote
:

it is

an uncommon

On

ibid,

fine one."

the 1st June the batteries on both sides were in a To D.-A.-G.

very forward

armament.

state,

and two on the north side received their

On

the south side several guns were brought

into the parallel, ready for mounting on the following night,

when the

batteries should be prepared for them.

By halfon
the
of
8
o'clock
the
3rd
morning
past
everything was
and
on
the
south
side
a
fire
was
commenced
with
ready
;

fourteen guns against the point which it was intended to

The fire was most vigorous, and, although well
breach.
Two of the
replied to, gave considerable hopes of success.

guns became disabled from the effects of their own fire, a

casualty whose recurrence during the siege was most monotonous.

ployed

On

the north side No. 1 Battery was partly emSan Cristoval, and partly to enfilade the

to breach

Castle front

No. 2 to breach San Cristoval

the defences of the same fort

No. 3 against

and No. 4 to keep in check

the tete de pont and enfilade the bridge.

The breach in
San Cristoval was begun in the shoulder to the right of the
work, where it formed a dead angle and in firing at this
from a battery on the north side, a gun, on the very first
These incinight, became disabled by muzzle-drooping.
dents will prepare the reader for the verdict of condemnation
;

302

and Albuera.

Barossa, Badajoz,

CHAP. xvii.

which was unanimously passed on the armament of the

Allied siege trains in the earlier Peninsular operations.
The howitzers were used as mortars, by taking the wheels

the carriages and inventing means of elevating them.

Major Dickson had carefully tested what was the extreme
off

elevation at which they could be used with safety, and found

the maximum was an angle of 30. Kighteous, therefore, was
his indignation when he learnt that, in spite of his own and
Captain Cleeves' positive orders, an officer on duty on the
north side, whom he tersely stigmatised as " a brute of a Por"
tuguese Captain," had thought proper to elevate them to

40 or 42, with a charge of 2 Ibs. to 3 Ibs., the result being

that both carriages were rendered entirely unserviceable,
without any means of replacing them.
On the 4th June, the fire from the south side continued,
but with less

effect,

the shot

entering the wall without

bringing down any part of it worthy of mention. On this

day another gun was disabled at the vent by the effect of its
own fire and one was rendered unserviceable by that of the
On. the 4th very considerable progress was made
enemy.
in the breach at San Cristoval.
During the night a new
;

battery was opened in the south attack, and the guns from

No. 1 Battery removed to it.

The 5th of June was a very disheartening day. The progress in the breach of the south attack was little more hopeful

than on the 4th

reduced

principally

and before afternoon the batteries were

by

their

own

to nine serviceable

fire

guns. Major Dickson, therefore, proceeded to Lord Wellington, and obtained his permission to bring six iron 24-

The breach in
pounders from Elvas to the south attack.
San Cristoval made by the north attack made apparent prodeemed practicable. Here, also, one
gress, but was not yet
showed
or two of the guns
symptoms of giving way.
On the 6th June, Lieutenant Hawker of the Eoyal Ara gallant young
tillery was killed in the north attack
"
He has never been
officer, of whom Major Dickson wrote,
"
out of No. 1 Battery from the commencement of the fire."
In the south attack, a steady fire was kept up from the nine
:

CHAP. XVII.

Second Siege of Badajoz.

303

serviceable guns during this day, and more progress was made
in breaching the wall, than had been effected during the two

preceding days.
a single person.

Before night, the breach was practicable for

In the evening, the breach at San Cristoval

was also considered practicable for an assault, which accordingly

was ordered, but was repulsed. The enemy had previously
cleared the breach, leaving a certain portion of the wall
standing perpendicular and their fire was so warm that the
:

Attempts
troops could not face it at the breach for any time.
were made to escalade at one or two other points, but the
ladders were too short; so the party had to retire with a
loss of 130 men.

On

the 7th June, another battery of the south attack,

was completed; and the iron guns, having arrived
from Elvas, were mounted during the night. The breach on

No.

3,

this side

was a

little

improved, but the resistance of the

wall was far in excess of Major Dickson's expectations.

On the 8th June, under a fire from 16 24-pounders in

the south attack, the breach on

that side seemed large

admit
several
abreast.
On the north side,
enough
persons
the fire continued, but the breach was not yet deemed again
to

During the night of the 8th, grape-shot was

from the south side, but the Portuguese grape was
extremely bad, and the enemy was successful in clearing
away all the rubbish from the breach, in spite of the fire,

practicable.
fired

leaving to view a considerable height of wall yet uninjured.

quantity of 3-pounder shot was therefore brought up

from Elvas, which, when tied up in bags containing eight or

ten each, formed a better description of grape. Various
guns in both attacks showed symptoms of distress during
this day.

On
left

the 9th June, there were only twelve or thirteen guns

south side after the day's firing,

serviceable on the

but the breach was decidedly larger, and grape was fired
all night to prevent the enemy working at it.
On the north
side, there were only eight or nine guns left undisabled in
in the evening, but the breach at

San Cristoval was pronounced practicable; and another attempt was made, at

Barossa, Badajoz^

304

9 o'clock, to carry

it by
was found

and Albiiera.

assault.

CHAP. xvil.

It

was, however, again

that, notwithstanding the appearrepulsed ;
ance of the breach, there was a perpendicular wall about
6 or 7 feet high still standing, which had been concealed
for it

from view by the counterscrap and the enemy had taken

every precaution to keep it clear of the debris of the breach.
The gallantry of the assailants was as great, as the defence
:

Major
i!'

i'r.T-G

26 June,
toti

of the

French was

resolute.

The ladders were thrown down,

grenades thrown among the stormers in great abundance,

and masses of stone hurled down upon them.
With the
*

150 men, the assailants were obliged to retire.

On the following morning it was found that the grapeshot from the south attack had been successful in preventing

loss of

at the breach, and preparations for

had
the
been ordered, when Major Dickson
resuming
battering
He met him
received a summons from Lord Wellington.

the

Pickson's

enemy from working

with Colonel Fletcher on the north side

and they were

informed that he had decided on raising the siege. He

mentioned his reasons but he particularly pointed out the
impossibility of getting possession of San Cristoval without
;

advancing to the crest of the glacis ; the

tion of the main breach on the south side

still difficult situa-

the imprudence

of attempting it, even when practicable, without first having

Cristoval ;
the strong entrenchments which the enemy had

had time

to construct within the breach

and

finally the ap-

enemy in such force that prudence would not

to be caught by them in the midst of a siege.

proach of the
allow
Major
t

D.-A.-G.

1811.

him

Soult was at this time in force at Llerena, and Drouet's

co r ps was reported as having joined him
while the Northern
;

French army under Marmont was also in motion.

Major Dickson immediately set to work, and by the evening of the 12th the whole of the guns, stores, and ammunition were either in Elvas again, or at such a distance as to be
in perfect safety in all circumstances.
"
"
Thus," wrote Major Dickson to General Macleod, ended

"

which everything that artillery could do was

and this Lord
done, considering our miserable means
"
to
both
to Colonel
was
good enough
express,
Wellington
this siege, in

"

C HAP. X V

L osses

of the

305

rtillcry.

"

Framingham and myself. The brass guns could not stand

" the
necessary fire, and their destruction, I am of opinion,
"
was considerably occasioned by the lowness of the shot,
"
which generally had so much windage that you could put
"
your fingers in between the shot and the bore
" On the whole I have to observe that our batteries were
"
of the attack was
The whole
too far

off.

....

principle

"

founded on the supposed weakness of the Castle wall, which

"
On
it was thought could be beat down at a distance.
"
discovering the difficulty of this, the batteries were thrown

"
"

forward as far as they could, at the same time avoiding the

fire of the modern fronts, nor could they be advanced

" farther until

Cristoval was in our hands.

Indeed,

if

that

" had been

carried, I think we should have got the place.
"

Lord Wellington was good enough to say that everythat

could be done on our parts had been done."
thing
The casualties among the Artillery during the siege were
.

"

as follows

Officers,

:-

Royal Artillery

..

Lieut. E.

Lieut.
Officers,

Portuguese Artillery

W.

Hawker,

killed.

Saunders, wounded.

Captain Barreiros, wounded.

Lieut. Lopez,

wounded dangerously.
Killed.

N.-C. officers and men, Royal Artillery

Portuguese Artillery

....

Total..

The

total loss of the Allies

amounted

4
28

32

..

to 118 killed,

Wounded.

and 3o7 wounded and

taken prisoners.

In his despatch to Lord Liverpool, announcing the raising

of the siege, in addition to expressing his great satisfaction
with the Corps, Lord Wellington said that the British ser-

had derived great advantage in the

against Badajoz from Major Dickson's
vice

different operations
zeal,

activity,

and

intelligence.

The subsequent sieges of Ciudad Kodrigo and of Badajoz,

which took place in 1812, were in marked contrast to those
described in this chapter; and the rapidity with which the
X
VOL. II.

3o6

Barossa^ Badajoz,

and A Ibuera.

c H AP.

xv

1 1

breaches were then made was mainly due to the employment

of iron ordnance from England, instead of the miserable
To Lord

i^June'

brass Portuguese guns which were employed in the sieges of

1811. 1
Of these guns, Lord Wellington truly said that they
were very ancient and incomplete, and that their fire was

very uncertain. It had at first been intended to fire at the

rate of 120 rounds a gun per diem : but that was soon found
to be impossible with the
posal of Major Dickson.

wretched brass pieces at the disIt was therefore reduced to 80

rounds; but even with this limited expenditure the guns

were repeatedly disabled by the effect of their own fire.

The Peninsular sieges cannot be thoroughly understood

without two points being borne in mind. First, the besieged cities belonged to, and, were inhabited by, the allies
and the war was only with the garrison. The
Artillery fire, therefore, was confined to breaching, and
dismounting the ordnance in battery, not used for bombardment. Secondly, the sieges were mere episodes in Wellington's general operations, not goals to which these operations
of England,

Hence, in 1811, the raising of sieges, without

and hence, also, in
hesitation, after but a brief continuance
tended.

1812, the rapidity and loss of life with which he stormed

cities, rather than complicate his plans by indulging in
siege

operations

of a longer and,

perhaps,

more regular

description.

1
In answer to an inquiry from General Macleod about these guns,
"
Major Dickson, writing from Oporto, on 27 Aug. 1811, said
They were
brass Portuguese guns of the time of John IV. and his son Alfonso,
"
also some Spanish guns of
bearing dates 1646, 1652, and 1653, &c.
"
dates 1620, 1636, &c."
Philips III. and IV.
:

'

30?

CHAPTER

XVIII.

ClUDAD KODEIGO AND BADAJOZ.

THE

enemy approaching in force, after the raising of the

second siege of Badajoz, the Allies crossed the river on
the 17th June, 1811, and on the 19th encamped between
Elvas and Campo Maior. Elvas had been put in a state of
siege, and a position had been marked out behind Campo
L

Maior, in case the French should show any inclination to

The bold front which Lord Wellington here showed
attack.
deceived the two French Marshals, Marmont and Soult, who
had now united their armies, and entered Badajoz in triumph,

congratulating its gallant governor, Philippon. They con- Major

eluded that he must have received great reinforcements ;

^^

and although they crossed the Ghiadiana with a great body dated
of cavalry supported with infantry, and one or two small ^n.
affairs with the outposts took place,
they declined a general
A
of
entente
cordidle
between Marmont
want
engagement.
and Soult led soon to a separation, the latter moving towards

whither Wellington despatched Blake's Spanish

and the former marching away by the valley of the
Tagus towards Almaraz. Thus relieved of their presence,
Lord Wellington took up his quarters at Pontalegre, and
allowed his army to have some repose after its recent
Seville,

troops,

exertions.

This seems a favourable

reader a tabular return

moment

for placing before the

next
(see
page) which shows the

gradual increase in the Artillery element of Lord Wellington's

army in the Peninsula. Prepared from the monthly returns,
it shows the numbers at different periods, distinguishing
between the Eoyal and Foreign Artilleries. The point which
will doubtless strike the reader most is the steady increase in
the force of Horse Artillery and Artillery drivers, which took

x 2

Cust.

3 o8

I
.2

Cindad Rodrigo and Badajoz.

CHAP.

xvm.

CHAP, xviil.

The Battering Train.

309

place marking the growing recognition of that which had

hitherto been overlooked to a great extent,
the value of
in
Field
mobility
Artillery.
;

General Howorth vacated the command of the Artillery

July 1811, being obliged to return to

in the Peninsula in

England on account of ill-health, and was shortly afterwards succeeded by General Borthwick. This officer was
wounded at Ciudad Rodrigo, and returned to England, a
coolness having sprung up between him and Lord Wellington, which recurred with one of his successors, and continued until the command of the Artillery devolved upon
his favourite, then Colonel Dickson, a few months after the
siege of Burgos.

On

the 19th July, 1811, Lord Wellington sent for Colonel Major
Fletcher, Colonel Framingham, and Major Dickson, and in- D^A

formed them that

was his intention to attempt the siege

and after a little conversation as to
of Ciudad Rodrigo
the means of transport, &c., he desired Major Dickson to
it
;

dated
Branco,

proceed to Oporto, to superintend the conveyance of the

English battering train up the Douro to Lamego, and thence

whence

by land

to Francoso,

land to

its final destination.

rived in Lisbon in the

first

would also be conveyed by

This battering train had arinstance, and had been carried
it

Oporto, with a view to the proposed siege of

1
Ciudad Eodrigo, its ostensible destination being Cadiz.
Two new companies of Artillery which had arrived in
Lisbon were now ordered to Oporto to assist Major Dickson.

secretly to

these arrangements Lord Wellington underrated the

strength of the French army in the north of the Peninsula.

In

all

Major Dickson reached Almeida, on his way to Oporto,

on the 28th July, and arrived at the latter place on the
3rd August, where he found Captain Bredin's and Captain
Glubb's companies now
Battery, 1st Brigade, and 5 Bat-

tery 5th Brigade

waiting his orders.

Before the 13th the

1
This battering train consisted of 78 pieces, according to Sir J. T.
the country
Jones, but, as will be seen presently, only 64 pieces went up

with Major Dickson from Oporto.

To D.-A.-G
oporto,

Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz.

31o

CHAP, xvi 1 1.

whole of the train had been embarked in boats, about 160 in

number, and despatched to Lamego but the work and the
;

climate proved too much for Major Dickson, and before he

could follow the train he was struck down with a violent

accompanied by delirium.

fever,

When

first

attacked, he

requested Lord Wellington to send some one to take up

and, accordingly, his friend Captain May was
and superintended the movement of the train until the

his duties,
sent,

5th September, when the gallant Dickson, only half recovered, and travelling in a litter, arrived at Lamego. Here
he found that all the guns and stores had marched for Villa
Major
D! A^Gen!

vmada
Ponte,
Pt

i8ii!

da Ponte, and that Captain May was on the point of followOn the 8th Major Dickson left Lamego, and
ing them.
reached Villa da Ponte on the 10th, where he fell an imme diate victim to a relapse of fever, which lasted acutely
several days.
Captain Bredin's company had, in the meantime, been recalled to the head-quarters of the army, to take
over the brigade of guns from Captain Thompson's, which was
almost hors de combat from sickness. 1 The troops left with

the battering train were therefore reduced to Captain Glubb's

company of Koyal Artillery, about 250 Portuguese Artillery,

and from 1200 to 1400 Portuguese Militia, intended to assist

on the march.
Captain Holcombe's company of Eoyal
That company is now No. 4
Artillery was hourly expected.
Battery 2nd Brigade.
On the march, the battering train had been arranged by

Ibid.

ept *

i8n

It was arranged, as far as the ordCaptain May as follows

nance was concerned, in five divisions; each gun marched
:

with 350 rounds, and each howitzer and mortar with 160
An officer was placed in charge of each division,
rounds.

and each division marched separately. The remaining stores

and ammunition requisite to furnish a total of 800 rounds
per gun, and 400 for each howitzer and mortar, were under
the charge of the Commissary and other officers, and marched
in rear.

Captain Thompson's company now 1) Battery, llth Brigade

afterwards employed in the operations on the east of Spain.
1

\vas

While

Train moved

to

Almeida. 311

at Yilla da Ponte, awaiting orders

from Lord Wel-

CHAP, xviii. Battering

lington for a further advance,

Major Dickson's correspondence was of a nature which reveals to the reader more of the

personal element, than his letters, as a rule, allow to become

The alternate hoping and despairing as to orders
visible.
the ennui produced by enforced idleness,
for advance,
the impetuous

way

in

which he would

fling himself into

professional discussions with General Macleod, merely to

occupy his leisure, the spasmodic fits of zeal in improving

the arrangement of the immense train,

to the reader a very vivid picture of

long

still,

of fever

"

fact

" at
"

is,

all

unite to present

him whose hand,

so

penned these faded letters. His recurring attacks

"
followed by apologies like the following
The
when I am well I forget all, take violent exercise
:

times and seasons, and knock myself up but I am

"
determined to be more careful in future
followed by an
all

inevitable relapse, in proof of the failure of his good resolucombine to bring before the reader a very lovable
tions,
It is by such study alone
picture of a very earnest man.
that the Artilleryman can realise the characters of the great
among his predecessors in the Corps, and by such links that

he can bind them to himself with that almost family

which the Kegimental union is but an expansion.

tie,

of

The extent

of the battering train under Major Dickson's To D.-A.-G.

as follows
34 24-pounders, 4 18-pounders, ^fst t
16 iron 5J-inch howitzers, 2 8-inch howitzers, and 8 10-inch 1811
mortars; and much of his leisure at Villa da Ponte was

command was

devoted to improving and renewing the somewhat shattered

On the 16th November he recarriages of this ordnance.

ibid,

ceived an order from Lord Wellington to commence moving i8n

the battering train to Almeida; and by the 21st the last
The march was ibid,
division, spare carriages, &c., had left.
most successful. No fewer than 1100 bullocks were em-

ployed for the divisions alone, apart from the reserve of

and in no case did the march occupy more than six
stores
days, although the country was very mountainous ; nor did
;

a single accident occur.

ammunition and

stores

The bringing up the

by want

was delayed

reserve of
of

means

'

Cindad Rodrigo and Badajoz.

312

of conveyance

and pending

its

arrival,

CHAP.

xvm.

Lord Wellington

requested Major Dickson to superintend the unspiking of

the ordnance in Almeida, and the placing the batteries
In this occupation the reader is
in a state of defence.
requested to leave him while he returns to the movements
of

Lord Wellington, which were now assuming an active

form.

The English General had moved northward, with the

view of besieging Ciudad Kodrigo; and a summary of his
movements may be given from some admirable MS. letters,
written

by

Captain

quarters of the army.

May
On

on

his

return

to

the

head-

the 23rd September the enemy's

The French
advanced guard was near Ciudad Eodrigo.
army was under Marmont and Dorsenne, and numbered
60,000 men, including 6000 cavalry. On the 24th, the whole
had crossed the Agueda, about 10,000 inOn the 25th the enemy
fantry remaining on the other side.
and
advanced,
Wellington disputed the ground, retiring
of this cavalry

gradually to the position at Filente de Guinaldo. In this

advance the enemy's cavalry and artillery were principally
engaged; and on the side of the Allies, the Cavalry, Portu-

guese Artillery, and Cole's and Picton's divisions of Infantry.

During this forward movement the enemy, by a charge of
cavalry, gained possession of five Portuguese guns, which,
however, were speedily recaptured by the 5th Eegiment of
On the 26th,
Foot, in a most gallant and intrepid manner.

the Allies remained all day in the position of Guinaldo,

which extended from the right and front of the town for
four miles towards Ituero, the woods being occupied by two
Infantry brigades from the right down to the Agueda. Thus
posted, they witnessed the arrival of the whole French army,
the last of which did not arrive until sunset.
On satisfying
himself as to their numbers, and bearing in mind the great
extent of country to be watched, Lord Wellington determined to retire in the evening to a more favourable position
for concentration and battle. The army, therefore, began its
march to the rear at 10 P.M., and next clay, the 27th, everything was in the neighbourhood of the new position, which

CHAP. xvin.

Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo.

313

occupied a length of about six miles. The left was near

Beudon, on the Coa, and the right in the rear of outa,
When daylight revealed to the
resting on the mountains.
the masterly retreat which had taken place, some
cavalry and infantry were pressed forward, and the Allied
piquets were driven in hut Wellington, suddenly assuming

enemy

the offensive, drove them hack from Alfaites to Aldea da

Ponte, his troops occupying the latter village. After sunset,
however, the enemy advanced in such force, in front and
also

on the flanks of the

village, that the officer

command-

This
ing there wisely withdrew his troops to Alfaites.
final advance of the French was made to cover a retreat

which had now been determined on.

On

the morning of the

28th nothing could be seen of them and on the 29th it

was learnt that they were moving back on Ciudad Kodrigo.
;

After they had thrown provisions into that city, they continued to retire, and went into cantonments in the neigh-

bourhood of Salamanca.

The British army did the same

between the Coa and the Agueda, Lord Wellington, with his
head-quarters at Freneda, keeping watch on the city which
he had determined to take.

The only brilliant affair which took place between this

time and the successful sieges, which will now have to be
mentioned, was the surprise of Girard's division by General
As, however, the Artillery with
Hill, at Arroyo de Molinos.
Hill's

force

was Portuguese,

Major Hawker's 9-pounder

brigade of Eoyal Artillery having been unable to get up on

account of the state of the roads, its further notice in this

work

will be unnecessary.

Taking advantage of the French troops being scattered in

and having ascertained that large refrom
Marmont's army had been detached to
inforcements
Valencia, Lord Wellington resolved on a short, sharp siege
In the end of December he sent for
of Ciudad Eodrigo.
Major Dickson, and -directed him to move forward the battering train and stores from Almeida, Galegos being made
their cantonments,

the

intermediate depot.

To the

latter

place

head-quarters were moved on the 7th January.

the

army

Major

J^
1

Jn.

Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz.

314
The main

CHAP. xvni.

interest to the military reader in the sieges of

Ciudad Eodrigo and Badajoz, in 1812, attaches to the galThe monotonous, albeit shortlived,
lantry of the Infantry.
work in the batteries is drowned in the recollection of the
In these pages, therescenes of valour at the final assault.
share in the sieges will assume, of nea few dry statistics.
the
form
of
cessity,
The Artillery present at the siege included 185 of the

fore, the Artillery

Royal Artillery and 370 of the Portuguese. The names of

the officers of the Royal Artillery who were present were
General Borthwick, Major Dickson, Captains Holcombe,
Thompson, Power, Dundas, and Dyneley; Lieutenants
Bourchier, Love, Johnstone, Ingilby, Smith, and Grimes

and Captain May, Brigade-Major.

The batteries opened in the afternoon of the 14th January,
1812, the guns having narrowly escaped being spiked in
the morning of that day.
On the night of the 19th, the
breaches were pronounced practicable, and Wellington announced in orders, " Ciudad Rodrigo must be stormed this
"
evening." Except on the 16th and part of the 17th, the
weather was clear and admirably suited for artillery practice, and the batteries were in action daily for an average of
eight and a half hours.
The guns employed were as follows
On January 14th,
20 24-pounders and 2 18-pounders; on January 15th, 23
24-pounders and 2 18-pounders; on January 16th and 17th,
the same; on January 18th, 30 24-pounders and 2 181
pounders and on January 19, 30 24-pounders.
The expenditure of ammunition during this short siege
:

was as follows, the total number of guns

been 34 24-pounders, and 4 18-pounders

in battery

having

24-pr.
18-pr.

guns
guns

Bound shot, 8950. Rounds expended per gun, 263.

Round shot, 565. Rounds expended per gun, 141.

1
According to Sir J. Jones, the guns in action on the 19th were
29 24-prs. and 1 18-pr. but Sir A. Dickson, who was in charge of the
;

Artillery, says as above.

The

difference

is,

however, infinitesimal.

Losses of the Artillery.

CHAP, xvill.

The absence

of mortars

315

and howitzers from

this siege

was

explained by the increased amount of transport required for

shell, compared with shot, and by the fact that Lord Wellington had resolved on an assault the moment a breach was
Shot were,
practicable, without any other siege operations.
for
therefore, all that was necessary, except
keeping the

enemy from working at the breach.

The following extract from a letter written by Major

To D.-A.-G.

"

Lord Wellington ^jtn

siege, is interesting
1812.
certainly made a most brilliant coup, and, I am con-

Dickson after the

"

has

"

vinced, astonished the

enemy by the rapidity of his operaintended

to relieve the place and raise the
They
"
about
this
siege
day (29th January). We were certainly
"
favoured by the most delightful weather excessively cold,
"

tions.

"

but perfectly dry. It was not even necessary to put the

powder under the laboratory tents, which I was enabled
"
to spare to keep the poor fellows from the pinching frost
"

"

for

we were nearly without

cover

am hard

"
pressed for time, but I must say a word in favour of our
" fine
fellows of the Corps.
They were (Portuguese and all)
" at relief and
off and on
but
could exceed
relief,

"

"
"
"
"

"
"

nothing

and

activity, and their work speaks for itself.

Never was better practice made. I had only 430 Artillerymen of both nations, about 130 British, and the rest
Portuguese. We had somewhere more than 50 Artillerymen killed and wounded, but no officer materially hurt.
The latter days, to make it up, I had some help from our
own field Artillery
part of Lawson's company was one
in
the
and
trenches,
day
part of Sympher's German com-

their zeal

"
"

pany another."
The actual number of
14th and 19th January,

killed

and wounded between the

was as

while the siege lasted,

follows (excluding Portuguese Artillery)

%*
1812.

Captains Dyneley and Power, wounded.

Captain Glubb's company, now 5 Battery, 5th Brigade
their wounds; 2 gunners wounded slightly.

MS. Return

2 gunners died of

Sir J. Jones's statement includes the Portuguese Artillery.

Cindad Rodrigo and Badajoz.

CHAP.

Captain Holcombe's company, now 4 B-ittery, 2nd Brigade

17 non-commissioned officers and men wounded.
Captain Lawson's company, n>w
Battery, 8th Brigade;

his

wounds

xvm.

gunner killed

gunner died of

2 gunners wounded.

Captain Sympher's company

(K.G.A.)

gunner

killed

gunners

woundc-d.

The ammunition expended was

8950 rounds from 24-

pounders, and 565 from 18-pounders.

In Lord Wellington's despatch, announcing the successful
termination of the siege, he after extolling Major Dickson's conduct of the Artillery operations

"

The rapid execution produced by the

"
kept up from our batteries affords the
"

merits of the officers and

proceeded to say

well directed fire

best proof of the

men

of the Koyal Artillery, and

"
of the Portuguese Artillery, employed on this occasion ;
"
but I must particularly mention Brigade-Major May, and
"
Captains Holcombe, Power, Dyneley, and Dundas, of the
"
Royal Artillery."
General Borthwick's name is not mentioned, either in the

despatch or
List
in

'

among the wounded

generally most accurate in

command

of the

but he appears in
its details

Artillery, and

also

as
as

'

Kane's

having been
having been

wounded, during the siege.

Ciudad Kodrigo had hardly fallen before Lord Wellington
now that he
resolved to attempt a third siege of Badajoz,

had suitable ordnance. He ordered Major Dickson to proceed on the 30th January to Setubal, calling at Elvas to
make some necessary arrangements. From Setubal he was
directed to send 16 24-pounders of a new battering train,
which had arrived, to Elvas, as well as 20 guns of the same

which were to be furnished from the navy. The

whole of these guns were to travel on block carriages. The
at Almeida
difficulty of sending the heavy guns of the train

calibre,

was decided to
send the 24-pounder howitzers, as
lighter, and
also a number of 24-pounder carriages, which were stored at
Almeida. By this means it was hoped to have speedily
to Elvas led to this

arrangement

but

it

being much

equipped at Elvas a new battering train of 36 iron 24pounder guns, and 16 24-pounder howitzers, an armament

Third Siege of Badajoz.

CHAP. xvni.

very different from the brass Portuguese guns which had

assailed the stronghold of Philippon twice before.

So incessant was the work which now devolved on Major

Dickson that he had no time for correspondence, and there is
a great blank, where the student had hoped to find much

From other sources, therefore, the

that was interesting.
of
a
details
siege, which can never be forgotten,
Artillery
must be procured. As at Ciudad Bodrigo, the Infantry
share in the operations

dwarfs

all

other;

but

it

dwarfs

The

to even a greater extent.

story of the storming of
Badajoz is one which will thrill the heart of every Briton
for all time
which will bind together by sacred memories
it

regiments which were so nobly represented on that

day and which will impress on all, who study it, the truth
of Napier's words, that "a British army bears with it an
"
awful power." The scene on the night of the 6th April,
the

1812, was one before which the energy, zeal, and proficiency
the Artillery on the preceding days pale away into
nothingness ; and the chronicling of their humble statistics
of

seems almost an impertinence. For, the night of the 6th

"
was, indeed, one in which
many died, and there was much
"
glory ;" it was one in which death took many and hideous
"
the slain dying not all suddenly, nor by one
forms,
" manner of death
some perishing by steel, some by shot,
" some
by water, some crushed and mangled by heavy

Napier.

"

"

weights, some trampled upon, some dashed to atoms by

fiery explosions ;" and yet it was a night in which the most

because hallowed by marcruel death was fair to look on,

vellous courage and rare devotion.

The breaches, which were rendered famous by this combat

" so
fiercely fought, so terribly won," were virtually made
between the 30th March and the 6th April. On the 30th
March 8 18-pounders were in action for purely breaching
purposes on the following day, this number was increased,
;

by 12 24-pounders, and
these remained in

6 18-pounders, to 26 guns ; and

action, for 13 hours a day, until the

storming of the place. Of round shot, alone, no fewer than

18,832 24-pr., and 13,029 18-pr., were expended during the

Tables

J?^
officer

of

Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz.

CHAP, xvi 1 1

short siege; besides 1163 24-pounder grape shot, and 496 of

Of the round shot, 23,896
the same from the 18-pounders.
were employed in forming the three breaches. Besides the

breaching guns, there were 10 24-pounder and 18-pounder

guns, and 16 5J-inch howitzers, employed for enfilading and
other fire. From the last mentioned, 507 common shell and

1319 spherical case were fired during the siege.

The three breaches were rendered practicable from a distance of between 600 and 700 yards and the curtain breach
;

was made in one day, the day of the assault. To the rapidity of the making of this breach was much of the success
in the final storming due because, had several days been
required, measures would have been adopted by the defenders
;

during the intervening nights to render it wholly impracIn making this curtain-breach, 14 guns were
ticable.
employed, with an expenditure of 3514 rounds.
Colonel

Framingham commanded

the

Allied

Artillery

during the siege, but Major Dickson virtually directed the

From a rough MS. diary in the Kecord Office,
operations.
the handwriting of the latter

in

officer,

it

would appear

that the strength of the Artillery was as follows

N.-C. officers

and men.

Captain Holcombe's company

ditto 1
Captain Gardiner's
Captain Glubb's (commanded by Captain Power) company
Captain Kcttberg's (King's

German

Artillery)

ditto

110
110
. .

..

78
30

There were also 377 of the 3rd Kegiment, and 249 of the
2nd Eegiment, of Portuguese Artillery.
In his despatch, after the storming of the city, Lord
"
Wellington said
Major Dickson conducted the details of
:

"

the Artillery service during this siege, as well as upon

"
former occasions, under the general superintendence
" of
Lieut.-Colonel Framingham, who, since the absence of
"

Major-General Borthwick, has commanded the Artillery

Now No. 7 Battery, 17th Brigade E.A., Captain Gardiner having been
posted vice Raynsford.
1

Great Losses at Badajoz.

CHAP, xvill.

319

"

with this army. I cannot sufficiently applaud the officers

and soldiers of the British and Portuguese Artillery during
"
this siege, particularly Lieut. -Colonel Robe, who
opened
"
the breaching batteries, Majors May and Holcombe,
"
Captain Gardiner and Lieutenant Bourchier, of the Koyal
"

"

Artillery ; Captain de Kettberg, of the King's German

AdvertArtillery ; and Major Tulloh, of the Portuguese.
"
ing to the extent of the details of the Ordnance Depart"
ment during this siege, to the difficulty of weather, &c.,
"
with which Major Dickson had to contend, I must mention
"
him most particularly to your Lordship." Besides the
officers named in the despatch, there were
present in the

"

Captains Power, Latham, Dundas, and Dansey

and Lieutenants Weston, Connel, Grimes, and Love.
The loss of the Eoyal Artillery during the siege was as

batteries

follows

Captain Latham, Lieutenant Connel. and 23 non-commissioned

and men.
Wounded Captain Dundas, Lieutenants Grimes and Love, and 48 noncommissioned officers and men. 1
Killed

officers

Major Tulloh, an officer of the Eoyal Artillery attached

was also wounded.

The troops

of

to the

Portuguese

Horse Artillery commanded by Majors

Bull and Koss were present at the investment and siege

of Badajoz ; and although not included in the detail made
out by Major Dickson for duty in the trenches, it is evident Major
that they must have taken part in the operations, for Major

Ross

Dah-vnfie

Koss was severely wounded by a grape-shot. But his name

does not appear in Lord Wellington's lists.
The losses in the other arms of the service employed in
the siege were very great.
No fewer than 5000 officers and
men fell during the siege, and of that number 3500 fell on

the night of the 6th April.

Sixty officers and upwards of
seven hundred men were slain on the spot.

These numbers, which differ from those given by Napier, are taken
from the official MS. Regimental Returns prepared immediately after the
Doubtless many such
siege, which include all, even slightly wounded.
were not included in the Army returns.

8 April,

Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz.

320

No wonder

"
that,

"

was made known

"

nature gave

"

way

to

for

when the extent

CH AP. x v

1 1 1

of the night's havoc

Lord Wellington, the firmness of his

a moment, and the pride of conquest

yielded to a passionate Burst of grief for the loss of his

"

gallant soldiers."
The recollections of such a night are
treasures which an army can cherish.

among the
Even the

greatest
reaction

the irregularities and licence displayed by

the troops in the captured city, while certainly dimming,
could not permanently injure the glory of the marvellous
after success,

Such traditions are a weapon

assault.

for discipline,

which

only a soldier can estimate. Inspired by them, men will

feed the lamp of their present lives with the oil of past
glory, and strain every nerve to make the flame burn pure

and

clear.

Perhaps one of the highest motives, which can influence a

soldier, is the desire to be worthy of his predecessors, and
true to the reputation which they have earned for their
It carries him at once out of himself, and introduces
corps.
an unselfish element even into his own ambition and aims.

Only those who have served long in a regiment which they

love can understand the fond jealousy for its honour, which
Its history never dies
will inspire its members.
the deeds
;

of the years that are gone are the living possession of all ;
the valour which may have been exhibited in former days

who hunger for an opporand

the men who, by their
display
tunity
honour for their corps,
have
earned
and
skill, may
courage
the
in
form
dreams of the young
no shadowy
still haunt
aspirant, and the memories of the old.
lives

again in the breasts of those

of

NOTE.

similar

In alluding to the services of the two

"
an

as
siege of Badajoz, Sir J. Jones wrote that
"
operation, it succeeded to the utmost letter."

scientific corps at this

engineer and artillery

CHAPTER

XIX.

SALAMANCA AND BUKGOS.

FTEK

Lord Wellington decided on

and
marching northward,
carrying the war into Spain.
In the meantime, however, he directed General Hill to storm
the forts at Almaraz, a great French depot, and so weaken
the chance of union between the armies of the North and
1
South. Colonel Dickson was detailed as commanding officer ToD.-A.-G.
of the Artillery for this service, which consisted of a brigade
of 24-pounder howitzers, horsed by the mules of one of 6 Ma y>
the Portuguese Field Brigades, and manned by Captain
Glubb's company of the Eoyal Artillery, and a Portuguese
company. The ammunition, which was carried in Spanish
mule carts, comprised 600 24-pounder round shot, 300
5J-inch common shells, 240 5J-inch spherical and 60
A

"

the

fall

of Badajoz,

^^

5 J-inch common,
case shot.
Six pontoons accompanied
the guns on this expedition, which was perfectly successful

General Sir

and in which General Hill was pleased to say that he found

the exertions of Colonel Dickson, and his officers and men,

to

be unwearied.

Before turning to Lord Wellington's movements in the

north, which culminated in the battle of Salamanca, and
the temporary occupation of Madrid, a statement of the
strength of the Artillery force of England during this
Two
eventful year may possibly be found interesting.
dates have been

already large
continued to increase ;

The rank

and

chosen,

numbers

in

the

He

will

be seen that the

beginning of the year

in the item of

more especially

of Lieut.-Colonel had at

Portuguese government.

it

received

first

the

been conferred on him by the

same by brevet from the

English Government on 27th April, 1812.

VOL.

II.

Lord \Ve7-

21 May,

Salamanca and Burgos.

322

CHAP. xix.

These tables
for the brigades in the Peninsula.
the
resources
of England
on
the
idea
of
strain
one
an
give
No fewer than
MS. Wear which was caused by the Peninsular War.
drivers

'

Keturn^of
the Regi-

ment
I8ii.

for

1811 recruits had joined the Artillery alone in the previous

year, and over 1200 became non-effective from various causes
,

-,

during the same period.

KETURN

of the

ARTILLERY FORCES OF ENGLAND on the 25th June, 1812,

ROYAL ARTILLERY from the ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY,
Numbers serving at home and abroad.

distinguishing the
and specifying the

CHAP. XIX.

Operations at Salamanca.

323

in Spain and elsewhere, destined to have a great effect

The English General
who
on subsequent hostilities.
attack
on
an
Ciudad
with
the
unexpected
year
opened
Kodrigo was destined, ere it should be much more than

half over, to defeat his enemy in a pitched battle, drive him

ignominiously before him, and enter the capital of Spain in

triumph. These successes were to be further heightened by

Soult raising the long-continued siege of Cadiz, in alarm
at the intelligence of the French disasters in the north.
Scarcely, however, were these advantages to be realised, ere
the whole picture should change. The conqueror at Ciudad

Eodrigo and Badajoz should find himself fretting hopelessly

and the General, who entered
before the castle of Burgos
;

head of a victorious army, should

triumph
in disorder and semi-mutiny
from
lead that same army
Salamanca to Portugal, in retreat. The light and shade in
the military operations of the Peninsula were also to be

Madrid

at the

in

by news from without, which should mightily

affect the powers wfrose armies had faced one another for
Another war should be thrust upon Engso many years.
her own children in America
land's preoccupied people

intensified

should seize the opportunity of gratifying a seemingly undying jealousy; while, away in the colds of Eussia, the
greatest

army

that

even Napoleon had ever commanded,

should dissolve, as utterly as the snows amid which they

died should melt before the strengthening sun.
but of these the
It was, indeed, a year of great events
:

two in which this history has most interest were the battle
of Salamanca and the siege of Burgos.
Colonel Dickson, with the brigade of howitzers which he Colonel
had commanded at Almaraz, left Elvas on the 5th June to {J"^
Passing the dated
join Lord Wellington's army in the north.
Tagus at Alcantara, he joined the army at Salamanca by 3 o j
1812
way of Zarza, Fuente Guinalda, and Ciudad Eodrigo. Weilington was engaged at this time, with very limited means,
in endeavouring to reduce the French Fort St. Vincent at
Salamanca,
convent as

a
its

entrenched work, having a large

stronghold, and mounted with 36 pieces of

strongly

Y 2

Salamanca and Burgos.

324

CHAP. XIX.

The

ordnance.

Allied siege Artillery

previous to Colonel
4
Dickson's arrival consisted of only
18-pounder guns, and

a battery of long 6-pounders, under Lieut. -Colonel

That

officer

able

now

had performed his duty, with inadequate means,

and

manner which called forth universal admiration

Colonel Dickson, when he arrived with his howitzers to
him, expressed the gre^t satisfaction it afforded him
in a

May.

to repay, in a small degree, the

many

assist

to be

acts of kind-

ness and co-operation, which he had enjoyed at Colonel May's

hands.
Several points of the defence were breached by the
of the Allied Artillery, but the whole work was so
strong, and the defences so connected, that no assault could
fire

be attempted on the body of the work. An assault made

on two outworks failed at first, but the gorge of one of them

having been subsequently breached, they were carried with

little or no loss a few hours before the surrender of the
chief fort.

The means

at their

disposal being very small,

May and Dickson employed hot shot from the

howitzers against the Convent, and succeeded, after firing
260 rounds, in setting fire to it, and destroying the whole
Colonels

of the enemy's provisions.

Despatch

Fuente
Pena,

la

The surrender followed almost

immediately. These operations had been mainly conducted

^ v General Clinton, under the supervision of Lord Wellington ;
and, in his despatch, Lord Wellington reported that that
had mentioned in strong terms Lieut. -Colonel May,

officer

who commanded

the Royal Artillery under the direction of

Colonel Framingham, and the officers and men under his

command. The capture of the forts was delayed until the

27th June,

it

having been necessary to send to the rear for

more ammunition, a step which caused a delay of six days.

As soon as they fell, the French army commenced to retire,
pursued by the Allies.
The loss of the Eoyal Artillery at the siege of these forts
was as follows
Killed Captain Elige, and 9 ra/nk and file.
Wounded 1 lieutenant (Love), and 25 rank and file.
:

Appointed Brevet Lieut.-Colonel on 27th April, 1812.

C HAP. X

A clivity of Horse A rtillery.

X.

325

In the various movements of both armies between the

27th June and the 22nd July, 1812, on which day the great

engagement known

as the battle of

Salamanca was fought,

no use appears to have been made of the Artillery, with the

exception of the Horse Artillery attached to the Cavalry
In one affair, on the 18th July, at Castrejou,
division.
when the troops under Sir Stapleton Cotton were attacked,

Lieutenant Belson, an officer in the Chestnut Troop, was

wounded. For honest, conscientious hard work, and staunch

performance of his duty, this

officer

was unsurpassed by

the Regiment.
On reference to his record of
any
the 3rd August, 1809, and
it
that
between
service,
appears
in

14th April, 1814, Lieutenant Belson was present in no

fewer than thirty-three engagements. Beside such services,
which received but little official recognition, those of men in

more recent campaigns, who have received

lavish,

merited, rewards, sink into insignificance.

It is impossible, without exceeding the

work,

to

describe- in

detail

the

services

although

limits

of

the

of this

Horse

the branch of the regiment to

which young Belson belonged. The tables at the end of
the preceding volume give some idea of what these services

Artillery in the Peninsula,

were, but are totally inadequate.

the individual troops would alone

The history

of some of
volume and the
doubtless be undertaken by
fill

writing of such a history will

some officer, who may find himself in the proud position of
commanding one. Their active duties were incessant ; even

during the sieges, when they ostensibly formed part of the

armies of investment or observation, they were ready to
volunteer at

all

times to do additional duty in the trenches.

as will be seen shortly, their services in

At San Sebastian,

The
siege artillerymen, were invaluable.
of their services in the great battle now to be

the sieges, as
details

described are, unfortunately, not given in any of the docuThe fact of the presence of
Office.

ments in the Eecord

three troops, Ross's, Bull's, and Macdonald's, is known, but

more. They were included in the general mention of

little

the Corps,

by Lord Wellington,

after the battle,

when he

Salamanca and Burgos.

326
Despatch
Fiores de

A viia,
isi 2!''

Browne,

CHAP. xix.

" The
Koyal and German Artillery under Lieute" nant-Colonel
Framingham distinguished themselves by
" tha
their fire ;" but no further details are
of
accuracy
another
From
pen we learn that the whole of the
given.
said that

troops and batteries were more or less engaged during the

eventful day but this general statement is neither satis;

In a letter from Colonel Dickson,

fying, nor quite exact.
the
written three days after
battle, he mentions that one of
his

heavy brigades was not ordered up, but was kept in the

ready to move in case of retreat. Possibly this brigade

been manned by Portuguese, and the howitzer
have
may
he commanded during the battle, may have
which
brigade,
rear,

been manned by Captain Glubb's company, which was under

in which case the author referred to would be
his orders
;

right

but

it

is

extremely rare in Colonel Dickson's corre-

spondence to find him alluding to any action, in which he

commanded men of .his own Corps, without particularizing

On

the other hand, it must be admitted

that Napier describes Colonel Dickson's howitzers as being
manned by British and Portuguese brigaded together.

some by name.

Lord Wellington's letters show that he was by no means

anxious for a general action at this time, if it could have
been avoided ; and this fact was apparent to those around

When it was inevitable, he found that the enemy

had a better position than himself and but for the unexpected opening given by Marmont, in the over extension of
" I
his i e ft it would have been a very doubtful issue.
"
"
that Lord
really believe," wrote Colonel Dickson,
"
his
and
that if
inclination,
Wellington fought against
" Marmont
had
not
pushed him so hard,
by his manoeuvres
"
he would quietly have fallen back, and relinquished
him.

To D.-A.-G.
dated

7
1812"

'

"

Salamanca to the French. The audacity of the enemy

was such, however, that British honour required it should
"
and most severely Marshal Marmont has
be checked

"

"

been punished for playing tricks with such a leader as

" Lord
Wellington. When at last his Lordship determined
"
to attack the attacker, his dispositions were splendid, and
"
I can compare
his operations rapid and overpowering.

Battle of Salamanca.

CHAP. xix.
"
"
"

"

327

the close-fighting part of the battle more to one of those

battles between the French and Spaniards, of which there

have been so many, with always the same

contest between armies equally powerful.

result,

than to a

was a rapid
" succession of
overthrows, with some failures, but none
" that for a moment
impeded the grand result."
There were two

Dos Arapiles

hills

on the

left of

It

the Allied line, called

Los Hermanitos, situated within easy

The French had obtained
artillery range of one another.
of
the
of
loftier
and by this means had
these,
possession
an
undoubted
acquired
advantage. But this advantage was
modified by the artillery fire on the left of Lord Wellington's
It was here that Colonel
line, which was very effective.
Dickson's howitzer brigade was in action, taking part in an
Artillery duel, which is mentioned in the correspondence of
or

who took

Major Macdonald, who commanded a troop of Horse Artillery on the

occasion, said that the French artillerymen were driven
from their guns on the hill opposite, and prevented from
returning, by the destructive fire of Shrapnel shell from the
English guns. In another letter, from an officer who was
also present, the same statement is endorsed
and the
several Artillery officers

part in

it.

reader learns that the brigades of Artillery chiefly engaged

were Boss's, Bull's, and Macdonald's troops, Colonel Dick-

and Captain Douglas's brigades, and Major Sympher's of

the King's German Artillery. From the same sources it is
ascertained that in the staunch final advance of the enemy
son's

against the village of the Arapiles, the fire of Shrapnel shell

from the howitzers of the English Artillery produced great
and that, on another important occasion during the
effect
;

enemy's guns was disabled by the

be in the recollection of the military

battle, a battery of the

same means.

It will

student that Marmont's extension and weakening of his left

sprang from a desire to cut off the retreat of the Allies on

Ciudad Eodrigo, while he should yet retain the strong position

on his right, afforded by the possession of the hill already
mentioned. The division Thomieres was selected for the
flank movement, and against it Pakenham's division was

To Colonel
dated
9

?*JJ

Lieut.

B^L, to
Colonel
dated

Salamanca and Burgos,

328

CHAP. XIX.

despatched by Lord Wellington, accompanied by 12 guns.

service performed by these guns was most valuable.
Being placed in a commanding position, they suddenly took
the French troops in flank, and aided materially in ensuring

The

Lord Wellington's quick judgment and

Then
military skill had placed in the way of his troops.
followed the stern battle all along the line, which resulted
a victory, which

"

beating of forty thousand men in forty minutes ;"

the French seeing General after General fall, and fighting
the English
at times in bewilderment, for want of orders ;
in the

fighting with all the courage of their race, and all the
confidence which a General like Wellington inspired,
who

seemed to be always at the right place at the right time

then the French falling back from their first position only
to make a new effort
and then the utter rout and confusion,
:

redeemed but by the coolness and skill of the brave Foy,

who with his rear-guard strove to cover the headlong flight
of the others.

The strength of the Allied army at Salamanca was 46,000,

that of the French 42,000 but the superiority in point of
numbers on the side of the Allies was caused by the presence
;

of some utterly useless Spanish troops.

The French had
74 guns on the field, the Allies only 60. These, according to
Napier, were as follows
:

Koyal Horse Artillery.

Koyal Foot Artillery.
Koyal Foot Artillery.

Three troops
9- pounder brigades

Two
Two

12-pounder
King's German Artillery. One 9-pounder
Portuguese and British brigaded together

One Spanish

18 guns.
..

12

,,

..

12

. .

..

..

,,
,,
,

6 24-pr. howitzers.

6 guns.

battery

Total

..

..

60 pieces.

There would certainly appear to be an error in this

In none of Colonel Dickson's manuscripts can it
be traced that there were more than five 24-pounder
howitzers with his brigades it would therefore seem that
statement.

the strength of the Allied Artillery at Salamanca was even

Losses at Salamanca.

CHAP. xix.

329

more disproportionate than that given, and that Lord

Wellington had only 59 guns against Marmont's 74.
The losses on both sides at Salamanca were very heavy.
The Allies lost 1 General, 24 officers, and 686 men killed
and 5 Generals, 182 officers, and 4270 men wounded. The
loss of the French has never been exactly stated.
They
11 guns and other
lost 7000 prisoners alone, besides
;

An

approximation to their real loss has been

obtained by taking General Clausel's statement of the army
on the 18th of the following month. He had succeeded
trophies.

Marshal Marmont in the command, on the latter being

wounded; and on the 18th August he reported that the
army, which had been 42,000 strong on the 22nd July, had
Much of the
fallen to 21,800, with 50 instead of 74 guns.

may have occurred during the pursuit after the battle,

but the whole was virtually attributable to the contest of
the 22nd.
Important as the results of the victory were, they would
loss

have been more so had not the retreat of the French across
the Tormes been facilitated by a blunder of the Spanish
General, Espana, who left the bridge of Alba open to them.
This enabled Clausel to get as far as Peneranda with far less

punishment than an army so beaten as his was should have

1
received from his pursuers.
Wellington followed him to
Yalladolid, but failed to overtake him ; so, while Clausel

continued his flight to Burgos, Wellington, after a pause of

some days, turned towards Madrid, to free the capital from
the presence of Joseph Buonaparte and his army.
"

He

few days after the battle of SalamaDca, the troop of Horse Arunder Captains Lefebure and Whiuyates (which was on the
Tagus with Hill's force), distinguished itself in a brilliant affair, resulting
in the total defeat of the French cavalry at Ilibera.
Major-General Long,
who commanded, spoke in the highest terms of all the troops under his
1

tillery,

command, particularly the Horse Artillery, who displayed great activity

BROWNE.
in their movements, and rapidity in their fire."
2 " On the 10th
August an engagement took place with a body of the
enemy's cavalry which had been sent forward to watch the movements
of the Allies. - This force was driven in by General D' Urban, but made
another attack.
General D' Urban ordered the Portuguese cavalry, with

Cust's

""

Salamanca and Burgos.

330

CHAP. xix.

on the 12th August, Joseph having

quitted it without waiting for the Allies and he remained
there until the 1st September, receiving from the Spaniards
entered

in

it

state

perpetual ovation, and learning from England how

valuable his services were deemed, by their further recognition in the form of a Marquisate.
a

Affairs in the Peninsula forbade longer repose, nor was

Wellington the man to risk his army finding a Capua in

Soult, alarmed at the news from the north, raised

the siege of Cadiz, and let Seville fall into the hands of the
Allies, while he moved northward himself. An expedition from
Sicily landed in the east of Spain, to co-operate with Lord

Madrid.

Wellington, of which

it

must

suffice

here to say that the

Royal Artillery accompanying it was commanded by Capthen Brevet Lieut. -Colonel Holcombe, the same
tain
officer whose company had been at the sieges of Ciudad
Eodrigo and Badajoz. And, lastly, the French General,
Clausel, had reorganized his army, and was taking the

Of the
and to
defeat him again before Soult's army could join him from
offensive against the Allied troops left in the north.
operations of Wellington to check this General,

the south,

Pick-son's

it is

proposed to select one, as being a specially

the siege of the Castle of Burgos.

of the forts at Salamanca, the heavy
Artillery employed there continued to be attached to the
reserve Artillery under Colonel Dickson, and followed the

Artillery subject
After the fall

movements

of the

army during the campaign.

It consisted

of three 18-pounder guns on travelling carriages,

to

which were

and

five

attached

24-pounder howitzers,
Captain
Glubb's company of the Royal Artillery, commanded by
Captain Power, and a company of Portuguese Artillery,
" which was
Captain Macdonald's troop of Horse Artillery, to charge.
" Before
reaching the enemy they were seized with panic and fled, leaving
" Macdonald's
guns, which had been moved forward in support, utterly
"
unprotected. The exertions of the troop got the guns moved off, but
"
owing to the slate of the ground, three got damaged and fell with
"
Captain Dynely and their detachments into the enemy's hands."

BROWNE.

CHAP,

x.

of Burgos.

Siege

33

commanded by Major Arriaga, with some

additional detach-

ments of the Artillery of both nations. After the battle of

Salamanca, the whole eight pieces were brought forward to
the neighbourhood of Madrid, preparatory to the attack of
Fort la Chine, which was still occupied by the French, but
which ultimately surrendered without a contest. On the
1st September, Lord Wellington quitted Madrid, to proceed
to Arevalo, where the 1st, 5th, 6th, and 7th Divisions were

ordered to assemble preparatory to a movement to the

northward ; and Colonel Dickson, with his 18-pounders and
howitzers, was ordered to accompany this corps.

Previous to this movement, measures had been taken to

bring forward from Ciudad Kodrigo the following proportion

of ammunition, viz.
600

24-pr. round shot

..

..

18-pr

..

..800

,,

with powder, and

all necessary

small stores.

On

the 9th September, this small siege-train arrived at

Yalladolid, and on the following day continued its march

towards Burgos.

On

the 19th, the Castle of Burgos was

invested, the Artillery park being formed near Villa Toro.

That Lord Wellington undertook this siege with wholly

inadequate means has been well known but how inadequate
these means were will appear from the following statement.
First, as regards personnel : how many Artillerymen had he
to carry on the duties in the batteries against a place which
held a commanding situation, and was powerfully armed ?
He had merely
;

No. of men.
..
Capt. Glubb's company, under Capt Power
Lieut.- Col. May's company under Lieut. Elgee

Major Arriaga's company of Portuguese Artillery

Total

45
45
57
14/7

As mentioned above, he had only eight guns; and the

following was the total ammunition of all sorts, including
the additional supply from Ciudad Eodrigo.

Salamanca and Burgos.

33 2
24-pr.

round shot

24-pr.

common

shell

24-pr. spherical case

To

900
208
236

18-pr.

CHAP. xix.

round shot

18-pr. spherical case

..

1306
100

swell this amount, Colonel Dickson offered a reward

He found
any shot fired by the enemy.

for bringing in

that

the

enemy's
pounder guns, and

16-pounder
that" his

9-pounders of the English

shot fitted

his

own

8-pounder shot would

field brigades.

fit

18the

Before the end

of September, about 1400 shot were brought in, in this way.

Colonel Dickson also obtained detachments from the Horse

and Field Brigades occasionally, to give his siege artillerymen relief; but the duties of the Field Artillery were so
active at this time round Burgos that men could with difficulty be spared.
The names of the officers of the Eoyal Artillery engaged
in the siege were as follows
:

Lieutenant-Colonel Robe, commanding.

Lieutenant-Colonel Dickson, in immediate charge of the operation.

Captain Power
Lieutenant Robe
Lieutenant i'ascoe
Lieutenant Elgee
Lieutenant Hough

CHAP. XIX.

Failure of Assaults.

333

the outer line, proving successful. At the same time, a

second battery for six guns was commenced to fire against
the keep of the castle.
The assault, which was premature,

and its leader was killed. On the night of the 24th,

;
the two 18-pounders were taken out of No. 1 Battery, and
drawn along a trench, part of the way towards No. 2, being
failed

replaced in the former by howitzers.

howitzers in No. 1 Battery opened a
palisades,

The

fire

which were used

was not successful

On

to flank the
;

the 25th, the five

fire

some

to destroy

works of the

castle.

the howitzers were found to be

very deficient in precision when firing round shot ; and the

result was inadequate to the expenditure of ammunition,

some importance under the

Lord Wellington, conscious of the
deficiency of his guns, worked now by means of mining and
on the night of the 29th September, a mine was sprung which
threw down part of the outer wall. An assault was imme141 rounds,

a consideration of

existing circumstances.

diately ordered;

but from the darkness of the night the

its way, and those who were leading

detachment missed

were driven down

having gained the top of the breach

again for want of support.
to the trenches.

The whole,

therefore, returned

On the 30th September, the howitzers in No. 1 Battery

were of essential service. About 10 A.M. they opened fire,
with the addition of a French 6 -pounder gun, taken in the
hornwork, to demolish a stockade upon the top of a tower
in the outer line a little to the enemy's right of the breach,

from which the French with musketry annoyed the English

in the sap,
the fire being so close that every man, who
exposed himself in the slightest degree, was sure to be hit.

"

The

total,

expenditure of ammunition during the

" follows
" 920

siege

was as

24-pr. round shot

1854 18-pr.
,
333 French 8-pr. round
90
6-pr.
,

,,

, ,

288 French 4-pr. round shot.

203 24-pr. common shell.
shot. 182
spherical case.
192 French 6-pr. shot."
,

JONES'S

'

Peninsular Sieges.'

Salamanca and Burgos.

334-

CHAP. xix.

The stockade was strengthened by sand bags, &c., but, after

The ammuthree hours' firing, it was utterly destroyed.
90 24nition expended for this purpose was 136 rounds ;
French
and
6
40
shot,
5J-inch
pounder shot,
6-pounder

common shell. It was on

who had volunteered for

this

day that Captain Dansey,

in the trenches, was

service

wounded.
The next episode in the Artillery portion of the siege was
the moving the three 18-pounders into a breaching battery
so close to the outer wall, that the guns of the upper work
could not bear on them.
The French commander, Dubreton,
lost no time, however, in bringing down a howitzer and a
light gun from the upper work, followed by others as quickly
as he could ; and as the breaching battery was very slight,
Napier,

^Memoir
sir

Hew

of

" The defences of the

the result was serious.
battery were
"
u
^
e
of
the
demolished, two
gun-carriages were disabled,
9.
" a trunnion was knocked off one of the
18-pounders, and the
" muzzle of another was
A second, stronger, breachsplit."
ing battery was then formed, but the plunging fire from the

was too severe the guns which were yet serviceable

were therefore removed back to No. 1 Battery, on the hill of
San Michael. From this position, on the morning of the
4th October, they opened again on the old breach; and a
castle

mine having been exploded with great

effect in

the

same

the fourth during the

evening, another assault took place,
and
a
This
was
more
successful,
lodgment was effected ;
siege.
but on the following evening, a large body of the enemy

Napier.

charged down upon the guards and workmen, and got possession of the old breach, besides killing and wounding 150
men, and destroying their works. On the 7th, the besiegers,
who had continued their advance, and were now close to
the wall, were again charged with fatal effect by the garrison ; and the guns from San Michael, although effecting
a great breach in the second line, suffered severely from

another 18-pounder losing

Guns were, however, too few and too valuable to
be considered unserviceable, even after so serious an injury

the artillery
a trunnion.

as this

fire

of the enemy,

and the ingenuity of Colonel Dickson produced

CHAP. xix.

Raising of the Siege.

species of carriage, from

335

which the damaged ordnance could

with reduced charges. Between the 7th and the 10th

October, the San Michael guns continued to make "breaches
fire

works on the 10th, some ammunition arrived from

on the 18th, another breach was pronounced
and
This
Wellington ordered a fifth assault.
practicable,

in the

Santander

was unsuccessful the Allies lost 200 men killed and

wounded and the siege was at length raised on the 20th
by Lord Wellington, who had received alarming intelligence
also

of the approach of a French

the movements of Soult.

army

to relieve Burgos,

and of

The siege of Burgos is a blot on the military reputation of

Duke of Wellington and revealed an ignorance of what
artillery could and could not do, which every now and then
the

manifested itself in his military operations.

If Sir

Hew

Boss was correctly informed, the error made by Lord Weilington was almost criminal, as there was no necessity for
attempting such a siege with so inadequate a siege-train.
"
Why he should have undertaken the siege of such a place,"

Sir

Hew

^. paf
iympie,
Madrid,
18 Oct -

wrote Major Boss from Madrid, " with means so very inadequate appears very extraordinary, especially as there was
11
little or no
difficulty in augmenting it to any extent, either
" from the
guns and ammunition found here, or the ships at
"
That Sir Hew wrote with reason seems all
St. Andero."

the more probable from the fact that, while the last assault
was actually taking place, two 24-pounders sent from

Santander by Sir

Home Popham had

passed Eeynosa on
be
way
urged that the responmay
sibility of undertaking a siege with insufficient Artillery lay
not with the General, but with the Artillery commander.

their

to Burgos.

But

it

Those who are familiar with the character of the Duke of

Wellington, as shown in the various narratives of the
Peninsular War, will not make use of this argument. It
was not his wont to allow his plans to be altered by the
representations of his subordinates, nor was
the habit of consulting them.
Besides, in
he
the
relieved
instance,
officially
Artillery
" The
officers of the
responsibility.

officers,"

he addicted to
this particular

and Engineer
he wrote, " at

Napier.

Salamanca and Burgos.

336
To Lord

"
"

the head of the Artillery and Engineer departments,

Lieut.-Colonel Kobe and Lieut.-Colonel Burgoyne, and
Lieut.-Colonel Dickson,

'

1812.

"
"

CHAP. xix.

who commands

the reserve

Ar-

me

every assistance ; and the failure of

not to be attributed to them." The Duke of

tillery,

rendered

success

is

Wellington believed in the bayonet beyond any other

weapon and if a legitimate belief became occasionally cre;

hardly to be wondered at, when one reflects on

the gallantry of the Infantry which it was the Duke's good
fortune to command.
What seemed to be impossibilities,
dulity,

it is

when ordered by him, were proved possible in the result;

and the consequently increased belief in the power of the
But his creed was supbayonet seems but natural.
ported at a terrible cost.

When we

find Napier himself,

his sieges a succession

Wellington's idolater, pronouncing

of butcheries, the criticism of a more temperate student
may be excused. Doubtless, the want of adequate ordnance

was often severely felt by the Duke of Wellington, and

compelled him to an exaggerated use of the other arms;
but this fact was hardly an excuse for neglecting its employment, when available in
with moderate exertions.

sufficient quantities,

and obtainable

Nor was the fact that he as he justly complained

never had a proper amount of Artillery with his armies
any excuse for his making occasionally but an indifferent
Fortunately, the Duke of Welhad
to
encounter
merely
lington
Napoleon's Marshals in
he
had
to
had
meet
their
master, it is probable that
Spain:
the creed which he believed and practised might have received
some rude assaults. If one could free oneself of all but purely
professional considerations, one would wish, for the sake of
use of that which he had.

the student in

the art of war,

that Napoleon,

instead of

Marmont and Clausel, had faced Wellington in the campaign

The result would, doubtless, have been the same
of 1812.

but the ways and means would have been very different.
As it happened, Wellington's sole encounter with Napoleon
took place on ground chosen by himself, and under circumstances which yet further assisted his military creed, by

CHAP. XIX.

Residts of the Siege of Burgos.

337

testing yet again that which he had so often extravagantly

proved, the marvellous endurance, discipline, and courage of

the British Infantry.

The results of the mistaken siege of Burgos are curtly
described by Sir J. T. Jones, in his Journal of the Sieges in
"
"
the Peninsula.'
By its means," he writes, a beaten
"
concentrate his
time to recruit his
*

'

forces,
enemy gained
" scattered
The same
armies, and regain the ascendancy."
of
the
to
the
service
author writes, with regard
Koyal
" It is a
pleasing act of justice
Artillery during the siege
" to the
to state
in this
:

attack,
Artillery officers, employed
they vied with each other in their exertions and

" that
"
expedients to meet the hourly difficulties they encoun"
tered, and that no set of men could possibly have drawn

" more service than

they did from the limited means at
" their command."

VOL.

II.

^c

T
2
(5

338

CHAPTER XX.
YlTTOEIA AND

THE

SAN SEBASTIAN.

threatening appearance of the various French armies

in Spain, which compelled Lord Wellington to raise the

siege of Burgos, compelled him ultimately to withdraw into
Despatch
to Lord

dated
Ct '

isi2

Portugal for winter-quarters, In leaving Burgos he found

the activity of the commanding officers of Artillery very
It enahled him to carry off all his serviceable
beneficial.

S uns an ^ stores i n a s i n gl e night hut the ahsence of cattle

prevented his removing the few French guns which he had
captured in the storming of the hornwork.
During the
retreat, the services of the Horse Artillery, under Major
Downman, were of a high order, and called forth the commendation of Lord Wellington. The troop which most distinguished itself was Major Bull's, commanded hy Captain
Norman E-amsay, Major Bull having been twice wounded,
on one occasion so severely, when in advance with the
Cavalry at Torquemada on the night of the 12th September,
that he was obliged to be invalided.
He does not
1812,
;

reappear in the story of his gallant troop until the battle

of Waterloo.

The

retreat terminated on the 24th

November, and the

troops went into cantonments, the head-quarters being stationed at Frenada, and the Artillery at Malhada Sourda,

three miles distant.

An

old friend reappears, in the winter of 1812-13, to the

burrower among Artillery records. Captain now BrevetMajor Frazer, who last was mentioned in this work in the
account of the operations at Monte Video ^and Buenos Ayres,
arrived to take
officer's

more

absence.

command of Major Bull's troop during that

His own troop being on home service, he

easily obtained permission

to

assume

this duty.

He

CHAP. XX.

Resumption of Hostilities.

339

had not been many weeks in the Peninsula before he

re-

that which had hitherto

ceived a more important command,
been held with such distinction by Major Downman, the

Sir A.

of the Koyal Horse Artillery with Lord Welling- Letters*

a
ton's armies.
Although a reserved man in public, and fond P ge 89.

command

of solitude, he

Happily

was almost

for those

diffuse

in

his

correspondence.
in the Corps,

who have succeeded him

from the Peninsula have been collected and pubone

who served in his troop for seven years,
by
General Sir Edward Sabine.
These letters, and the un-

his letters

lished

published letters of Sir A. Dickson, give together a most

graphic picture of the operations of 1813, 1814, and 1815,
which cannot but lose by the necessary condensation of the
historian.

In the beginning of 1813, Lord Wellington proceeded to

Lisbon to make the necessary arrangements for the coming

The intelligence of the French disasters in

campaign.
Eussia had reached him rumours also came that Soult and
;

French Peninsular armies

from
his
and,
preparations at Lisbon,
it is evident that he had
already resolved on offensive
if
which
should,
possible, have the effect of
operations,

many

of the best troops in the

had gone

to

France

driving the French out of the Peninsula. That he succeeded

is well known to the reader ; it remains to
single out, in
this

and the following chapter, some of the more

salient

points in the campaign.

Colonel Dickson had been ordered to Lisbon, to consult as Colonel
to some means of making the Portuguese Artillery more J^IT'
available for service than it had as yet been ; and while Lisbon,

was sent for by Lord Wellington, who had also isi'

and
was directed to superintend the equipment of a Ibid
arrived,
train
of thirty-four large pontoons, which was to be d ted
pontoon
sent by river to Abrantes, and there handed over to the 30 Jan.
1813master-pontonier, for use in the coming operations of the
to
be
a
sore
This
train
was
destined
to
grievance
army.
the Artillery.
It had always to be horsed first, even at the
expense of the Artillery brigades and its possible wants in
there, he

that

respect haunted, like a nightmare, the

commanding
z 2

Vittoria

340

and San

CHAP. xx.

Sebastian.

At this interview Lord Wellington

the Corps.
also expressed considerable anxiety about the brigade of
officer of

he was determined to have

as the French were understood to be

18-pounder guns, which, he

early in the

field,

said,

Some new 18-pounder s

everywhere.
from
were
and, on their arrival, he
England;
expected daily
to D -A-G
dated
desired that they should be sent up the Tagus to Abrantes.
This was safely effected and bullocks were ordered to bring
1813.
Colonel

fortifying

positions

C S

'

them thence

to head-quarters, at

Malhada Sourda.

They were ultimately manned by Captain Morrison's and

Captain Glubb's companies of the Koyal Artillery and the
number of carriages in the brigade was no less than
;

57, viz.
Ibid.

dated
18 April,

1813

6 18-pr. guns on travelling carriages.

2 spare carriages.

18 ammunition (limber) waggons,

3 store waggons.

6 platform waggons.
2 forges.

20 bullock carts.

N.B.

Ammunition was

The guns, and nine

in addition to their

carried at the rate of 150 rounds per gun.

ammunition waggons, had horses

the remaining carriages were
bullocksj

of the

drawn by bullocks only.

About the same time

as the 18-pounders arrived from

of
Horse Artillery, under the comanother
troop
England,
mand of Captain Webber Smith, also reached Lisbon. A

Ibid.
l

24 Feb
1813
-

change in the armament of the troop, from 6-pounders to

9-pounders, was immediately ordered by Lord Wellington,
a change which, on more than one occasion, and in more
than one campaign, has been ordered in the armament of
the Koyal Horse Artillery. At this time, also, a recognition
was made by the Portuguese Government of the services
Colonels Eobe
of the Artillery,
knights of the Tower and Sword.

and Dickson being made

The old difficulty as to horses reappeared in the begin^n

n
S ^ 1813. The sickness among these animals during
^March
1813.
the winter had been excessive; and the difficulty of purchasing any in the country seemed daily to increase. This
led to many changes.
Among others, Lord Wellington re-

Ibid.

'

duced the whole of the Portuguese Artillery

for service

Improvements in Field Brigades.

CHAP. XX.

341

one 9-pounder and one

Eowland
with
Sir
Hill's force, and
6-pounder
one 9-pounder brigade to be attached to the general ArThese three were made very
tillery reserve of the army.
efficient by this means, and the purchase of a considerable
in

the

field

to

three brigades,

brigade to be

number of horses
The campaign

avoided.

1813 was distinguished by a feature of

Lord Wellington was now Cornconsiderable importance.
mander-in-Chief of all the Spanish armies, and all necessary
of

correspondence came direct to him, instead of through Cadiz.

assistance of the Spanish regular troops was never of much

The

value, even under the

new system, except

combat of San Marcial and

at the Bidassoa

at the

subsequent
but the part taken

by the Partidas, or irregular forces, during the campaign

was not unimportant, and increased the difficulties of the
French troops.
The French commenced to fall back from Salamanca Colonel
towards Burgos, and in the beginning of April had not ic s
^p
G
above a thousand men in the former place. At the same dated
time, supplies were arriving from England weekly, and were 4^^}*'
disembarked in the northern ports of the Peninsula, with a 1813
view to the advance of the English army. An organization
of the Allied troops was taking place, superior to anything
which had yet been witnessed and the Corps, whose history
is treated in these
pages, improved with the other arms in
this respect.
It seems a suitable time to touch on the
improvement in the Field Brigades which had already taken
-

place; and, at the risk of wearying the reader, to place

before him a specimen of these in the spring of 1813.
The brigade, i.e. battery, which it is proposed to describe

belonged to the 10th Battalion, and was commanded by the

2nd Captain, E. M. Cairnes, a gallant officer, who after-

wards

fell

at

Waterloo.

It

was pronounced by various

inspecting officers to be the best field brigade with the

army but Captain Cairnes in his correspondence declined
;

to accept this honour, as he considered others

equally efficient.
It may, therefore, be accepted as a fair type.
From a letter

written by Captain Cairnes himself, the following particulars

Vittoria

342
Captain

Captain*
Bedingfieid

Penamacor,
1

'

isi a"

and San

Sebastian.

CHAP. XX.

and they exhibit a startling contrast to the

oxen-draught brigades of the commencement of the Peningll l ar "War.
His system was based on that of the Horse
universal in field batteries, in which each
now
Artillery,
ffi cer was
wholly and solely responsible to the captain for
He
his division, whether in matters of men or materiel.
declined to allow the officer of the Driver Corps, who commanded the drivers attached to the brigade, to have any
control over his men, except as far as their pay and subsistence were concerned; and by thus giving his own
officers complete responsibility, he received the reward
which such conduct generally ensures, and was able to say,
"
My subalterns, Eaynes, Bridges, James, and Talbot, are
"
all most excellent, full of zeal, activity, and intelligence
"
they run before me in everything I can desire concerning
"
their respective charges, and are never more happy than
are obtained

"

when

in stables."

had always been

Driver Corps.

The

chief difficulty in field brigades

men of the

in the divided allegiance of the

The solution of this difficulty,

which was

adopted by Captain Cairnes, gradually obtained favour, and

ended in a most natural manner, the abolition of the Driver

Corps and the absorption of the drivers into the Regiment.

however, some years to educate the authorities up
to this point ; and not until 1822 was the corps actually

It took,

Kane's List,

Another point in Captain Cairnes' system to

which he attached great importance, and which he said had
been generally adopted in the other brigades, was that of
abolished.

having promotion among the non-commissioned officers to

go, not by battalion, but by company seniority; and of
waiving even the question of seniority in the presence of

There were faces in Woolwich

undoubted superiority.
which grew very long, and fossil old gentlemen whose
remaining hairs stood on end, at such a perversion of the
old order of things; but Lord Wellington supported the
captains of companies in a measure which on service gave

them a powerful engine

for discipline.
So, time after time,
find
the
real
unit
does the reader
Artillery
asserting itself.
The artificers with a brigade were 2 wheelers, 2 collar-

CHAP. XX.

Improvements in Field Brigades.

343

makers, 1 farrier, 1 jobbing smith, and 4 shoeing smiths.

The non-commissioned officers of the Driver Corps attached
to a 9-pounder brigade were, 1 staff-sergeant, 2 sergeants,
and 6 corporals, one of whom acted as forage sergeant,
under the acting storekeeper of the brigade (a company, not
driver non-commissioned officer), who, again, was under an

assistant commissary-general attached to the brigade (under

the immediate orders of the Captain commanding). This

was responsible for the rations and the supply of

which purpose he had a number of forage mules, at
the rate of one mule to two horses.
Sixteen round tents and two horsemen's tents were
carried; and, for the convenience of the artificers, two

officer

corn, for

waggons accompanied the brigade. The other extra

carriages were the forge waggon, spare wheel carriage, and
the captain's cart. The brigade itself consisted of 6 guns
store

and howitzers, 6 ammunition waggons, and 2 reserve ammunition waggons.

The proportion of ammunition carried was
as follows:
9-pr. gun: 70 round shot, 34 spherical case, and 12 common case.
Total 116 rounds.
For each 5Hn. howitzer: 44 spherical case, 8 common case, and 32 com-

For each

mon shell. Total 84 rounds.

In each reserve ammunition waggon there were 57 round shot, 21 spherical
Total 84 rounds.
case, and 6 common case.

The number

of drivers with a. brigade

was one hundred.

Five of the spare carriages were drawn by mules; those

being selected which were the least likely to go under fire.
This was altogether a most desirable command for a

young 2nd Captain

to

have on active service; and keenly

His dismay may therefore be
it.

did Captain Cairnes enjoy

imagined, on receiving, on the 5th May, 1813, a letter from

Colonel Fisher, then commanding the Artillery in the
Peninsula, announcing that Lord Wellington had decided to
take away the horses of his brigade for the service of the

pontoon train, leaving him to the chance of any horses

which might hereafter come from Lisbon. He was not
allowed any time to brood over his troubles, but was ordered

Vittoria

344

and San

CHAP. xx.

Sebastian.

meet the pontoons at Sabugal in three days' time, and

hand over to the Engineer the whole of his stud. Colonel
Fisher's letter, which was a private communication, sent a
to

official order, held out hopes of

a speedy restoration (which fortunately took place) of the
1
Captain Cairnes'
equipment of his brigade for the field.

few hours in advance of the

reply to this letter was so soldierlike, that

Dated

7'
1813.

it is

well worthy

" I return
of a place in the records of his Corps.
you," he
"
dear
for
sincere
thanks
wrote,
Colonel, my
my
your com"
munication of yesterday's date, anterior to the arrival of
"
any order, which would, I think, have set me perfectly

"

As

have read your letter over twenty times,

and am yet very unwilling to understand it.
Lord
"
Wellington having fixed on this brigade, I trust we shall
"
be entitled to every consideration, when it is recollected
crazy.

it is,

"

" that a
junior one in
" same distance from

all

respects

is

within a league of the

Sabugal as this place. The pain of

"
urging anything prejudicial to my valued friend Parker
"
is superseded by the promise held out to us of a
speedy

"
re-equipment. ... I know, my dear Colonel, that you
" cannot
avert the blow from us, and that the necessity of
" the
service has forced Lord Wellington to this measure ;
"
affected and
therefore,

"
feel,

"

over

however sorely

hurt we

may now

will assure yourself that the whole shall be given

to the pontoons in as complete and efficient a manner

you

" as if
they were going to be put to our own carriages. I
" am full of dread and alarm that our
new equipment of
" horses and harness
will not come up in time to march with
" the
army ; and that (without being so extravagantly
"
sanguine or conceited as to "build on future successes and

".good fortune) we shall be too late for the golden opportunity that a few days will probably offer to other

"
"

brigades."
This allusion of Captain Cairnes to the other Artillery

As

will be seen, on reference to the chapter on the Old Tenth BatCaptain Cairnes had also to give up to the pontoon train his second
supply of horses in the end of this year.
1

talion,

Movements of

CHAP. xx.

the

Army.

345

brigades with Lord Wellington's army suggests the propriety of placing before the reader their distribution at the
opening of the campaign of 1813. This would appear to

have been as follows

With

1st Infantry division

2nd
3rd
,,

Captain Dubourdieu's Brigade, R.A.

Captain Maxwell's

Captain Douglas's
Major Sympher's K. G. Artillery.
Captain Brandreth's Brigade, E.A.
Major Lawsun's

4th

5th

6th
7th
,,

Light Division

1st Division of Cavalry

2nd

,,

In the middle of

Major Gardiner's Troop, R.H.A.

Major Ross's
Major Frazer's (Bull's) Troop, R.H.A.
Captain Beane's
1
Captain Webber Smith's Troop, R.H.A.
Cairnes'
R.A.
Captain
Brigade,
! Captain J. Parker's

May

the plan of the campaign was

The army was ordered

move

Colonel

two columns, ^"olTarranged.

the head-quarters to leave Frenada on the 22nd May. One dated
column was to cross the Douro at the mouth of the Coa, and 1313. y>
to

in

to advance by Miranda de Douro

the other was to go by
Ciudad Rodrigo. Lord Wellington was to accompany the
latter column, which consisted of Sir Eowland Hill's corps,
the Light Division, Cavalry, &c. The other column, com;

posed of the rest of the army, was under Sir T. Graham ;

It was decided to lay
it went the pontoon train.

and with

the pontoon bridge across the Douro, near Miranda, and

thus unite the two columns ; this operation to be followed by
the siege of Zamora, which, when concluded, would leave the
Allies masters of the

Douro.

the reader finds that they

Following the head-quarters,

to Ciudad Eodrigo on the

moved

Tamames on

the 23rd, and to Matilla, about

On the way,
six leagues from Salamanca, on the 25th.
Lord Wellington inspected the Portuguese Division, com-

22nd May,

to

manded by General
1

It

Silveira,

and found the men better

would appear from Sir A. Frazer's

letters that

Webber Smith's

troop

a time attached to the Hussars, but ultimately to the 7th Division,

in lieu of Captain Gardiner's troop, which joined the Hussar Brigade.

was

for

ibid,

Jj^ la
25 May,
1

Q1 Q

Vittoria

346

and San

Sebastian.

CHAP. xx.

equipped than they had ever yet been. The brigades of

Artillery with them were commanded by Colonel Tulloh, an
officer of the Koyal Artillery, whose zeal and ability were
repaid by the efficiency of the men under his control. The
whole of the reserve Artillery of Lord Wellington's army,
with the exception of the brigade under Captain. Cairnes,

which was now re-equipped, had gone with the main body,
under Sir T. Graham.
Colonel Dickson was now in command of the Artillery,
although junior to

many

in point of regimental rank

way in which he obtained the command

generally known in the Kegiment as the fact,
as the

desirable to state

it.

While he was

is
it

and

not so

seems

at Corilhaa, preparing

the reserve Artillery for the coming campaign, Colonel

Fisher, who had succeeded to the command of the Artillery
after Colonel

not held the

Eobe was disabled

at Burgos, but

who had

command

as yet in the field, wrote to him,

his
attendance
at head-quarters without loss of
requesting
time. On his arrival, he ascertained that a misunderstanding

had arisen between Lord Wellington and Colonel Fisher,

which had ended in the latter's requesting permission to
Lord Wellington inquired
resign, and return to England.
of Colonel Dickson whether he was senior to Colonel Waller,
who had just arrived in Lisbon, and on learning that he was
"
Colonel Dickson, then, will take the command of
" all
the Artillery in the field, both British and Portuguese ;
" and Colonel Waller and
General Eoza, as commandants of
" the
Artillery of the two nations, will remain at Lisbon for
"
the purpose of forwarding supplies." He then desired
Colonel Fisher to give such explanations of the state of

not, he said,

would enable Colonel Dickson to enter on his charge.

There would seem to have been considerable hastiness
and injustice on the part of Lord Wellington in this matter.
Colonel Dickson himself, while naturally nattered, could not
but say, " I am convinced, if Lord Wellington had known
"
Colonel Fisher's talents and abilities, he would never have
allowed any such circumstance to take from him such an
affairs as

To D.-A.-G.

2?Ma
1813.

'

"

officer

and

hope you will forgive

my

thus presuming to

Action at Salamanca.

CHAP. xx.

347

" discuss in so
particular a manner the merits of a superior,
" which I am
only induced to do in order that you may better
" know the merits of an officer I love and esteem and I am
" sure
every man of sense or ability in the Corps of Artillery
" in the Peninsula will subscribe to what I now state."
;

The honour paid

to Colonel

Dickson was an embarrassing

Although his Portuguese rank placed him over all

officers under the rank of Colonel, many such were senior

one.

him regimentally. This fact demanded great tact from

him in the execution of his duty. Fortunately, he met
to

with ready, soldier-like co-operation from

who had commanded him on

all;

and one,

service before, in writing to

on the subject, expressed the general feeling

"I shall get on very well with Dickson Letters of
r
"
he was second to me in the South American Expedition, p r a
" and then
a
e 101
obeyed my orders with the implicit readiness P g

his friends

when he

said

" which I shall

" abilities and

now

transfer to his.

He

is

man

of great

quickness, and without fear of any one."

And again " Colonel, Fisher left us the day before yesterday,
"
I hope Dickson's reign may
sincerely regretted by all.

ibid.

pa

"
"

be long for the sake of the service, but the times are
Yet once more " Dickson showed me yesterslippery."
:

"
"
"
"

day a very

sensible, plain letter,

which he had written

ibid.

to page

Colonel Waller, and was just going to send off. Dickson,

too, feels himself awkwardly off, but will bear his honours

There

an open, manly simplicity about Dickson

very prepossessing. I hope and trust he will long enjoy
" the confidence of the
Marquis; and this I should desire
" for the sake of the
service, independently of any regard
" I
I
a very sincere one) for Dickson."
have
have
(and
might
well.

is

"

return, however, to the movements of the army.

26th May the head-quarters moved forward in

To
the

On

Colonel

the

direction of Salamanca, on approaching which place columns dated

of the enemy's infantry were observed, halted at each side 1313.
of the town, a part of their cavalry being, however, on the
left bank of the river to watch the movements of the Allies.

As the

latter advanced, the cavalry retired across the bridge

the infantry for a considerable time

into Salamanca, but

'

Vittoria

348

and San

Sebastian.

CHAP. xx.

remained unmoved. In the meantime, Sir Eowland Hill's

Cavalry and Captain Beane's troop of Horse Artillery were
ordered to push for the ford of Santa Martha, a little
ahove the town.
As soon as the French saw these troops
approach the river, they moved off with their whole force,
which included about 2500 infantry, two or three squadrons
of cavalry,
in

and three or four guns.

command

General Fane, who was

of Sir E. Hill's Cavalry, passed the river in a

moment, and came up with the French before they had gone
three miles from Salamanca.
They were retiring ~by squares
the
Arivalo
leads
which
road,
along
up the Tormes by Aldea
on
and,
overtaking them, the Horse Artillery
Langua
their
squares with considerable execution. The
opened upon
pursuit was thus continued for five or six miles, the Horse
Artillery cannonading them from every available point. The
Artillery fire was interfered with by the repeated interposition of the Cavalry between the guns and the enemy;
but was nevertheless very efficient. According to Colonel
Dickson, of 400 killed, wounded, and prisoners, lost by
;

100 were victims to the Artillery fire alone

the enemy,
and the squares were so shaken by it, that, if the regiments
moving on the flank had pushed on, the whole force might
have been captured. Lord "Wellington, however, seeing that
the pursuing Cavalry was somewhat exhausted, desisted
The head-quarters halted at Salafrom further pursuit.
manca on the 27th May, and orders were issued for their
;

transfer to the other army, north of the Douro.

On

the

28th, therefore, the head-quarter staff proceeded to Almeida,

and on the 29th to Miranda, crossing the Douro at a ferry
near the latter place. Lord Wellington, himself, remained

and on the 29th proceeded the

On the 30th the head-quarters
were moved to Carvajales, and on the same evening the Esla
was reconnoitred, and preparations made to cross it on the
Small parties of the enemy were seen
following morning.
bank
on the opposite
with two guns. Early on the morning
of the 31st, the Hussar Brigade, Gardiner's and Webber
Smith's troops of Horse Artillery, and two regiments of
one day later at Salamanca
whole distance to Miranda.

The Passage of the Esla.

CHAP. XX.

Infantry crossed,

349

upon which the French parties immeThe Infantry found the greatest difficulty

diately retired.
in crossing,
the river

heing both deep and rapid,

men were drowned.

and

pontoon bridge was therefore made in a couple of hours, over which the rest of the
army passed, with the exception of the Cavalry, Artillery,
several

and waggons, which forded the river. A special pontoon

bridge was made for the 18-pounder brigade, over which it
passed with safety. On the 1st June head-quarters proceeded
to Zamora, and the army completed the passage of the Esla,
the French evacuating Zamora as the Allies approached.
"
"
we succeeded in our
Thus," wrote Colonel Dickson,
"
the
of
and
manoeuvre
Douro,
turning
getting possession
" of that river without
sustaining the smallest loss. It has
" been a bold one
;
but, by his Lordship's rapidity in moving
"
the army, and transferring himself from one point to the
"
other, I think the French did not succeed in discovering
" our real intention until it was too late for
them to hinder
"
it.
Otherwise, we, found the Esla such an obstacle, that
" if
they only had had ten or twelve thousand men on that
"
river, the passage of it would have been a serious opera" tion to
us, and could not have been effected without either
"
loss
of time or of men, and probably both."
great
2nd
the
On
June, the French abandoned Toro, and Wel-

head-quarters proceeded there, remaining over

the 3rd, on which day, and on the 4th, the force which had
advanced by Salamanca, under Sir K. Hill, crossed the
lington's

On

the 4th, the army moved forward in three

the right, under Sir E. Hill, in the direction of
Yalladolid ; the centre upon La Mota, and the left under

Douro.

columns,

Thomas Graham towards Eio Seco. The head-quarters

proceeded, to La Mota on the 4th, to Castro Monte on the
Sir

5th,

and

to

Ampudia on

the 6th

Yalladolid, as the Allies advanced,

the French abandoning

and retiring upon Pa-

and Duenas. The armies continued to keep within a

day's march of one another indeed, when the Allies reached
Palencia, on the 7th June, the rear-guard of the enemy was
On the 12th (the
clearly visible from the high ground.
lencia

and San

Vittoria

35
pursuit

still

Sebastian.

CHAP. xx.

going on steadily, and Wellington continuing

this, his greatest,

march

in the

most persevering, relentless

army had reached Monasterio and the

manner) the French

neighbourhood of Burgos,

hut indicated no sign of discon-

Warned hy

its retreat.

past experience, Wellington

no active measures against Burgos, but
merely to blockade it with part of the Spanish army, leaving
In the meantime, Sir
the English troops undiminished.
Thomas Graham, with the left column of the army, inclined

tinuing

had decided

to take

to his left in the direction of the

with the view,

river.

it

was believed,

The events

upper part of the Ebro

of turning or crossing that

of the next few days, however, modified

On reaching Villa Diego, Lord Wel-

matters very much.

lington ascertained that the Castle of Burgos had been

blown up by the French, and was in utter ruins.
Sir

Kichard Fletcher, of the Engineers, accompanied by Colonels

Dickson and May, and Major Frazer of the Artillery, penetrated into the place, although the French rear-guard was
close at hand, and brought back the report.
Joseph

still

Buonaparte had meditated taking up a position at Burgos,

but it having been pronounced unwise, he continued to
His army which was known to be
retire on Yittoria.
en route for France was embarrassed with huge convoys of
and crowds of followers, male and female, who were
spoils,
left in Spain, unprotected by the French
Lord
Wellington now executed a very brilliant
troops.
the crossing of the Ebro. The route
strategical manoauvre,
he
his army was unfrequented and
which
moved
abruptly
by
The descent to the river by the
considered impracticable.
Puente de Arenas was by a very narrow and steep pass,

unwilling to be

Colonel

toV-'A.-G.
dated
116

isis"

opening into a small but fertile valley, entirely surrounded

by high mountains, with the river running through it.
The sortie from the valley of Puente de Arenas was by
a

road running for a considerable distance close to the

with stupendous rocks overhanging on either side.

river,

Had
the

The

this

movement been

enemy

foreseen, a very small body of

could have impeded the passage of the army.

advantages

of

this

manoauvre

were

many.

The

The Crossing of the Ebro.

CHAP. XX.

35

French communications with the coast were cut off, and

new base was opened for the operations of the Allies.
The English fleet entered Santander, and commissariat communication was opened with the coast. Wellington was
also in a position to threaten the communications between
Vittoria and the Pyrenees, and the French found the English

Gust's

already in rear of their right. An engagement took place

between Sir Thomas Graham and the French General, Keille,
who had been detached to protect the communications between the French army and their own country; and the

Light Division

with which Lord Wellington himself was

succeeded in surprising General Maucune's division on the

march, killing a good many, dispersing one brigade, and

capturing

an

immense

quantity

of

baggage,

and

Colonel
to^D.^A.-

19 June >

300

But these were merely the preliminaries to a

battle, which, in its results, was unsurpassed in the whole
narrative of the Peninsular War.
Writing on the evening
prisoners.

of the 19th June, from Subijana de Morillas, three leagues

"
We can see
south-west of Vittoria, Colonel Dickson said
:

" the whole French

army on their march to Yittoria
" column is not more than six or seven miles off.
"
to move forward

morrow we expect
must lead

" I
think,

upon

the

To-

Yittoria, which,

to something."

In proceeding to discuss the share of the Royal Artillery

at the battle of Yittoria, it has unfortunately to be premised that the most valuable letter on the subject has been

In writing to General Macleod after the

"
I know Frazer has given you
Dickson
Colonel
battle,
said^
"
so
I
of
not
enter into further details
will
account
some
it,
" at
And in two submatters."
on
our
own
present, except
"
Frazer's letter will have explained
sequent letters, he said
"
everything." Now, in the published letters of Sir Augustus Frazer, this letter is not to be found ; nor is there
mislaid, or lost.

much

in his allusions to the battle in his other letters to

Artilleryman in tracing the services of his Corps.

is, to a certain extent, compensated
in
details
subsequent letters from Colonel Dickson,
by
given
but still remains irreparable.
assist the

The

loss of the letter

Dated
i

35 2

Vittoria

and San

Sebastian.

CHAP. xx.

It would be beyond the province of this work to describe

the battle of Vittoria, as a whole. In the pages of the general
military historian such a description can be found. In these,

the regimental statistics alone need be reproduced.

general plan of the battle is, doubtless, familiar to all

The
:

the

plain in front of Yittoria, into which as into a trap Joseph

Buonaparte poured all his troops and convoys ; the one road
available for the retreat of his forces to France, which was

menaced

but not with sufficient decision by Wellington's

the
confusion in the space between the French army
left;
and the town of Vittoria, where mobs of terrified fugitives
were mingled with heaps of vehicles and stores ; the three-

handed assault of the Allies, advancing with steadfast purpose

from three quarters at once
the frequent Artillery duels, in
which the Artillery on both sides so greatly distinguished
the grand final effort of the French artillery,
themselves
when " more than eighty guns, massed together, pealed with
" such a horrid
uproar, that the hills laboured and shook,
" and streamed with fire
and smoke, amidst which the dark
"
the
of
French
figures
gunners were seen, bounding with a
" frantic
and
then the wild rout, the headlong
energy ;"
of
an
flight
army leaving its guns and everything behind
;

Napier.

it;

the shrieks of women,

vividly before his

mind

the terror of men, rising so

as he wrote, that Napier exclaimed,

" It
was the wreck of a nation
description
historian.

Official

P
the MasterGeneral,
dated

23 June,

is

But no such ambitious

mere regimental
demanded from him is the narrative,
!"

required in detail from the

What

is

from old records that have never seen the light, of the
share taken by his corps on this eventful day.
Let the distribution of the various troops and brigades
0]^
Colonel Dickson was
Artillery at Vittoria first be given.
in

command,

assisted

by the following

field officers

Lieut.-Colonel

Hartmann, K.G.A., commanding the reserve Artillery.

Major Carncross, with Sir Rowland Hill's column.
Major Buckner, with column of 3rd and 7th Divisions.
Major Frazer, commanding the Horse Artillery.

The
follows

troops of Koyal Horse Artillery were distributed as

:

CHAP. XX. Distribution

of Artillery at

Vittoria.

353

Captain Webber Smith's, with the Reserve.

Major Ross's, with Light Division.
Captain Beane's, witli General Fane's Cavalry.
Major Gardiner's, with the Hussars.
Captain Ramsay's, with the Cavalry Division.

The Field Brigades were

distributed as follows:

Major Lawson's, with 5th Division.

Captain Douglas's, with 3rd Division.
Captain Maxwell's, with 2nd Division.
Captain Dubourdieu's, with 1st Division.
Major Sympher's (K.G.A.), with 4th Division.
Captain Cairn es', with 7th Division.
Captain Parker's, with the Reserve.
Lieut.-Colonel Tulloh, R.A., commanded two Portuguese brigades with
Sir R. Hill's corps, and Major Arriaga commanded the Portuguese
Reserve Brigade.
Lieut.-Colonel May acted as Assistant Adjutant-General, and Lieut. WoodLieutenants Ord, Harding, and Pascoe,
year acted as Brigade -Major.
were employed as staff officers by Colonel Dick&on.

The number

exclusive

of guns,

of the

Spanish, which

were brought into action by the Allies at Vittoria was ninety

but the French had considerably more. There happened in
this battle, on the 21st June, 1813, what rarely happens,
In his
every brigade of Artillery was brought into action.
official report, Colonel Dickson said that he had reason to be
;

satisfied

with the conduct of the

officers

and men of the

Eoyal Artillery on this occasion; that their skill and bravery

were highly conspicuous, as were their exertions in bringing
forward the Artillery through a difficult and intersected
country, both during the attack and the pursuit. "In short,"
he added, " I can safely assert that artillery could not be
" better served
and, to the credit of the officers, I have to
;

" add that from the

beginning of the day to the last mo"
ment of the pursuit, it was always to be found where it
"
was wanted." In his private letter to General Macleod,
Colonel Dickson particularised some of the officers who had
the following exespecially distinguished themselves; and
" I
cannot close this letter withtract deserves publication
"
out mentioning the valuable assistance my friend Frazer
"
I may truly say he
afforded during the whole business.
:

VOL. n.

2 A

Dated
j

and San

Vittoria

354

CHAP. XX.

Sebastian.

"

flew from one troop to another,

accompanying them into
action and attending to their supply, or looking out for
"
roads for them to move.
You, who know Frazer so well,
"
can easily anticipate what he would be on such an
"
occasion."

"

The massing of the English Artillery was effected at

Vittoria to an unprecedented extent, and with most happy
It might at first be assumed that the admirable
results.
made of this arm on that occasion is a sufficient reply
any insinuations against Lord Wellington's knowledge of

use
to

Unfortunately for him, a letter has surArtillery tactics.

vived which proves, on the best authority, that to accident
" The nature of
alone was this artillery display due.
the
"
"
Colonel
and
of
wrote
want
was
Dickson,
roads,
country,"
" the means of
throwing a large proportion of our Artillery
"
together, away from their divisions, which I availed myself
"

and by employing them in masses, it had a famous

effect.
This was adjoining to the great road to Vittoria ;
"
and the French brought all the artillery they could to
"
oppose our advance, so that the cannonade on one spot was
of,

"

"

very vigorous.

In none of our Peninsular battles have we

"

ever brought so much cannon into play; and it was so

"
well directed that the French were generally obliged to
"
retire ere the Infantry could get at them.
There were
"
few or no instances of the bayonet being used during the
"
day."
Considering the duration of the battle, the casualties

the Artillery were singularly few.

among

They were

as

follows:
MS.

Official

Return to

Staff.

Wounded: Colonel May, and Brigade - Major Woodyear (died of

wounds).

D. A. Gen.

Horses of R.

Ibid

Wounded.

Missing.

36

19
23
2

Killed.

Royal Horse Artillery

Royal Artillery
Horses of R. H. A.

28
15

The number of guns captured from the enemy was no less

than 151, besides 415 caissons. Of gun ammunition 14,249

CHAP. XX.

Results of the Battle of Vittoria.

rounds were taken, besides 40,668

Ibs.

of

355

gunpowder and

The other spoils were

1,973,400 musket ball-cartridges.
countless; and it is difficult to conceive a more complete
defeat.

Lord Wellington's account of the battle contains the following short, but satisfactory, allusion to the services of the
"
The Artillery was most judiciously placed by TO Lord
Artillery
u*t
"
Lieut.-Colonel Dickson, and was well served ; and the army
"
is particularly indebted to that Corps." During the pursuit 22 June,
of the enemy after the battle, Colonel Dickson kept the
:

and was rewarded, as will be seen from

"
In the pursuit after Vittoria,
the following anecdote
" in
the bad roads, Lord Wellington saw a French column
"
as if to halt for the
a
Dick-

Artillery well up,

"
"

making
'

stand,

son,' said he,

night.

if

we had but some

Now

Extract
private
1

!,^

'

Artillery

up

!'

They

pent, Esq.,

And in ten minutes, from a hill Id^cateare close by, my Lord.'

" on
the right, Lieut.-Colonel Boss's Light Division guns General to
"began; and away went the French two leagues farther forces' in'*
th Pc " in
"
:
The same author from whom this quotation
is made
off."
f
*
suia. Pub"
lished by
a
Dickson,
though only Captain in^the Eoyal Kegisays
" ment of
Artillery, now conducts the whole department Lai-pent,
"
page 142
because he makes no
'

here,

difficulties"

During the pursuit, the only remaining guns two in

number taken away by the French from the field, were

jjjijj*"
Despatch,

one being disabled by the fire of the Chestnut

^fjine,
the other being taken within a league of Pampe- 1813
and
Troop,

captured,

luna, in

The

which direction the

French had retreated.

sf/ Hew"

results which followed the battle of Yittoria are sum-

marised by Napier in his description of the campaign, in

"
In this camwhich that battle was the chief incident.
"
"
"
"

paign of six weeks," he wrote, "Wellington, with 100,000

men, marched 600 miles, passed six great rivers, gained
one decisive battle, invested two fortresses, and drove
120,000 veteran troops from Spain." The fortresses re-

ferred to were

Pampeluna and San Sebastian

and

it

is

now

proposed to treat of the double siege of the latter, as an

episode of essential importance in the history of the Kegirnent,

and one concerning which Sir Alexander Dickson

2 A 2

left

Ross,'

pag

35 6

Vittoria

and San

Sebastian.

CHAP. xx.

much
so,

Before doing
valuable information, yet unpublished.
which
to be
incidents
deserve
are
two
there
however,

mentioned.

In the brevet which followed Vittoria, Majors Frazer and

Koss were made Lieut.-Colonels, and 2nd Captain Jenkinson
Captain Jen(of the Chestnut Troop) was made Major.
kinson's brevet promotion was the first which had been reIn the beginning of
ceived by a 2nd Captain of Artillery.
the year 1813, the 2nd Captains serving in the Peninsula
Sir

Henry

Lord Wei-

had memorialised Lord Wellington on the subject.

The
memorial having been referred to England, a favourable
re pty was gi yen an(l Captain Jenkinson's promotion was the
^ rs ^ fru ^ s
^ n addition to the somewhat scanty recognition
>

inSaaSi

of the Artillery in this brevet, a boon was granted, which is

described in the following extract from a letter written by

1813.

Dated

'

the Master-General of the Ordnance, Lord Mulgrave, to

"
On receipt of your letter, addressed to
Major-General Macleod, I did not fail to bring under the
"
consideration of the Prince Kegent the very striking and
"
unexampled circumstance of the whole of the British
"
Artillery having been brought into action at the battle of
"
Yittoria, and the whole of the enemy's Artillery having
"
been captured in the glorious victory which crowned the
"
exertions of the Allies on that ever-memorable occasion.
"
His Koyal Highness has been graciously pleased in con"
sideration of the peculiar circumstances above stated
to
"
mark His Koyal Highness's approbation of the particular
"
and successful activity of the Corps of Koyal Artillery

Colonel Dickson
"

"

under your orders, by granting severally to the

"

intrusted with the

.

"

command

officers

of divisions or brigades an

allowance for good service in the following proportions

To the officers commanding divisions, each 10s. per diem ;
"
to the officers commanding brigades, each 5s. per diem ;
" and to
yourself a similar allowance for good service of 20s.
:

"

"

per diem."

far better, that these words had never been

and
that the generous thought had died in its conpenned,
For
the day was to come when a reference to this
ception

Better,

Norman Ramsay.

CHAP. XX.

357

precedent after Yittoria should call forth from him under

whom the representatives of the Corps had so often and so
bravely fought, a letter as cruel and unjust to those of whom

was unworthy of him who penned it.

The other incident is one which has become a household
word in the Eegiment. If there is one name more familar

it

treated, as it

than another to the Artilleryman,

From

Kamsay.

it

is

Norman

that of

public orders and the pages of history his

gallantry and professional skill may be learnt; but it is

from the pages of private correspondence that one ascertains
how lovable he was. He joined the Kegiment in 1798, and
he fell at Waterloo and yet in that short space of seventeen
;

years he had gained the love of his brother officers without

exception, the devotion of his men, and the admiration of
A man sans peur et sans reproche, he reminds one of the
all.
knights of Arthur, whose pleasure was to
" Live
pure, speak true, right wrong, follow the king."

thorough master of his profession, he earned the respect as well as the love of those whom he commanded
:

and the love of men

that element in

it

to

commander must have

the
make
The
gift worth having.
for

their

personal qualities of an officer

men

of his

profession,

but

there

if

he

will

may

attract the

affection

deficient in

knowledge of his
be in their love an element apis

proaching pity, which, will be fatal to their confidence in the

hour of trial. It will be like the love for a child, pure,

warm, and

sincere,

but not such as will demand from the

soldier, in the day of battle, blind confidence

and unhesita-

In Norman Kamsay were combined all the

ting obedience.
virtues which compel affection, and all the skill which de-

mands

respect.

But there was more

he possessed that

professional enthusiasm which hallows the dullest tasks, and

His pride in his troop made
gilds the severest hardship.
its

men

in this

strive to be

way

esprit de corps

them

worthy of his good opinion

and

it

is

commander can with certainty generate

among his men. Let him but place before

that a

a standard of perfection, even although unattainable,

Vide

35 8

Vittoria

and, in

and San

CHAP. xx.

Sebastian.

to reach it, they will rise

driven by order, or goaded by fear of

their voluntary efforts

far higher

than

if

punishment.
Successful in all his aims, Norman Kamsay was yet so fortunate as to escape jealousy. The letters of his brotherwritten for private eye alone, but subsequently
officers,
published,

Dickson, Sir

show

Augustus Frazer, Sir

and others,
tion,

this to a singular extent.

all

men

Sir Alexander

Hew

of different

Eoss, Major Cairnes,

characters and disposi-

rarely wrote without a loving word or kind inquiry

about Kamsay.

If his troop

distinguished

they

itself,

all

had been their own; if he met with any

and if sorrow came upon
grief, they longed to share it
themselves, their first instinct was to confide it to him.
rejoiced as if

it

In October, 1813, a distinguished Artilleryman, Sir Howard

a brother whom he deeply loved.

Sir A.
8

fetters
i>age 314.

Douglas, lost in action

Older than Eamsay, one
was to him he went, "
a ^ so w ^ en anv
^ ^ nem

yet finds without surprise that

his loss."

bitterly lamenting
his reach at

it

So

came within

any time,
the letters always speak alike,
as if every one would readily
"
I must go and see
understand the writers' longings
Eamsay."

In these pages, later on, the story will have to be told

how, in the midst of the din of battle, there seemed to fall
a silence like a pall, as he, the brave and much-loved, met
but the grief was then that of his
;
friends.
The incident now to be told tells of a grief which

with a soldier's death

was his own, which never quitted him while he lived, and
which was said by many who knew him to have led him to
court unnecessary exposure on the day in which he died.
At Yittoria, Bull's troop, commanded by Eamsay, had done
special service.
Published

On

the following day, during the pursuit,

"

Lord Wellington spoke to Eamsay as he passed desired

" him
to take his troop for the night to a village near, add^ n ^ ^at j
t nere we re order s for the troop in the course of
x
"
the night, he would send them." No orders came ; but
at 6 A.M. an Assistant Quartermaster-General arrived, and
The
.ordered him to join the brigade to which he belonged.
;

Sir A.

Frazer,
page loo.

A rrest of Ramsay.

CHAP. XX.

359

troop at once inarched, but was shortly afterwards overtaken

by a written order from General Murray, the QuartermasterGeneral of the army, directing " Captain Kamsay's troop to
"
The troop halted, while
rejoin General Anson's brigade."

Eamsay rode on

to discover the road

and at

this

Published
sir A.

moment

Lord Wellington rode up, and called repeatedly for him.

"
His Lordship," wrote Sir Augustus Frazer, "then called for
"
Dickson, whose horse being unable at the instant to clear
" a
wide ditch over which we had just passed, I rode up to
"
mention the circumstance to Lord Wellington, who ordered
"
me to put Captain Kamsay in arrest, and to give the com"
mand of the troop to Captain Cator. This
" did
..... It appears that Lord Wellington
"
that Eamsay 's troop should not have moved
"
till he himself sent orders, and his Lordship
"

he had told Eamsay

so.

I accordingly

had intended
that morning

declared that

This Eamsay affirms he never

" heard or understood and

his Lordship's words, repeated
"
by Eamsay, young Macleod, and a sergeant and corporal,
"
all at hand when his Lordship spoke to Eamsay, are pre"
I
cisely the same, and do not convey such a meaning.
"
spoke instantly to Lord Fitzroy Somerset on the subject,
;

"

"
"

who, together with every other individual about headquarters, was, and is, much concerned at the circumstance.

Nay, two days afterwards, when

the

despatches were
was used by several
"
that Eamsay might be mentioned as he deserved
but I
"
have reason to believe that he is not. There is not, among
" the
many good and gallant officers who are here, one of

"

making

out, every friendly suggestion

"
"

superior zeal or devotion to the service to Eamsay,

who

has given repeated proofs of spirit and good conduct.

"
Admitting, contrary to all evidence, that he had mistaken
"

the verbal orders he received,

"
offence,

and one

for

this

surely

which long-tried and

is

venial

faithful services

" should not be

forgotten ...... Few circumstances have
"
engaged more general attention, or occasioned more regret.
"
It has naturally been expected that after the first moment
"
was over, a deserving officer would, at least, have been
"
released from a situation most galling to a gallant spirit.

Vittoria

360
"
"

'Memoir of

CHAP,

Sebastian.

I trust this will soon be the case

but

....

"

some weeks

Ramsay
an(j we

is

later,

at present with his troop in this neighbourhood,

He is quite well, and bears

and consequent disappointment, in
"
the manly and proper way that might be expected of him."
For a considerable time he was kept under arrest and the
numerous applications on his behalf, including a very urgent
one from Sir Thomas Graham, seemed to have the effect of
The consciousness of having
irritating Lord "Wellington.
done an unjust act is rendered more difficult to bear, when
the victim has been one for whom affection has been entertained and it was believed in the army that, as far as his
undemonstrative nature would allow, Lord Wellington had a
strong liking for Norman Ramsay. There was no doubt of
the devotion of the latter for his great chief and the keen
suffering caused by injustice from a person whom one loves
He was happily
must be realised to be fully understood.
released from arrest in time to carry his brave troop through
and he
the many actions, with which the war concluded
received a brevet promotion for these services but he was
never the same man. At Waterloo, on the morning of the
battle, as the Duke rode along the line, he saw Ramsay at
the head of his troop for the first time since his arrival in
Flanders. He accosted him cheerfully as he passed. Ramsay
mere jy bowed his head sadly, until it nearly touched his
In a few hours he was
horse's mane, but could not speak.
where sorrow and injustice are unknown.
It is necessary now to turn to the siege of San Sebastian.
Pampeluna was blockaded and ultimately starved into submission; but stronger measures were adopted with San
Sebastian, into which place Marshal Jourdan had thrown a
On the land side,
garrison of between 3000 and 4000 men.
^ was i nves ^^ by the left wing of the Allied army, under
and on the sea side it was blockaded
Si r Thomas Graham
are jnuch together.

his unjust treatment,

Bioomfieid,

Jones's

the peninsuia,' vol.

ii.

chap.

ii.

am

at a loss to

subject,

"

Commumcatc

xx

account for the delay in a point so easily

"
In 'the meanwhile, Kamsay bears up with great
settled.
"
fortitude, although he deeply feels."
Writing on the same
" Norman
Sir Hew Eoss said

Ross,'

page 46.

....

and San

CHAP. xx. Officers present at Siege

of Sebastian.

361

by a squadron under Sir George Collyer. On the 4th July,

1813, Lord Wellington wrote as follows to Colonel Dickson
"
From what I have heard of San Sebastian, I am inclined
" to form
the siege of that place, and I shall be very much
:

"

Dated

4*^

1813
obliged to you if you will send an officer to Bilbao to order
"
1
The order was im- Colonel
the train from thence to Passages."
mediately obeyed, and Captain Morrison's 18-pounder brigade to D.-A.-G.
-

same purOn the 12th, Lord Wellington reconnoitred San

pose.
Sebastian, and on the 14th, he departed to join the army on
the field, leaving Colonel Dickson to conduct the Artillery
Lord Wellington's operations in the
part of the siege.
was

also directed to proceed to Passages for the

dated

10 Julv
isis.

were at this time of a very delicate nature. The Allied

army in the east of Spain had failed, and had raised the
field

siege of Tarragona

while, in his front

and on his

right,

there were menacing French armies. French garrisons in

Pampeluna and San Sebastian also weakened his available
force,

by demanding troops

to

watch them.

Before entering on the details of the double siege, the

following list of artillery officers, who were present, may be
interesting.
LIST OP OFFICERS of the ROYAL ABTILLERY employed in the SIEGES of MS.
ST. SEBASTIAN under LIEUT.- COLONEL DICKSON, commanding the Artillery Returns
under the MARQUIS OF WELLINGTON.

Lieut.-Colonel May, A. A. General

Frazer, R.

Major Buckner

Dyer

H.

. .

Artillery

. .

. .

Vittoria

362

and San

Sebastian.

List of Officers of the Royal Artillery, continued.

Capta
5>
II

Lieut
j

CHAP. XX.

CHAP. xx.

Siege of

San

Sebastian.

363
siege.

The

materiel at the disposal of the Artillery at the first

siege

the blockade

and the second and successful

was inadequate, even when supplemented by field guns, and

guns borrowed from the navy but during the second siege
the supply was ample, and the fire most efficient.
In sieges,
;

the association of the Artillery with the breach made by

ceases when the assault commences ; but this was not

them

siege of San Sebastian, when the assault

would certainly have failed but for the powerful fire maintained by the Artillery over the heads of the assailants.
Of
this, however, more hereafter.
San Sebastian is built on a neck of land jutting out into Colonel
the sea and the first point which it was necessary to secure
on the land side was a place which had been fortified, the
convent of St. Bartholomew.
This was taken, after four
on the 17th July, 1813.
cannonade,
assault,
days' vigorous
by
The guns employed against the convent and the adjoining Colonel
redoubt were r
placed in the batteries of the left attack, Jackson's
Diary and
numbered 1 and 2, and were four 18-pounders and two Jones's
so in the second

Before the assault, however, Sir Thomas

had
who
been left by Lord Wellington in comGraham,
directed
as
mand,
many field guns as possible to be brought

8-inch howitzers.

This was done

m~

su j ar
sieges.'

Sir

Thomas

and they were cofo^T

play
support.
found to be of material assistance, and were served with Dickson,
The number of rounds 15 j u V)
great effect during the assault.
1813
expended against the convent and redoubt was 3000 a large
quantity of hot shot was employed and in his despatch Jones's
into

in

t0

announcing the success of the

assault, Sir

Thomas Graham

'

Sie s es -'

"

I cannot conclude this report without expressing TO Lord

11
my perfect satisfaction with all the officers and men of
jf^ d
"
the Eoyal Artillery, both in the four-gun battery employed is July,
"
for three days against the convent, and on the opposite
"
bank of the river, whence several field-pieces were served
"

said

"

with great

The

effect."

town had been in course of prethe

bombardment
of the convent ; and the
paration during
from
A. Dickson's letters and
tables
extracted
Sir
following
batteries against the

returns will show at a glance

much

that would otherwise

Vittoria

364

and San

CHAP. XX.

Sebastian.

occupy much space in description. The numbering of the

batteries differs from that of the Engineers ; but where
possible, 'both have been shown.
The batteries were divided into those of the right and left
Lieut.-Colonel May assisted, during the first siege,
under Colonel Dickson; the left or detached attack was
under Colonel Hartmann, K.G-.A., and the batteries were
attacks.

armed, manned, and superintended as follows

RIGHT ATTACK.

'

Battery (No. 11 in Jones's

Mi-

the

Against
No.

rador and castle,

2 24-pr. guns
Sieges')/ A
\ 4 8-m. hows.

and

enfilade

to

the land fronts.

("Against defences
2 24-pr. gunsJ
only used two
:

No. 2 Battery (No. 12 in Jones's

'

Sieges ')

days.

[
'

No. 3 Battery (No. 13 in Jones's Sieges')

No. 4 Battery (No. 14 in Jones's Sieges

'

4 24-pr. guns
For breaching.
l
) 12 24-pr. guns For breaching.
,

No. 5 Battery (No. 15 in Jones's 'Sieges 'V

(

and

ronade?!

4 1(Mncn

'

Sieges ')}
(

Total

to

annoy

defences.

No. 6 Battery (No. 16 in Jones's

breach,

(Against

fis

mortars

A S ainst

and

'

and

front

castle.

32 pieces.

Major Webber Smith, R.H.A., was in charge of Nos. 1 2, and 6 Batteries.

Lieut.-Colonel Frazer, R.H.A., was in charge of Nos. 4 and 5
(the breach,

ing) Batteries.

Major Arriaga, Portuguese Artillery, was in charge of No.

The

officers in

No.

1 Battery.
Williams.

No. 2 Battery.
No. 3 Battery.

3.

the various batteries were as follows

Captain Macdonald, and Lieutenants Brereton, Heron, and

Captain Deacon and Lieutenant England.

Captain Rosieres and Lieutenant Costa (Portuguese).

No. 4 Battery.

Captains Dubourdieu and Parker, and Lieutenants Hardinge

and Bloomfield of the Royal Artillery, and Lieutenants Silva and Judice

of the Portuguese Artillery.

No. 5 Battery. Captain Dansey and Lieutenant Johnstone.
No. 6 Battery. This was not manned at first.

gun

Jones's 'Peninsular Sieges' would appear to err here

less than the real number in No. 4 Battery.

and

to

show one

CHAP. XX.

Siege of

San

Sebastian.

365

LEFT ATTACK.
No.

Battery

(Against the convent up to

17 July, 1813.

18-prs.

2 8-inch hows.

No. 2 Battery

Ditto.

ditto.

To annoy
6 18-prs.
2 8-inch hows.

No. 3 Battery
No. 4 Battery

defences of land

front, and support attack.

Doubtless these included
the guns from Nos. 1 and

2 Batteries.

The

officers of

the Koyal Artillery engaged in the

left

attack, were
Lieutenant Oldham.

Captain Morrison.
Power.
Lieutenant Shaw.

Story.

Stanway.

The strength

of the companies of Artillery hefore San

on
the
18th July, 1813, was as follows
Sebastian,
:

Captain Morrison's (18-pr. brigade)

Major Lawson's
Captain Dubourdieu's
.

..

..

. .

. .

162 of
57
66

ranks.

all

68

Captain Parker's

Detachment

17
107

Portuguese Artillery

476

Total

The ammunition expended during the

first

siege

to 27,719 rounds, and, as the batteries did not

amounted

open until

the 20th July, and the assault took place on the morning of
the 25th, the rapidity of fire must have been excessive. In
" The
alluding to this, General Jones says
expenditure
"
from the breaching battery alone, on the 22nd July,
" amounted to 350 rounds a
gun, expended in about 15
" hours of
of firing was probably
a
rate
Such
daylight.
"
never equalled at any siege, great accuracy of range being
" at the same time observed."
Captain Dubourdieu of the
:

Koyal Artillery was mortally wounded in the batteries on

the first day and the total loss of the Corps and the Portuguese Artillery during the first operation was 12 killed,
and 44 icoimded.
;

Vittoria

366

and San

Sebastian.

CHAP. xx.

On the morning of the 24th July, two breaches were

deemed quite practicable, but the assault which was first
intended to take place on that day was postponed until the
25th at 5 A.M. It completely failed a certain amount of
gallantry was shown by the attacking troops, but there was
a feeling of depression among them, which seemed to have
:

arisen from exaggerated ideas of the difficulty of the task.

Sir Thomas Graham, while giving due credit for the courage

TO Colonel

8 p.m
'

1813.

which was shown, and which was proved by the list of

casualties, felt that his troops were not in the same mood as
In a letter to Colonel Dickson
those who stormed Badajoz.
on the night of the assault, he said " It is evident to me
:

" that the

troops here never will carry this breach, unless
ever y annoyance but the castle fire (which is not come"
at-able at present) be removed.
The approach to the
" breach is
certainly very unfavourable, and does not admit
" of
attemping to feed or renew the attack, as all must go in
"
one narrow column over rough, slippery stones, and that,
"
with an enfilading and flanking fire, occasioned the com"
plete failure ; nor would it have been possible at last to
"
get any other fresh men from the trenches to have ad"
vanced." Further than keeping up a fire which would not
.

interfere with the attacking party, the Artillery had nothing

to do with the assault ; but Sir Thomas Graham in reporting
the failure took the opportunity of referring to their services

on the preceding days, in the following gratifying terms

"
The conduct, throughout the whole of the operations of
"
G B * e 8 Q hith erto of tne officers and men of the Koyal
"
Artillery and Engineers, never was exceeded in inde"
and I beg to
fatigable zeal, activity, and gallantry
" mention
to
your Lordship Lieut.-Colonels
particularly
"
Dickson, Frazer, and May, and Major Webber Smith, of the
:

TO Lord
ton^dafed
27 July,

>

"

Koyal Artillery ".

Lord Wellington came in person to look at the state of
D^-Gen affairs, and as it was not deemed prudent to repeat the
dated
assault, and the ammunition of the Artillery was nearly
.

Colonel

expended, the operations against the place were brought to

After the
a close
greatly to the disappointment of many.
;

List of Batteries.

CHAP. XX.

367

Lord Wellington ordered, for security,

that all the guns, with the exception of a few pieces, should
be removed from the batteries, and a blockade substituted
failure of the assault,

The forward movement of Soult's army, which

for a siege.
discussed
will be
hereafter, produced a further order to

On

the French being driven

back, Colonel Dickson received orders to land them again ;
the batteries also were repaired, new ones constructed, and

embark the guns and

stores.

everything put in readiness for a second siege as soon as

The arrival of
ammunition should arrive from England.
delayed beyond the endurance of Sir
so familiar with the dilatory

this was, however,

Thomas Graham, who was not

Civil branch of the Ordnance as Colonel

In one of his numerous letters to the latter
" It is too
provoking to think
during this period, he wrote
"
of such mistakes and delays at home, where they have
"
nothing else to do or think of but the execution of de" mands made at an
early enough period to give full time
" for
preparation." Sir Thomas Graham's correspondence
shows at this time a feverish, almost fretful, anxiety about

habits

of the

Dickson was.

the preparations for the second siege, which was not unnatural in a General anxious to wipe out the recollection of
The reader of his letters cannot resist a wish to
failure.

have seen his face when the incident occurred, described by

" With characteristic
negligence, this enormous
Napier
:

" armament
" from

two new battering trains) had been sent out

England with no more shot and shells than would
(i.e.

" suffice for one

day's consumption." At length everything
was in readiness, and the batteries opened on the 26th

August, 1813.

Before entering on the narrative of the

their respective armasiege, a list of the batteries with

ments will be given, extracted not merely from Sir A. Dickson's official returns, but also

from private

letters written at

the necessary information at his hand.

the Left Attack. The only batteries
used before the storming of the city on the 31st August

the time,

with

all

To commence with

were those numbered 5 and 6, containing 7 24-pounders,

2 8-inch howitzers, and Captain Morrison's brigade of six

Dated

\^

Vittoria

368

and San

CHAP. XX.

Sebastian.

18-pounders. Others will be given, hereafter, which were

used at the bombardment of the castle. The object of the

was to breach the right face of the

and
the
curtain over it also, the face of
demi-bastion,
the left demi-bastion of the hornwork, and generally to
annoy the defences. Lieut.-Colonel Hartmann, K.Gr.A., again
of the left attack

fire

left

commanded the left attack.

The Bight Attack was under

the

command

of Lieut.-Colonel

Frazer, and consisted of the following batteries, according

to Colonel Dickson's numbering
:

No.

1 (evidently

No. 11 in Jones's

'

Sieges

')

2 8-inch howitzers.

containing

12-inch

1
(

No. 3 (evidently No. 13 in Jones's

'

Sieges

')

containing]
(

Spanish

mortar, and 5 10inch mortars.

8-inch howitzers.
4 68-pr. carronades.
!56 24-pr. guns.

No. 5 (evidently No. 15 in Jones's Sieges ') containing 15 24-pr. guns.

No. 6 (evidently No. 16 in Jones's Sieges ') containing 4 10-inch mortars.
'

'

No. 7 (evidently No. 17 in Jones's

The breaching

'

Sieges') containing

batteries

6 10-inch mortars.

were Nos. 4 and

5,

but more

Field officers were detailed for duty

especially the latter.
alternately in these two batteries, while the firing was going

Majors Dyer and Webber Smith being in No.

Majors Buckner and Sympher, K.G.A., in No. 5.

on

4,

and

According to Sir J.Jones, the batteries opened with a

general salvo from 57 guns
according, however, to Colonel
;

The whole commenced by

and
as
Thomas
Graham
Sir
wrote to Colonel Dickson,
signal,
"
could
be
more
than
the opening of your
Nothing
imposing
"
fire this morning."
The guns in the left attack were
found to be too distant for the effect required but the fire
from the batteries of the right attack was so destructive,
that in the course of five days, from the 26th to the 30th,
e demi-bastion was demolished, a breach made in the curtain behind it, the towers on each side of the former breach
laid down, and the wall laid open which connected the curDickson, only 48 were in action.

Dated

US
1813.

'

Colonel

i Sept.
Q1 Q
"I

tain with the left of the first breach.

The

batteries of the

c H A p. x x

Grea t

Effects

of

A rtillery Fire.

attack laid open a horn work

brought forward into a battery
nearer the works, they breached
bastion, and greatly assisted in
left

369

and four guns having been

(No. 7) which was much
the right face of the demibringing down the end of

the curtain.

About 11 oclock

A.M.

on the 31st August, the column for

the assault, which had now been ordered, moved forward,

and arrived at the breach with comparatively little loss.
The defence of the French was such, however, that no

lodgment could be effected, more than one attempt having

been repulsed and as the enemy occupied a higher position
than his assailants, he was able to fire down upon them and
;

It was at this time that Sir Thomas

great loss.
ordered the Artillery to commence a fire, which has
received the greatest praise at the hands of historians, and

inflict

Graham

which the following graphic description, from Colonel

"
Dickson's pen, cannot fail to interest the reader
The
"
of
our
and
fired
carronades
cannon,
howitzers,
great body
"
upon the great curtain and behind it over the heads of
" our
own men (only a few feet perpendicular lower down),
"
with a vigour and accuracy probably unprecedented in the
"
annals of artillery. It was the admiration and surprise of
" Sir Thomas
Graham, and Marshal Beresford, and all who
"
beheld it. No one could say there was a single error to
" the
disadvantage of our own people ; and the force of the
"
fire entirely prevented the enemy making any effort along
"
the rampart to drive us from the breach,
I must say
"
the enemy stood with great firmness, firing over the
"
parapet as well as they could, notwithstanding numbers
"
had their heads taken off by our round shot. In short, on
" this
was served in such a manner
our
of

occasion,

"

artillery

that I would not have believed

it

had I not seen

it."

Sir J. Jones says of the Artillery fire at this time, that it

was admirable, and occasioned no casualties among the

assailants

and Napier describes the stream of

missiles, like

a horrid tempest, in its fearful course strewing the rampart

with the mangled limbs of the defenders. It was a critical

time

VOL.

and a want of precision on the part of the Artillery

II.

2 B

Vittoria

370
Dated
a

n>

?s e pt!
1813

and San

Sebastian.

CHAP. XX.

would have produced a fatal panic among the assailants. In

hi 8 despatch to Lord Wellington, announcing the success of

Thomas Graham admitted

that, prior to the

the state of the
this
on
into
action
occasion,
Artillery coming
attack was desperate ; and he described the fire (which after

the assault, Sir

consultation with Colonel Dickson he ventured to order) as

"
kept up with a precision of practice beyond
having been
" all
example." The ultimate success was almost accidental.

and combustible materials had

been accumulated above the breach to throw down on the
storming party. This was fortunately ignited by the fire of
the Allied Artillery, and a great explosion followed, killing
many of the French, and producing a disorder which enabled
the troops to establish themselves on the curtain, which they
large

number

of shells

Some additional troops

fought from traverse to traverse.
near the Towers,
breach
another
the
entered
town
by
having
and
the
the curtain was abandoned,
fighting confined to the
but very soon the French were driven into the
which alone remained in their hands at the end of

streets;
castle,

the day.

The

Allies lost

500

killed,

and 1500 wounded in

this assault.

To ensure the surrender

of the castle,

bombardment

from mortars was kept up, until two batteries were made
ready in the left attack (Nos. 9 and 10), which were
armed with 17 24-pounders, and 2 24-pounders with 1
8-inch howitzer, respectively. No. 9 was to breach the
Mirador and Battery de la Eeyna, and No. 10 to operate
against the lower defences of the castle, and to enfilade the
Colonel
back of the hill. On the morning of the 8th September, the
the whole of the batteries opened
to rT-T -G preparations being complete,
dated
on the castle. Colonel Dickson describes the bombardment as
1

isis!

'

having been conducted in beautiful style, and carried on so

the enemy hoisted a flag of
vigorously, that in two hours
truce.
Sir J. Jones says that the fire was so extremely
of so overpowering a nature,
rapid and well directed, and
The terms
that the castle scarcely returned a single shot.
been
two
batteries
of
of the capitulation having
agreed to,

the castle were delivered up the same evening, and on the

Surrender of San Sebastian.

CHAP. xx.

371

next day the garrison marched out with the honours of

Colonel Dickson was one
war, and laid down their arms.
officers detailed to

arrange the terms of the

sufferings of the garrison,

and of the prisoners in the

of the three
capitulation.

The

during the bombardment, were excessive, as may

"
readily be imagined when one learns that
they had not a

castle,

"

bomb-proof

The

in

it

except for

Colonel

powder."

t^D

San Sebastian has an especial interest for the l Eoyal Artillery, more especially for that part of the
Eegiment the duties of which are confined to the use of
heavy ordnance. This episode was selected by an able and'
dispassionate historian, as one reflecting especial honour on
"
"
the Corps.
It offers," he wrote,
an example of precision
"
of aim, and absolute coolness on the part of the gunners,
" never
Such services as these were rendered
surpassed.
"
thirty years ago by no other artillery in the world and
" as the
same spirit still prevails which prevailed then, in
"
the magnificent corps of which we are speaking, it cannot
siege of

"

"
"

be doubted but that when the opportunity offers again,

they will prove themselves worthy of the renown that
attaches to them."

These words corroborate what has been so frequently

urged in this work, that a regimental history differs essenThe glow which it
tially in its aim from all others.
endeavours to throw over past events is not meant to
conceal defects, or to distort facts, but to awaken the spirit
the boastful way in which special honours are
;

of emulation

recounted, and distinctive triumphs sung, is not egotistical

pride, or aggressive conceit, but merely the fond treasuring
of a glory which has been gained by others, and transmitted

and the anxious gleaning

to their successors for safe keeping;
is but to find herbs which in
action
former
of
fields
the
among

" The number of rounds

expended during the second operation was

"

The strength of the Artillery (including 187 Portuguese) AV;IS

43,112.
" 681. The casualties amounted to 7 killed and 31 wounded.'" JONES'S
'

Peninsular Sieges.'

2 B 2

Sept.

-G

37 2

Vittoria

and San

CHAP. XX.

Sebastian.

times of peace shall brace the gleaner for coming days of

work

or danger.
The more truly a soldier knows and
values the deeds and honours of those who have gone hefore
him in his corps, the more certain will he he to emulate

them.

There

is

no jealousy of the dead.

Admiration of

their qualities passes unconsciously into a love for their

memories ; and this love inspires a longing not to he
unworthy. It may seem to some but a poor ambition, to

use

the weapons well which have been

sacrifice one's will

unmeaningly,

given to us,

to

and never to be downcast

by discomfort or failure but it is the highest ambition to

which a soldier can aspire. Nor is it easy for him to
Cheerful obedience and conscientious
conceive a higher.
zeal imply most of the higher qualities of humanity
and a
must
soldier
both.
The
perfect
possess
great poet of
;

in these days has been the noblest preacher to

her army has ever listened. As he places before his

England

whom

readers the ideal of a true knight, the soldier sees a standard

which he should never cease to gaze upon. He sees, it may

be for the
but mingle

time, that diverse virtues should not rebel,

first
;

and that such should be found in himself as

"

Utter hardihood, utter gentleness,

And
And

loving, utter faithfulness in love,

uttermost obedience to the king."

And, once realising

his heart

this,

with the knowledge, possibly, in

that there have been

men who approached even

in his corps before him

the standard of Arthur's knights,

he must, as he reads of their deeds, long

"

To sweep

In ever-highering eagle-circles up
To the great sun of glory, and thence swoop
Down upon all things base, and dash them dead."

373

CHAPTER

XXI.

CONCLUSION OF THE PENINSULAR WAR.

HPHE

absence of Colonel Dickson from the head-quarters of

army during the sieges of San Sebastian has had

the

the effect of leaving the Artillery share in the operations

known as the battle of the Pyrenees unwritten. He did

not rejoin head-quarters until the 17th September, 1813

the period, therefore, between the battle of Yittoria and
that date is, as far as the operations of Lord Wellington's
:

8 Sept.
J

army are concerned, almost ignored in his correspondence.

In the chapter on the Old Tenth Battalion, in this volume,
some allusion to the services of the Artillery at this time
and one or two facts are mentioned in
will be found
;

Sir

Hew Eoss's memoir

but, really, the chief

work

fell

upon

the Infantry during these operations.

Soult had been sent to
take command of the army of Spain, with orders to assume
the offensive at once; which he did, with the ostensible
view of relieving the blockade of Pampeluna.
This he
failed to do, and that city ultimately surrendered on the

Lord

31st October, 1813, relieving Lord Wellington of a great

Bathurst,
'

The mountainous country,

in which
drag on his movements.
the combats which constituted the battle of the Pyrenees
were fought, was unsuited to the movements of Artillery;

and the Chestnut Troop, which may be taken as a sample of

those engaged, had its carriages completely shaken to pieces.
Soult, having failed to relieve Pampeluna, made an attempt
to raise the siege of San Sebastian
and, on the very day
;

city was stormed, the 31st August, he attacked

the Spanish forces on San Marcial for this purpose, but was

when the

defeated with loss.

occasion was

The conduct

of the Spanish on this

much commended by Lord Wellington and

was a singular and happy coincidence that

this

it

engagement,

Memoirs

n
i

p.

45.

Conclusion of the Peninsular War.

374
To Lord
1

**'

dated"
2 Sept.

CHAP. xxi.

so creditable to the Spanish troops, was the last fought on

Spanish soil. Soult withdrew his forces across the frontier,

and assumed the defensive. For six weeks Lord Wellington

remained inactive, pending intelligence from the Allies in
the north, who were then concentrating their forces against
Napoleon, and would shortly demand from Lord Wellington
a diversion in the south.

During these six weeks, much was done to render the

equipment of the Artillery suitable for a rough and winter
measures were taken to expedite the arrival,
campaign
from Lisbon, of some additional horses which had been sent
from England; and, in the meantime, the troops and
;

were, as" Colonel Dickson wrote, "kept

by the purchase of mules and French horses.

To D.-A.-G. brigades
"

water

3 Oct.

Qn

above

Lord Wellington made a forward

by crossing the Bidassoa. This has
always been considered one of the ablest movements made
Colonel
by the great English General. The passage was effected as
C S
fll ws
e ^th Division and two 9-pounder brigades forded
to D A G
dated
at Fuentarabia.
The 1st Division, and General Wilson's
Ct
one
with
9-pounder brigade, and Webber Smith's
brigade,
!8i3
of
Horse
the Artillery
Troop
Artillery, crossed at Irun
of this column being commanded by Major Dyer.
The
the
column
of
1st
Division
the
18was
covered
passage
by
and
a
of
Horse
General
pounder brigade
troop
Artillery.
Freire's Galician army passed at two fords higher up,
covered by a 9-pounder brigade, Bull's troop of Horse
The passage
Artillery, and a brigade of Spanish Artillery.
of the river was effected, and the French position carried
The most difficult duty fell upon the
with great ease.
The French, on the other
behaved
who
well.
Spaniards,
hand, behaved ill. The 18-pounder brigade was especially
1813.

the 7th October,

movement

into France

'

useful in covering the passage of the troops.

The attack upon the Puerto de Yera was

made by the

Light Division and General Giron's Spanish -reserve army,

supported by the 4th Division, who were successful in getting
possession of the pass and adjoining heights ; but not until the
9th October did the French quit the Montagne de la Bhune.

Passage of the Bidassoa.

CHAP. XXI.

375

prior to the crossing of the Bidassoa had been

very stormy, and aided in concealing the movements of the
But Soult never imagined such a thing possible as
Allies.

The night

" the
astonishing hardihood of passing columns by fords
" where the tide rose 16
feet, and where the sands were
"

"

Oust.

half a mile broad, to force such a river as the Bidassoa at

In his description of the crossing of the
its mouth."

Augustus Frazer mentions that, when he

Eamsay's troop and Michell's (late
found 400 Infantry waiting to pull
he
Parker's) brigade,
the guns over the mountain to the places from which they
"
were to cover the crossing of the army.
But," he adds
with pride, " BuWs (Ramsay s) horses never want assistance ;
"
they were soon posted on a height with some Spanish
Bidassoa,

Sir

reached Irun with

"

'

Frazer's
1

205!

From

a subsequent official return to Dated

appears that the 9-pounder brigade ]^ t
which accompanied the 1st Division was Captain Dansey's ; 1813.
and that the 9-pounder brigade which accompanied the 5th

Horse Artillery."

the Master-General,

it

Division was Lawson's, commanded by the 2nd Captain,

Mosse. Captain Morrison still commanded the 18-pounder

brigade and Lieut.-Colonel Boss's troop of Horse Artillery

was held in reserve, moving from one point to another
;

most required.
Including Major Arriaga's Portuguese
brigade, and the other troops and brigade already mentioned, there were 48 British and Portuguese guns engaged
at the passage of the Bidassoa and the Master-General was
informed that the fire of the Artillery on the occasion was
well directed, and that the exertions made by the officers in
as

bringing forward their respective brigades to the point of

Lieut.-Colonel May was
attack were most satisfactory.
Assistant Adjutant-General to the Artillery, Lieutenant Ord

was Brigade-Major, and Lieutenant Pascoe Adjutant. Lieut.Colonel Hartmann was in charge of the artillery in position,
and Lieut.-Colonel Frazer and Major Dyer superintended the
bringing forward of the guns.
Further inaction followed the passage of the Bidassoa, until
the fall of Pampeluna, already mentioned, set Lord Wellington
free for a further advance.
During this time, attempts were

Conclusion of the Peninsular IVar.

376
Colonel
to D.-A.-G.

1813.

CHAP. xxi.

made to supply mountain batteries for the coming service.

Marshal Beresford brought a few 3-pounders from Lisbon
was f un(^ a l mos t impossible to procure mules for them.
Three guns of the same calibre, which had been taken from
the French, had been temporarily equipped for single
draught, and placed under the command of Lieutenant Kobe,
;

the son of the gallant

officer

This young

officer

Yimiera.

who commanded

at Koli9a

fell at

and

Waterloo,

subsequently
having seen more battles than years. A medley equipment
was found for the guns brought from Lisbon, the Artillery-

ibid.

1813

men being

Portuguese, but the drivers and mules being

These guns were carried on the backs of the
mules, and three of them were added to Lieutenant Kobe's
command. A detachment for rocket-service was also sent
from England, but received by Lord Wellington with very
mixed feelings, as he had rather a horror of the rocket as
British.

The Chestnut Troop, and Douglas's and

brigades were also got over the mountains to
Vera, for outpost duty, and to be in readiness to support the
attack on the enemy's position, which Lord Wellington had
a

ibid.

0t '

I8i3

weapon of war.

Sympher's

decided to

The

field

make

as soon

as

difficulty in getting these

Pampeluna should surrender.

guns over was very great, and

was aggravated by the tempestuous weather which prevailed

it was effected without accident. When the news arrived
from Pampeluna, which should have set the army free for
;

ibid.

is^T

but

forward movement into France, the weather had become

such that movement was impossible. At Koncesvalles, the
of snow was so heavy and unexpected, that three of
Captain Maxwell's guns had to be abandoned in a redoubt,
the guns being buried under ground and the carriages con-

fall

Koss's, Douglas's, and Sympher's

been
advanced still farther to support
guns had, however,
in the meditated attack on the position of Sarre ; Kobe's

cealed under the snow,

mountain guns were attached to the 6th Division, and the

Portuguese 3-pounders to the Light Division and Giron's
army while no fewer than 54 guns had been attached to
Colonel Hartthe left of the army under Sir John Hope,
inann being in command. It will thus be seen that all
;

Battle of La Nivellc.

CHAP. XXI.

377

necessary arrangements had been made, as far as the Artillery department was concerned.

The attack

which

is

known

as the battle of

La

Nivelle

Official

took place on the 10th November, and resulted in the ^farterenemy's entrenched position being carried at every point, General,
from St. Jean de Luz to the front of the Puerto de Maia ; st. pe;
^
and in the capture of 51 French pieces of ordnance, and

Jg^

The following was the

1500 prisoners.

Artillery during the battle

and

it

distribution of the and

the c tonel
the nature D 'ckson

greater part remained on the left of the army,

of the country rendering it extremely difficult
Artillery, except by the high road from Irun

WXji

Sir

Rowland

to

move

Hill's corps

Lieut.-Col. Tulloh's Portuguese brigades

With the 6th Division

ne
{
lOne of

^' prs *

6-prs.

Lieutenant Robe's mountain guns.

To

support the attack of the 4th and (Lieut.-Col. Ross's troop, R.H.A.
7th Divisions on the redoubts and < Major Sympher's brigade of 9-prs.

position of Sarre.

'

(Captain Douglas's brigade of 9-prs.

With General Giron's Spanish

With the Light

With

Division

Lieut. -General Sir

Lieut.-Col.

reserve

a half brigade of Portuguese 3-prs.

a half brigade of Portuguese 3-prs.

John Hope's corps

Webber Smith's

troop,

R.H.A.

Captain Ramsay's troop, R.H.A.

Carmichael's brigade of 9-pounders.
Mosse's brigade of heavy 6-pound ers.
Greene's brigade of 9-pounders.
Cairnes' brigade of 9-pounders.
Michell's brigade of 9-pounders.

Major Arriaga's Portuguese 9-pounders.

Morrison's 18-pounders.

There was also a brigade of Spanish Artillery with General

Freire's army.

The

Artillery with Sir John Hope's column was but little

engaged, as its advance depended on the success of the

right

but

it

kept up a heavy and successful cannonade, and

The Artillery on the right, in
casualties.

met with a few

support of the attack on the redoubts, was, however, of

and was skilfully handled by the field

essential service;

Letter

will be seen that

O f same'

378

Conclusion of the Penitmdar War.

officers

in

charge, Lieut-Colonels
a vigorous fire on the

Frazer and

CHAP. xxi.

Buckner.

redoubt, while the

forward to assault it, and the effect

They opened

first

4th Division was moving

of the fire was such as to compel the enemy to abandon the
redoubt without waiting for the assault. At this time the

Chestnut Troop distinguished itself especially. " I must

" the
gallant
particularly notice," wrote Colonel Dickson,
" manner in which Lieut. -Colonel Boss's
troop was moved
" to an advanced
position, when it reopened its fire at the
"
distance of 350 yards from the work, and covered the
"
In this operation Lieutenant
approach of the others.
"

Day was severely wounded." As soon as the enemy

quitted the first redoubt, the guns moved forward to support
the 7th Division in the attack of the second, but after a few
In the subsequent operations
it also was abandoned.
on the right, the Artillery were unable to take much part, on
account of the difficulty in moving the guns. The frightful
rounds

Cust.

state of the roads also aided the ultimate escape of the enemy
without pursuit. To use Sir Augustus Frazer's words, the
Frazer's

1; 342**

ground over which the battle of La Nivelle was fought was

" so
rugged, that it would be difficult to attempt a sketch
" of it.
You must fancy rocks, and hills, and woods, and
"
mountains, interspersed with rough heaths and rivers, and
"

The

everything but plain ground."

Artillery were as follows

in tho

casualties

Lieut.-Col. Ross's troop

Killed: 1 man, and

"Wounded

10 non-commissioned officers and men, anil 4 horses.

1 officer,

horse.

Lieut.-Col. Smith's troop

Killed

man, and 2

Wounded

horses.

6 non-commissioned

officers

and men, and 7

horses.

Major Bull's (Eamsay's) troop

Killed 1 man, and 1 horse.
:

Wounded

2 non-commissioned officers and men.

Captain Michell's brigade

Wounded

3 gunners.

Captain Carmichael's brigade Wounded No

Lieutenant Kobe's brigade Killed 1 mule.
:

officers or

men.

1 horse.

Total

Killed

3 men, 4 horses, 1 mule.

1 officer, 21 non-commissioned
12 horses.

Wounded

officers

and men,

CHAP. XXI.

Admirable Conduct of Artillery.

379

La Nivelle amounted to
and wounded. The conduct of the Artillery
during the battle was such as to excite the following comments " Flattering compliments were paid by all on the
" undoubted service of the three batteries of
Artillery on
"
" this
I beg
occasion, i.e. the attack on the redoubts."

The

entire losses of the Allies at

2694

killed

"

you

will

further
"

state

Master-General," wrote

the

to

that I have every reason to be satisfied

Colonel Dickson,
"
with the conduct of all the field officers, officers, non" commissioned
and
on this occasion

men, employed

officers,

Frazer's

p>

335^

official

^f^'
1813.

" as also of Lieut. -Colonel

May, and the officers of the Ar"
In
his
Staff."
tillery
private letter to General Macleod,
Colonel Dickson wrote " The attack of the first redoubt at
:

"

was expected would be a very obstinate opera"

tion, and for that reason all the eighteen guns were
"
brought up against it however, their fire was so active
" and well
directed, and Frazer pushed the guns up so close,
Sarre

it

" that the

enemy could not stand

In another report,

it."

Colonel Dickson said that the mountain guns under Lieutenant Eobe, and the Portuguese guns of similar calibre,

were most active and useful, accompanying their respective

corps during the day, and supporting the advance of their
light troops.
Captain Ramsay's troop and Captain Car-

Dated

21

Nov

Major

michael's brigade, with Sir J. Hope's force, were especially

mentioned ; the former for having repeatedly silenced the Hartmann,

and dismounted one in the redoubt in 1313.

Dragoons and the latter for
back
the enemy's skirmishers,
driven
having repeatedly
silenced their guns, and dismounted one in the redoubt
opposite the 1st German Eegiment of Infantry. Lord Wel"
The artillery which was in TO Lord
lington, in his despatch, said
a h urst
" the
and I cannot sufficiently ^a t e d
field was of great use to us
"
acknowledge the intelligence and activity with which it St. Pe,
"
was brought to the point of attack, under the direction of
"
Colonel Dickson, over the bad roads through the mountains,

guns opposed

to him,

front of the 12th and 16th

'

" at
this season of the year."
The success of the Allies on the right obliged the enemy
to abandon the works at St. Jean de Luz, but any further

'

Conclusion

380

of the Peninsular War.

CHAP. xxi.

immediate advance was forbidden to Lord Wellington by the

Colonel

toD.-A.-G,
'

:ltt! <

incessant rain which

some days.

During

this period

compulsory inactivity, every endeavour was made to generate confidence among the French inhabitants, and although
rendered

1813.

fell for

Allied

difficult

by the

the

troops,

irregularities

attempts

were

committed by the

ultimately

successful.

Writing on the 5th December, 1813, Colonel Dickson, after

his usual announcement that it had never ceased raining,
and that the country was quite impassable, went on to
"

The inhabitants continue to return to their homes,

and we are the best friends possible." The dulness of the
weather at St. Jean de Luz, and the inactivity which
Colonel Dickson abhorred, were cheered by an announcement that the Portuguese Government had been pleased to
promote him to the rank of Colonel in their service, in recogsay

"

nition of his recent services.

Lord
gt n

^Lord

The weather having at length sufficiently moderated to

admit of further operations in the field, Lord Wellington

14 Dec.

forced the passage of the Nive at Ustaritz and Cambo, on

the 9th December, with the view of extending his right

to the

left, near Biarritz, and on the Light Division near

but he failed in both. The services on this
Arcangues

Bathm-st,

towards the Adour.

On

the 10th, Soult

made an

attack on

the Allies'

General
dated
e

'

'

I8i?
Colonel

Dickson
Macieod**
dated
'

1813.

occas i n of Captain Kamsay's troop, and of a division of

similar
Captain .Mosse's brigade, were very conspicuous.

attempt was made on the llth, in which the French were

a g a i n repulsed
Captain Eamsay's troop, and the whole of
;

brigade, again rendering most valuable

assistance in the defence of the position.
Marshal Soult,
being thus disappointed in his hopes of making an impres-

Captain Mosse's

sion on the Allied left,

drew the greater part of his force back

on
the
Bayonne
night of the 12th December, and in the
of
the
13th, made a determined attack with
early morning
force
on
Kowland
Hill's corps, which was in
Sir
great
to

on the right of the Nive.

His attempts were,
however, vigorously repulsed, and he had eventually to
retire into his entrenched camp, with great loss.
The
Artillery with Sir Kowland Hill consisted of the Chestnut
position

Winter Quarters.

CHAP. xxi.

381

With
Troop and Colonel Tulloh's Portuguese brigades.
reference to their conduct, Colonel Dickson wrote " Nothing
"
could be stronger than the manner in which Sir Eowland
"
expressed to me his satisfaction at the conduct of both
"
these corps."
Colonel Tulloh was wounded on this ocAt the same time as the passage of the Nive was
casion.
forced, Sir John Hope's corps on the left reconnoitred
Bayonne. General Hay, who commanded the 5th Division
with this corps, wrote as follows with reference to two guns
of Captain Ramsay's troop, which were attached to him.
" I
take the first spare moment to mention to you how
"
much I was pleased, on the 9th instant, with the very
"
gallant, zealous, and skilful conduct of Captain Cator, who
" commanded
two guns of Captain Eamsay's troop of Horse
"
attached
to me on that day, which were of the
Artillery
:

General
Colonel

\% Dec.

1813

"

greatest use in assisting me to dislodge a very superior

"
body of the enemy opposed to me."

The

attacks

made on the 13th by

Soult were admirably

planned, but the dogged courage of the five Infantry brigades,

which was the whole force which. Sir Eowland Hill had at

oppose to him, was invincible.

Although driven
back into his intrenchments, his position was one which
was most objectionable to the Allies. His attacks were like

first to

which he could make in great force

and
if
he
failed, his retreat was short and
upon any point,
It
was
resolved, therefore, to strengthen the position
easy.
the
to fortify one or two salient points,
Allies,
occupied by
and to place some guns of position. The army then went

sorties

from a

fortress,

into cantonments,

the Spaniards

recrossing

Colonel

J^^
15 Dec.

the Bidassoa

be imagined, winter quarters

in front of an enemy, known to be very active, did not
conduce to any sense of repose among the commanders.
The conduct of the Artillery at the action of the 13th Defor that purpose,

but, as

may

cember was thus noticed by Lord Wellington " The British

"
Artillery under Lieut.-Colonel Eoss, and the Portuguese
"
Artillery under Colonel Tulloh, distinguished themselves."
In the same despatch, the name of Norman Earnsay appears,
as having been favourably mentioned by Sir John Hope.
:

To Lord

1813.

Conclusion of the Peninsular War.

382

CHAP. XXI.

Like that brave General, Bamsay had also been

wounded during the operations on the Nive.

twice

During the few weeks which preceded the resumption

of

among the

Artillery horses
1
An acciexceeded anything that had yet been witnessed.
to
a
sent
from
occurred
which
dent,
supply
England to

hostilities in 1814, the mortality

by which many were killed on board the

And,
transports during a storm, was particularly ill-timed.
to crown the evil, Lord Wellington, having decided on the

reinforce them,

passage of the Adour, ordered the pontoon train to be inThere was no alternative
creased, and horsed without delay.

but to take the horses from one of the Artillery brigades

and the unfortunate Captain Cairnes was again the victim.

Luckily for him, the promotions consequent on the formation of the Eocket troops had just been notified from

England; and as Norman Ramsay received his promotion

to the rank of 1st Captain, and returned to England, the
command of his troop was given to Captain Cairnes.
The movements in the spring of 1814 were important,
and on a considerable scale. In the end of January, the
enemy showed considerable activity on the Adour, and fitted
out several gun-boats to keep the navigation open, and to
annoy the posts of the Allies. Against these Lieutenant
mountain brigade was first employed, but it was
Rome's
totT-T-G
dated
goon found necessary to supplement it with guns of a heavier
But in the following month, a change in the
calibre.
is \A*'
Colonel

weather

from rain

to frost

commence the execution

induced Lord Wellington to

which he had been

of operations,

quietly designing for some weeks. These included the passage

a feat deemed by Soult imof the Adour near its mouth,
possible,

and a simultaneous attack on the

French army to conceal

Colonel Dickson was sent

his

real

of the

from

Soult.

John Hope

in the

intention

to assist Sir

left

In the end of January 1814, after giving over the horses to the
pontoons, 460 were deficient for the Artillery, and 200 others were sick or
worn out. To meet this deficiency, 500 had been promised, and were to
1

leave

England

in February.

CHAP. xxi.

Battle of Orthes.

383

former operation, which the reader knows was well and

skil-

While the covering fire of the Artillery at

fully executed.
the passage of the Adour was generally effective, that of the

now famous 18-pounder brigade was

Lord
and
as his numbers were now superior to his enemy's, he was
able without risk to carry out both parts of his scheme at
the same time, and to drive Soult's forces back from their
The various operations, which culminated in the
position.
battle of Orthes, are too long to reproduce in a work of this
especially so.

Wellington superintended the operations on the right

suffice it to give an account of the services of

description
the Artillery at that great battle.
Colonel Dickson being
away, the command of the Artillery with the right of the
Colonel Frazer had been
army fell to Major Carncross.
;

ordered to go with Sir John Hope's army to the Adour, in

charge of Captain Lane's rocket detachments, which did

good service during the passage of the river. It may here

be mentioned, that during the operations prior to the investment of Bayonne, which followed the passage of the Adour,
Colonel Frazer was wounded.
Although, however, Major
Carncross was senior

officer of Artillery

on the

field, yet,

being with Sir Eowland Hill's column, he did not participate

in the action so much as Major Dyer, who was with Marshal
Beresford's column, and from whose reports the services of the
On the mornvarious batteries can more readily be traced.

ing of the 27th February, the 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, and light
divisions of Infantry, Colonel Yivian's and Lord Edward Major
18
Somerset's brigades of Cavalry, Eoss's and Gardiner's troops

j^

Horse Artillery, and Maxwell's, Sympher's, Turner's (late

Douglas's), and Michell's brigades of Field Artillery, had
crossed the river Pau, over which a pontoon bridge had been
Colonel Eoss was no longer with
placed during the night.
the Chestnut Troop, he having returned to England on leave,
and given the command to his 2nd Captain, Major JenThe enemy was found to be in full force on a strong
kinson.
near
the villages of St. Marie and St. Boe's, and his
height
of

Colonel'

4 March

Ros s /
5

j e'nkon,

covering Orthes, and the fords between Depart andBiron. \

The battle commenced early in the day, and ended after

left

Conclusion of the Peninsular War.

384

CHAP.

XX

I.

severe fighting, and a loss to the Allies of 2200 killed and

wounded, in the total defeat of the French, with a loss,
which if the numerous deserters be included, who came

over

afterwards

has been

estimated at no

fewer

Despatch
hat hurst,
i

u-ch

li

181-t.

the officers present at the battle cannot fail to be interestand the opinions of Generals of division must be

ing
Colonel

deemed valuable.

Taking the

latter first, it is recorded that

Thomas Picton expressed himself

in terms of the highest

with
reference
to
Turner's
praise
Captain
brigade and Sir

fo^-T.-G. Sir
dated

than

14,000.
Although the verdict of Lord Wellington might
the
most fastidious Artilleryman, " The conduct of
satisfy
"
the Artillery throughout the day deserved my entire ap" r ba
& few extracts from the correspondence of
tion,"
P

1814.

Lowry Cole did the same in regard to Major Sympher's.

The last-named officer, who had done such good and continuous service in the Peninsular War, was killed at Orthes,
at the very commencement of the action.
Major Jenkinson
wrote in general terms, that " all the General Officers speak

To Colonel
n
dated
rch '
f

??i ?

" in
high terms of the services of Boss's and Gardiner's troops,
"
as also of poor Sympher's brigade."
Major Dyer, in his
"
I had the satisfaction about one o'clock to
report, wrote
:

"

get Lieut.-Colonel Boss's and Gardiner's troops of Horse

"
Artillery, and the German brigade of Artillery attached
" to the 4th
Division, into position opposite the enemy's
"
columns
the fire from their guns was tremenstrongest
"
dous, and, being admirably served, soon caused the enemy
"
The brigades then took up separate positions
to retire.
" and
the
About 4 o'clock the
ceased
:

annoyed

"

firing, the

enemy.

guns

retreating in great confusion, leaving

" some
I have to regret the
pieces of cannon on the field.
" loss of
Major Sympher and many valuable Artillerymen."

1Med
3 March,

In his
wrote
"

enemy

official

report

to

Marshal Beresford, Major Dyer

"
:

upon

I should really feel that I omitted a duty imposed

me if I did not recommend to your Excellency's

" notice the

"

conduct of Major Sympher, Major Gardiner,

and Major Jenkinson on that brilliant day."
Captain
Beane's troop of Horse Artillery was with Sir Bowland
Hill's force, under Major Carncross; and that officer was

CHAP. xxi.

Stupidity of Driver Officers.

385

able to speak with pride of the steady, well-directed, and Major

destructive fire kept up by it, although exposed to a very
severe fire of musketry.
On the 2nd March, Sir Kowland
Hill's force

came up with the enemy, and Captain Beane's 10 March,

18U
it was
specially mentioned
Four guns belonging to it were brought into
*

troop performed services for which

in orders.

action with great effect ; and one of them, under Lieutenant

Brereton, after a few rounds, silenced two of the enemy's,
and forced them to retire.
On this day, Captain Mac-

donald, of Captain Beane's troop, distinguished himself in

leading on the Portuguese troops, who had been forced back ;

and received Sir Bowland

thanks in public orders on

Sir Kowland took the opportunity of
Hill's

the following day.

assuring Major Carncross that, on the several occasions on
which the troop had been recently engaged, he had been

much satisfied with

and men composing

the

officers,

non-commissioned

officers,

it.

A period of inactivity followed the battle of Orthes ; and

not until April did Wellington resume active operations;
but in the meantime Marshal Beresford, with a considerable
proceeded to Bordeaux, and was received with great
Louis XVIII. was proclaimed, and the badges of
delight.
the Empire were doffed by the magistrates.
During this
force,

time Colonel Dickson's

life

had become a burden

to him.

Innumerable accidents and delays occurred to the horses

which were on the way to reinforce his brigades and at
the same time the drain on his resources to meet the wants
;

"
of the pontoon train daily increased.
The pontoon equip- To D.-A.-G.
"
"
has become such a sink of horses under ^A^-ii
ment," he wrote,
"
the stupidity, inability, and inactivity of the Driver officers, 18U
" that I
have been obliged, in consequence of the continued
"
observations of Lord Wellington, to place Artillery officers
" to
superintend the care of the horses, until the arrival of
" the Alicante
army, when officers and men of the Eoyal
"
are
to be posted to the pontoon train, by which
Artillery
" the
bridge department will revert to the Corps it always
"
belonged to. The bad state of the concern in its mode
" of
organization enabled me to convince his Lordship of
-

VOL. n.

2 c

386

War.

Conclusion of the Peninsular

CHAP. xxi.

" the benefit that would arise

by having it under one head
"
He was iy nor ant of its
officers.
same
and managed by the
"
concern
and he added
been an
Artillery

having formerly

11

"

how

that he did not Jcnoiv

it

had

got into the

hands of

the

Engineers at first"

To return, however, to the movements of the army. Marshal Soult, having learnt what had taken place at Bayonne,
commenced to retire upon Toulouse, and Wellington followed
Oust.

in

pursuit,

but

The

very leisurely.

had 40,000
Soult's 28,000 and
Allies

oppose
bayonets and 60 guns
38 guns but a reinforcement was expected by the latter in
the shape of Suchet's army from the east of Spain and the
position at Toulouse, on which he was retreating had been
to

to

strengthened by gradual intrenchments during the past few

weeks. In the commencement of Soult's retreat, one or two

smart actions had taken place between divisions of the Allies

and the French, but without any result other than perhaps
Toulouse was
increasing the rapidity of Soult's movements.

an important strategic post

for the

commanded the
met there, which

it

French;

number

passage of the Garonne

would enable Soult to carry out many different schemes;
and it was the chief military arsenal in the south of France.
;

Here,
Colonel

o'-luGen
is April,

if ever,

of roads

something might be done

to

improve the

fast-

failing fortunes of the French Emperor, whom the Allies in

the north were hunting relentlessly to his doom.
When

Wellington reached the Garonne, his first intention was to

but this was found so difficult that
cross it above Toulouse
the idea was given up, and a flank march having been made on
;

the 3rd April to a convenient situation about a mile above Grenade, and below Toulouse, the pontoon bridge was laid early
in the

morning

of the 4th,

and three divisions (the 3rd, 4th,

and 6th) with their artillery, as also six regiments of Cavalry

with Major Gardiner's troop of Horse Artillery, crossed without opposition. During this operation, however, the river rose
considerably, owing to the rains which had fallen during the
previous night and at last the further passage of troops was
suspended. Heavy rain fell again on the night of the 4th, and
the river increased so much that the pontoons were obliged
;

CHAP. XXI,
to be

drawn
two

Battle of Toulouse.
into the banks,

387

and the army was thus divided

Strangely enough, Marshal Soult did not

avail himself of this circumstance, although it was the

into

parts.

morning of the 8th before the

to

admit of the bridge being

river

relaid.

was

sufficiently

The Spanish

low

corps,

Colonel Arentschild's Portuguese Artillery, and the headThe bridge was

quarters staff passed over on that day.

then moved a

little farther up the river, and

early on the
of the 10th April the Light Division crossed.
On MS.
was fought the battle of Toulouse. The offensive H'

morning
this day
was taken by Lord Wellington, who attacked a strong po- Mastersition which the enemy had fortified to cover the city of jted
Toulouse, and succeeded in obtaining entire possession of it
In consequence of this defeat, isu.
after an obstinate resistance.
'

Soult evacuated Toulouse during the night of the llth,

The distribution and
retiring by the route to Carcassone.

The
services of the Artillery of the Allies were as follows.
of
ten
9-pounder guns,
Portuguese Artillery, consisting
under Colonel Arentschild, covered the attack made by the
Spaniards on the left of the enemy's position. This Artillery
was warmly engaged during the best part of the day, and
distinguished itself greatly by its firmness and correct firing.

A German

brigade, under Captain Daniel, and Captain

Brandreth's 9-pounder brigade both being under Major Dyer,
were for some time employed in covering the movements of
Marshal Beresford's column in its attack on the right of the

and on that being carried, they moved up to higher

assisted in taking the remainder of the position,
and
ground,
and also in moderating the fire of the enemy from the opposite
side of the canal, across which the French were ultimately
The enemy's fire from that point had greatly andriven.

position

and Colonel Dickson expressed himself

the counter-effect produced by the fire
with
highly satisfied
and Captain Daniel's guns.
Brandreth's
of Captain

noyed the Allies

Major Gardiner's troop of Horse Artillery was at first

employed in supporting the left of the Spanish attack, and
afterwards moved to the ridge can-Jed by Marshal Beresford,
"
of infinite
where Colonel Dickson reported that it was
2 c 2

'

388

Conclusion of the Peninsular War.

CHAP,

xxi

While these operations were going on, the 3rd

service."
and Light Divisions were employed in threatening the
enemy's position along the canal, towards the point where
In this service, Captain Turner's
Captain Bean's troop
(late Douglas's) brigade was engaged.
and Captain Maxwell's brigade (now No. 4 Battery, 7th
Brigade) were on the opposite side of the river with Sir
it

joined the Garonne.

Hill's corps, engaged in the attack made upon the

The officers on the Staff of the Artillery at the
tete de pont.
battle of Toulouse were Lieut. -Colonel May, Lieut.-Colonel

Kowland

MS. Return
'

From these officers

Frazer, and Lieutenants Ord and Bell.
Colonel Dickson reported that he had received every assistance. The casualties among the Artillery engaged amounted
1 officer (Lieutenant Blumenbach, K.G.A., killed) and
58 non-commissioned officers and men killed and wounded.
Among the horses, 28 were killed and 13 wounded. The casualties among the Eoyal Horse Artillery engaged amounted
and among the Koyal Artillery brito 8 men and 4 horses
The remaining casualties
men
and
23
to
29
horses.
gades
occurred among the Germans and Portuguese.

to

Colonel

Early in the morning of the 12th, the Allies took posn f Toulouse, and the white flag was hoisted. Lord

i
D'-A^Gcn* sess

A P r JJ,

Wellington was received by the corporation at the Town

Hall, and addressed them, pointing out the necessity of

weighing well the step which they were about to take at a

moment when a congress was sitting possibly for the purpose
of making peace with Napoleon.
Vive le Eoi! however, was
from every lip, and every one mounted a white
In the evening of the 12th, a messenger arrived
from Paris with the intelligence of Napoleon's abdication, and
heard

cockade.

the restoration of the Bourbons.

welcome

The

intelligence

to the inhabitants of Toulouse,

feel rather

who

was very

could not but

nervous after the step which they had taken.

carried to Marshal Soult the news of

The same messengers

the Allies entering Paris, and of the official dethronement

of Napoleon by the Senate; but he would give them no
credence.
How faithfully Napoleon was served by his Lieutenants, and

how

devotedly they clung to his cause, must be

Devotion of Napoleons Lieutenants.

CHAP. xxi.

389

apparent to the most superficial reader of his history. In him,

who has been called the incarnation of war in all its bad as
well as good attributes, they saw but one who was facile
seeing this,
princeps in the profession which they loved
;

they clung to his cause to the bitter end;

hungering

in their hearts for

his

and with a

leadership, even while

serving another prince, they turned to him, after his escape

from Elba, with an enthusiasm more like the love of a woman

than the

have

cold, reasoning affection of a

many

man.

of the qualities of the other sex.

Soldiers, indeed,

Once

let

them

and no disasters, no slanders will upaet

and from a leader, whom they love, even many
harsh words will be forgotten in the presence of one word
There are those who think that a soldier's
of kindness.
mind is like a blank page, on which their own views and

believe in a leader,
their creed

ease be inscribed.
And in one sense they
Let skill and courage once be visible in a commander, and the obedience and enthusiasm of his men will
be his; and if he supplement these qualities by thoughtful
consideration, by kind words, by ready participation in
hardships, he will earn from them a love which shall
But the kind words will not
pass even the love of woman.

wishes

may with

are right.

win

it

without the

skill,

nor the consideration without the

courage.

On

Soult's refusing to credit the intelligence from Paris, Colonel

for moving forward o^-Gen

Lord Wellington made arrangements

On the 16th, however, a French officer

with the army.
arrived from Paris with despatches for Marshal Soult and

dated

was followed by an officer arriving from the French

army to treat with Lord Wellington. Had the despatches
been received a little sooner, a loss of life would have been
saved at Bayonne. A sortie was made from that city, on the

1J

this

14th April, which, although unsuccessful, resulted in the

death of General Hay and not a few brave officers, and in
the capture of that most brave and chivalrous leader, Sir

John Hope.
The war was now over but, before closing this chapter,
let a word be said with reference to the services of an officer
;

is April'

390

Conclusion of the Peninsular War. CHAP. xxi.

of the Corps

who commanded with

distinction the rocket

detachments attached to the Allied army at Leipsic in 1813,

and who met a soldier's death many years after at the hattle
Thomas Fox Strangways. At Leipsic he comof Inkermann

manded, from the circumstance that his Captain, Bogue, fell

early in the day. He was then but a subaltern but ere he left
the field, at the head of his brigade he received the personal
thanks of the Allied sovereigns and the Emperor of Russia,
taking from his breast the order of St. Anne, placed it upon
that of the young officer whose services had been so eminent
;

From

written by
i,ady Fox

on that day.

Edward Cust

In recounting the story of the battle, Sir

says that such was the fearful effect of the

rockets, that a whole

brigade surrendered after enduring

and it has also been recorded,
;

their fire for a few minutes

on the best evidence,

that, at a

most

critical

time of the

Crown Prince of Sweden rode up to him, and

him
to advance his brigade, as nothing else would
implored
To his exertions at Leipsic was the subsesave the day.
battle, the

quent organization of regular rocket troops due and on this

taking place the command of the brave men, who had distinguished themselves at Leipsic, passed into the hands of
one both able and brave, one who had done noble service in
the Peninsula, which he was to repeat at Waterloo,
gentle
and yet enthusiastic, the late Sir E. C. Whinyates.
In closing this narrative of the services of the Artillery
;

in the Peninsula,

impossible to avoid feeling that it has

short
of the narrative to which these
immeasurably
services are justly entitled.
It is felt that the
attempt to
it is

fallen

place before the reader the chivalry, courage, and endurance

of those who represented the Corps in the great wars with
France has been defeated by considerations of space, as well
as

by the

writer's inexperience.

To

realise these qualities

thoroughly, it will be necessary for the reader to clothe

these skeleton pages with the noble
drapery of Napier.

But

if

these qualities, which are matter of

history, have

adequate description, how much greater has

been the shortcoming in
endeavouring to picture those
which
can
be
detected
in the intimacy of privirtues,
only
failed to receive

CHAP. xxi.

among

Friendship

the Officers.

391

vate friendship, or the study of private correspondence

It
the
student
is
from
the
latter
that
able
now
to
see
only
!

is

how almost

brotherly was the relationship between the

the Corps in Lord Wellington's army. For exon hearing of Colonel Dickson's promotion by the

officers of

ample
Portuguese Government, in the winter of 1813, what were
the words of the man whom he had superseded, and who was
:

"I wish," wrote Sir Augustus Frazer,

?
" that he
were a General he fully deserves all that can be
"
given him either as honour or reward." And as he felt, so
did all.
In the letters, also, announcing the Artillery losses

as able as himself

at the various battles in that war, of which it has been said

that the Allies " left 40,000 of their own number dead on
" the
plains and mountains of the Peninsula," how fervently
does the loving, brotherly spirit appear
Each good quality
!

and

as one gazes on the

fondly dwelt upon
loving words, written on pages now so faded by hands so
long still, there rises a picture of a Eegimental unity which

in the dead

is

were a sacrilege now to disturb by internal differences. It

indeed, well at times to close our eyes to the present, and
to look back at the past
a standard is often to be found

it

is,

there which shall dwarf that which

we may have

set

up

in

our self-esteem, and thought colossal. Possibly, never in

the whole history of the Kegiment has there been a time of

such intellectual

life

among

its

members

as at the present

day but as the great school of experience, which in the

beginning of this century made giants of our Artillerymen,
;

is

not

now

open,

it

may

be that there

is

almost a danger

in this mental activity, unless it be tempered by the study of

comrades, who in days gone by were the embodiments of duty,

Thus history may furnish to the

courage, and hardihood.
student a stability which shall allay present restlessness.

j
CO
(3

CHAPTER

XXII.

THE SECOND AMERICAN WAR.

TVEE Canadian

war have been glanced at

Tenth
the
Old
on
in the chapter
Battalion; and the
actions, in which the various Companies were engaged, have
been given in the tables of the Battalions to which they
belonged. No allusion has, however, been yet made to the
incidents in this

disastrous chapter in the history of the war, in which the

scene was laid at New Orleans ; and, as the largest Artillery
force together during the campaign was with the army on

that

service, it is

proposed in this chapter to devote the

chief space to the incidents connected with it.

The story of the second American War may be summarised

On

the 18th June, 1812, the Government of the

United States declared war against Great Britain. It is not
as follows.

uncharitable to repeat what is matter of history, that the

United States have always found their grievances against
the mother-country more intolerable when that country
has happened to be engaged in war. It was so in 1812
and the dream of annexing Canada, which has haunted
American statesmen for nearly a century, seemed likely to
be realised. But, then, as since, the United States underrated the loyalty of the Canadians; and their attempted
;

Cust.

Their first
invasion in 1812 proved a ludicrous failure.
of
made
with
a
force
2500
men
under a
attempt was

General Hall, who invaded Upper Canada, but was successby a force of Kegulars and Militia under a

fully resisted

British General, Brock, and had to retire to the American

side of the St. Lawrence, where he took shelter in Fort

Here he was followed by General Brock, to whom

he surrendered on the 16th August. A similar fate awaited
the second attempt made by the United States. A force of
Detroit.

Invasion of Canada.

CHAP. xxil.

393

1400 men, under General Wadsworth, crossed into Canada,

near Niagara, in October 1812. The reception he met was
a warm one ; the American fort at Niagara was captured by
and after a few minor operations, in which,
the English
;

unfortunately, General Brock was killed, the American

General surrendered himself, with 900 men, to General
Sheaffe,

who had succeeded

of General Brock.

then decided on.

to the

command on

the death

third invasion, on a larger scale, was

One detachment crossed the frontier be-

tween Chippewa and Fort Erie, but was repulsed with loss
while the main body menaced Montreal.
Such, however,
were the preparations made by the English General, Prevost,
at the latter place, that the Americans withdrew into their
;

own country without an engagement.

The operations during the year 1813 were on

a larger

scale, and success was not always on the side of the British.
The year commenced with the defeat of the Americans at
Fort Detroit by a mixed force under Colonel Procter but
;

was followed by, the capture of York, the capital of Upper

Canada. The lakes became the scene of very active hos-

severe engagement took place at the rapids of

the Miami, a river flowing into Lake Erie, in which the
English were successful, but could not maintain their po-

tilities.

sition.

The

followed

Fort George, at Niagara, by the English

and this became for a time the American General's
loss of

Disasters on the lakes, which ensued, made

head-quarters.
the English position in Upper Canada very feeble ; but
affairs brightened in the autumn with the discomfiture of
the Americans in their attempted invasion of Lower Canada.

Operations were therefore ordered to be resumed in the west

with vigour ; and it having been found that the Americans

had evacuated Fort George and set fire to many Canadian

villages, the English followed them across the frontier, and
took Fort Niagara and Buffalo, setting fire to the latter city in
retaliation for the injury done to the Canadian settlements.
The attempts made by the Americans in the beginning of
1814 to invade Lower Canada were so unsuccessful, that the
war was now limited to the more western districts, where
they had the advantage on the lakes. The commencement

Russell,

The Second American War.

394
Cust.

of the

CHAP.

campaign in the west was favourable

to the

xxn.

Ameri-

cans, but the arrival of reinforcements from the Duke of

Wellington's army in France speedily gave a change to the

While the British troops were retreating

the Americans, they were joined by
General Drummond, with these fresh troops, and had hardly
formed up before they were attacked by the enemy, and the
combat known as the battle of Lundy's Lane followed. It
was a very fierce engagement, and lasted till midnight and
"
so closely was it fought, that
several of the British Artil"
their
were
at
lerymen
guns ;" but it ultimately
bayoneted
aspect of

affairs.

in good order before

ibid.

resulted in the precipitate retreat of the Americans.

This
of
the enemy's force was subsequently cooped up in
part
Fort Erie, which was invested by General Drummond during

The strength

the rest of the war.

Kane's

Canada had increased

in

command

the

in

1814

of the Koyal Artillery

to eight companies, under

of Major- General Glasgow.

of Artillery
officers

The commanding

at

the

various

which took place during the war in Canada, hardly

worthy of the name of battles, were as follows

affairs

Browne's
'

England's
Artillery-

At Detroit Lieutenant Felix Troughton.

At Queenstown Captain Holcroft.
At Foit Erie, in Nov. 1812 Lieutenant King, who was wounded, and
:

subsequently died of his wounds.

At Frenchtown, in Jan. 1813 Lieutenant Troughton
wounded.
At Fort George, in 1813 Major Holcroft.
At Black Rook, in July 1813 Lieutenant R. S. Armstrong.
:

At
At
At
At
At

Farm, in Nov. 1813: Captain H. G. Jackson.

Fort Niagara Captain Bridge.
Fort Oswego, 1814 Captain Edwin Cruttenden.
Lundy's Lane, 1814 Captain Mackonochie.
Christler's

Fort Erie, 1814

Major

Pliillott, assisted

by Captain (now Sir Ed\vard)

Sabine.

At Moose Island, 1814 Captain W. Dunn.

At Hamden, 1814 Lieutenant Garstin.
At Castine, 1814 Major G. Crawford.
At Machias, 1814 Lieutenant J. Daniel.
:

It had been decided by the English Government to carry

the war into the enemy's country in another direction, and the
energy of the officer who commanded the expedition against
Washington Major-General Koss was a marked contrast
to the

nervous indecision of Sir George Prevost, in the opera-

CHAP. xxii.

New

77/6-

Orleans Expedition.

395
General

tions of the latter against the States from Canada.

came from France, and the companies of Arwere those commanded by Captain afterwards Sir
Michell, Captain Carmichael, and Captain Crawford.

Ross's force
tillery

John

rocket detachments, under Captain Deacon, formed

The engagements in which this army
part of the force.
was engaged were the battle of Bladensburg, the capture

Some

of Washington, and the battle of Baltimore ; on all which

the
occasions
as in the previous operations in Canada
under
the
Generals
of
earned
the
commendations
Artillery
whom they served. 1 In one despatch it was said, that " the

"
"

Eoyal Artillery, in the laborious duties they performed,

displayed their usual unwearied zeal." It is pleasant to

find

how

often,

in various campaigns, the services of the

Courage is
Corps are alluded to in almost these words.
no labour
but
a
which
soldier
;
zeal,
expected from every
can weary, is a nobler, and as necessary a quality.
The next episode in the war is one which it is intended

somewhat greater length, the New Orleans exthe 25th November, 1814, a squadron arrived MS.
pedition.
from England, with a body of troops under the command of
Major-General Keane, and cast anchor in Negril Bay, Ja- tious
Here the force, lately commanded by General Koss, ^few"
inaica.
who had been killed at the battle of Baltimore, was also Orleans
assembled
and General Keane, as senior officer, assumed Forrest
to treat at

On

command

of the whole, viz.

No.

squadron 14th Light Dragoons

Eoyal Artillery
Captain Lane's Rocket Brigade
1

1st Brigade,

Major-Gen. Keane

2nd Brigade,

/93rd Regiment
lgt Wegt India
]
I

'

..

..

1(50

. .

320
40
907

iment

,-,,

Oku.

,,

,,

<
r
O~tO

r4th,Foot

893

Colonel Brooke,

J44th

44th Regiment

(21st

647
995
Carried forward

4605

In alluding to General Ross's expedition, Jomini, in his 'Precis do

1'Art de la Guerre,' says that it was "imc enterprise
qui pent etre rangec"parmi les plus extraordinuires ;" and that it produced results "dont on
"

chcrcherait vaincmcnt

im

autrc example dans I'histoire."

Gen

"

The Second American War.

xxn.

CHAP.

No.

4G03

Brought forward
Advance,

85th Light Infantry

95th Rifles ..

Colonel Thornton,

85th Regiment

453
488

..

5549

Total

It

will

be observed, that the numbers of the 1st West

is because at the date

India Regiment are not given. This

of both forces uniting, only seventy

had yet

men

of that

Eegiment

arrived.

Some modifications in the strength of the Koyal Artillery

took place during the campaign, but it may be as well to
anticipate matters, and to give now the exact details of the
ultimately stood, on Christmas Day, 1814.
is obtained from the MS. official returns
"
" on board
of that date ; and those shown as
were
ship
force as

it

The information

who had not landed in time for the engagement on the

23rd December. They were landed immediately after the
arrival of Colonel Dickson on the 25th December, which is

those

mentioned hereafter.
ROYAL ARTILLERY DRIVERS.

ROYAL ARTILLEEY.
N.-C. 0.
Officers.

Effective present

Rocket Brigade
Total present
On board ship

14
2

General Total

17

N.-C. o.

and
men.

Officers.

and
men.

224
96

62

320
114

Total present
On board ship

434

General Total.

62

184

246

NOMINAL LIST OF OFFICE us, ROYAL ARTILLERY.

Major Alex. Munro.

1st Lieutenant Francis "Weston.

J. Michell.

Captain L. Carmichael.
H. B. Lane.
Charles Deacon.
Adam Crawford.

W.
1st

C. Lempriere.

Lieutenant John Crawley.

Charles Ford.
R. A. Speer.

,,

Benson E. Hill.
Alexander Ramsay.
Frederick Bayley.

James

Christie.

Henry

Palliser.

2nd Lieutenant T. G. Williams.

B. L. Poynter.

Henry Williams.

CHAP. XXII.

The

commanding

Officers
sailed

fleet

the Expedition.

397

from Jamaica on the 27th November,

1814, General Keane and the Admiral, Sir A. Cochrane,

having preceded the others to make the necessary arrangements.

On
the

the 24th December, a frigate from England joined

fleet, having brought out Major-General Sir Edward

Pakenham,

as

Commander

Colonel Dickson and

officers, respectively,

of the Forces, accompanied by

Burgoyne, as commanding

Colonel

of Artillery and Engineers.

certain difficulties in the

arrival they learnt that

On

their

way

of a

passage to New Orleans through the lakes having been

removed the army had landed at a creek at the head of

Lake Borgne on the 24th December. Being very anxious

to join them, Sir Edward Pakenham and his staff pushed on
in a boat without delay, for a distance of forty miles, through
a number of dismal reed-covered islands, reaching the Bri'

'

Here they learnt that General

transport at 10 P.M.
Keane had landed on the morning of the 23rd with 2000
men at the upper part of a creek called Bayou Catalan, at
that he had advanced to the bank
the head of Lake Borgne
and
on
the
the
of
evening of the same day had
Mississippi,
force
of the enemy, which he
a
been attacked by
strong
that the
had repulsed, but not without considerable loss
army had not yet moved farther forward, but was waiting
for more troops to join,
only 2000 having been landed at
first, and the remainder
having gone up the creek in
schooners, many of which had gone aground.
By rowing
all night, and adding thirty miles to the journey already
made, Sir Edward Pakenham and his staff reached the headquarters of Sir Alexander Cochrane, which were established
tannia

in a few fishermen's huts,

the only habitations that existed

round in that most melancholy and unhealthy district.

By 11 A.M. on the 25th December, they succeeded
and
in reaching the landing-place at the head of the creek
for miles

ascertaining that the army head-quarters were only 2J miles

The road which
farther on, they proceeded to join them.
they traversed was merely a wretched marshy footpath along
the bank of a

little

canal or layou, which extended from the

sir A.

The Second American War.

39 8

CHAP.

xxn.

creek almost to the Mississippi, and was navigable for canoes

On arriving at headto within 1000 yards of that river.
quarters, they found the army on the ground on which they
had fought on the 23rd ; the number of men landed having
The Artillery, which had been
been increased to 3500.

landed and equipped, was as follows

2 9-prs. with 110 rounds per gun.

4 G-prs. with 120
1 heavy 5-iiich howitzer, with GO rounds.
1 light

4 light 3-prs. with 150 rounds per gun.

Total

12 guns.

Captain Lane's rocket equipment, witli 150 fit-Id rockets.

Three 5^-inch mortars (brass) under Captain Lawrence, of the Marino
Artillery, with 20 rounds each.

The
follows

officers

and men who had already landed were as

Royal Artillery
R. A. Drivers

16

officers,

and 320 non-com,

and 61

and men.

officers

Sixty-four horses h;id also been landed.

The Marino
assisted

Artillery

by 3 naval

The guns were

numbered 1 officer and 26 men, and they were

and 39 seamen.

officers

distributed as follows

prs
-lMajor Michell.
51'
2 6-prs. j
4 light 3-prs. Captain Deacon.
:

The

Carmichael.
?!'
r leapt.
light 5|-mch how $
1 heavy 5.^ -inch how
Capt. Crawford.

?
1

f."

'.

duty which Colonel Dickson had to perform was

what guns he had in battery, to destroy a 14-gun
corvette, which lay in the Mississippi, and annoyed the camp.
The gallant Colonel had a weakness for hot* shot, and having
first

to place

made the necessary arrangements, placing all his guns on

the levee (as the river embankment was called), except his
3-pounders, which were sent on with the advanced guard, he
opened fire at 8 A.M. on the morning of the 27th December.
He fired hot shot from his 9-pounders and shell from the
other guns.

He

got the exact range almost at once, and the

The enemy returned a few random

practice was excellent.

CHAP. xxii.

shots,

and then the crew made

past 10,

from

Distribution

it.

ofthe

Force.

for the shore

when the vessel hlew up, not another

The number of rounds expended

this corvette

and until
shot was

halffired

in destroying

was 191.

The army now prepared

but, from

399

want of

to

advance against New Orleans

Dickson was obliged to
;

horses, Colonel

leave two 6-pounders and a light howitzer behind

and as it
had been resolved to make the ground which was their first
head-quarters a sort of depot for stores, &c., Captain Crawford was also left behind to superintend the forwarding of
;

the necessary ammunition, &c., for the Artillery.

The cold
was so intense that the men of the West India Eegiments
suffered greatly, many dying from its effects, and all
being
more or less torpid. It seems superfluous to inform the
reader that no change had been made in their dress or equipment, on leaving the West Indies, to prepare them for the
change in temperature and the continued exposure.
On Sir E. Pakenham's arrival, a rearrangement took place
among the troops of the divisions. Major-General Gibbs
was placed in command of the 4th, 44th, 21st, and 1st West
India Kegiments and Major-General Keane in command of
the 85th, 93rd, 95th, and 5th West India Eegiments.
The
as
for
the
was
advance
distributed,
follows,
Artillery
Captain Deacon's 3-pounder brigade and half the rocket equipment under Lieutenant Crawley, were to advance with
;

General Gibbs's brigade by a road leading through the fields

to the main piquet-house of the enemy, against which they
were to be employed to drive the enemy from the post, and
to cover the

advance of the column.

The small mortars,

and the other half of the rocket equipment, under Captain

Lane, were attached to General Keane's brigade, ordered to
advance by the chief road, running along the bank of the
river.
Major Michell's two 9-pounders and heavy howitzer,
and Captain Carmichael's two 6-pounders, were to be in
The
reserve, and to move with General Keane's column.
left
behind
with
Crawford
were
guns
Captain
placed in
on
the
to
boats
or
vessels
river,
battery
prevent
passing up
or down.

The Second American War.

400

CHAP.

xxn.

On

the morning of the 28th December, at daybreak, the

moved
forward but the results of the day's operations
army
were far from favourable. General Gibbs's column marched
against the enemy's piquet-house, known as La Konde's, and
;

the 3-pounders and rockets having opened on it, it was soon

evacuated by the American troops. Both columns then
pressed on, and suddenly, at a turn of the road, found them-

700 or 800 yards of the enemy, whose force

was drawn up behind an entrenchment flanked on either side
by the river and a wood. A corvette was at anchor in the
stream, to assist the American troops. A brisk cannonade
selves within

was immediately opened against the English, and, although

heartily replied to, the advantages of the enemy's position
were such that it was found advisable to withdraw to a distance of about 2200 yards from the enemy's line, and to take
up a position parallel to that of the Americans, and flanked
by the river and the wood. Captain Carmichael's 6-pounders
had been disabled by the enemy's fire, and were therefore
exchanged for those left behind at the depot. Entrenchments
were thrown up in front of the 9-pounders, and a battery
commenced in which it was proposed to place two 18-pounders
which had been brought from the ships, transported on bullock-waggons originally intended for the conveyance of sugar
hogsheads. This battery was at the angle of a field adjoining the high road to New Orleans, which ran parallel to the
It was placed under the command of Lieutenant
river.
a detachment of twenty gunners
with
and, as might
Speer,
;

been expected from Colonel Dickson's well-known

proclivities, it was speedily supplied with the necessary

have

apparatus for heating shot.

As

Sir

Edward Pakenham had decided on

deferring any
the enemy's position until some effect had been
produced by heavy artillery, every exertion was used to land
18-pounder guns and 24-pounder carronades from the ships,

assault on

to draw them as far as La Konde's house, to remain

there until the batteries should be got ready.
Ammunition
was also landed ; but it was found necessary to take all the

and

made

cartridges to pieces and

make

fresh

quantities, for

c HAP.

xx

1 1

Construction of Batteries.

40 1

which purpose all the available cotton and sheeting were

taken from the houses in the neighbourhood, and all the
regimental tailors were employed in making cartridges. The

want

machines for the transport or placing

was severely felt; the necessary guns
however having been brought up on the 31st December, and
ammunition having been prepared at the rate of 68 rounds
of

any

artillery

of heavy ordnance

per gun and 40 for each carronade, Sir Edward Pakenham

directed that batteries should be made and armed that evening, as follows,

when

their position being

where the army had

encounter with the enemy behind

his entrenchments took place
about 800 yards distant from
penetrated

the

the American line

J.

first

On the high road, and immediately adjoining the river, two 18-prs.,
with 50 rounds a gun, to fire upon the enemy's defences on the right
This battory was the most
officer in charge, Captain Lempriere.
:

advanced of
2.

all.

and to the right of No. 1, was a battery of three

ft-inch mortars, with 30 shells each, under Captain Lawrence.
little
in front of this battery, Captain Lane with the rocket battery was
little

in rear,

stationed.
3.

To

the right of the rocket battery a 7-gim battery was erected for

9-prs. and one heavy howitzer, and Captain

CarmichaePs three 6-pounders (one of the disabled 6-prs. having been
repaired) and his light howitzer. This battery was to be employed
against the enemy's guns, and the centre of his line.
On the centre road, which was parallel to the river and main road, and
at right angles to the enemy's entrenchments, there was a 10-gun
battery, consisting of six 18-prs. under Captain Crawford, R.A., and
four 24 -pr. carronades under Captain Money, R.N. These guns were
to be employed in the first instance against the enemy's artillery, and
afterwards to break down the entrenchment a little to the left of the

Major Michell's two

4.

centre.
5.

To

the right of the 10-gun battery was a second rocket battery under

Lieutenant Craw ley.

As

these batteries had to be erected between 8.30 P.M. on

the 31st December, 1814, and 5.45 A.M. on the following day,
they could not be very strong. They were constructed of

sugar casks filled with earth not rammed, one cask in thickness, and backed up.
They were only one cask in height,
were
also a little raised, it followed
the
as
and,
platforms
that

the

VOL.

II.

gunners,

when standing

erect,

were head and

2 D

The Second American War.

402,

CHAP. xxii.

The platforms were very illand

laid, uneven,
unsteady.
The night was very dark, and the working parties were
not collected without much difficulty; hut on Sunday mornA
ing, New Year's Day, 1815, at daylight, all was ready.
came
on
at
4
until
and
not
o'clock,
heavy fog, however,
9 o'clock was it possible to see the enemy's works. During
the interval, the columns of Infantry moved to their re-

shoulders above the parapet.

spective posts to be in readiness for the assault.

On the fog clearing away, the English batteries opened
vigorously, and at first a little confusion was apparent among

This soon disappeared, however; and, as

and the embrasures strongly
constructed with cotton bags, they soon served their guns
the Americans.

their batteries were strong,

and their heavy

shot, penetrating the slight

a
caused
considerable
number of casualEnglish batteries,
After about three hours' firing, the ammunition in the
ties.

admirably,

10-gun English battery was nearly exhausted, the 7-fieldgun battery had been silenced, a cheek of the heavy howitzer
carriage was shattered, and several other injuries to the gunThe heavy guns had, fortunately,
carriage had been received.
received no injury but want of ammunition soon compelled
;

them

to be silent also, to the great delight of the

enemy.

the ammunition had not failed, the nature

of the batteries was such that the men could not have gone

Even, however,

if

on much longer.

The Americans

fired

from ten to twelve

guns in their lines, and from four to five on the other side
of the river, many of them being heavy guns
32-pounders

and although several of them had been

and 24-pounders
dismounted by the fire of the English, the remainder were
;

as

day.
follows

moment

any time during the

The casualties among the Eoyal Artillery were as

active at the last

as at

Lieutenant Alexander Ramsay

12 Artillerymen killed.
13
-wounded.

Owing

to the

mortally wounded.

uneven and loose state of the platforms, the

c H A p. x x 1 1

Faihire of the

A ttack.

403

carriages were found to be very awkward and unmanageable, so that the fire did not attain the necessary

ship

up with the rapidity necessary

The carronades recoiled off
The insufficient strength of the

precision, nor could it be kept

to silence the enemy's guns.

the platform every round.

batteries, and the fact of the

tended to make the

fire

men being

less

active,

so unprotected, also
to prevent its

and

silencing guns which were protected by good and solid cover.

Colonel Dickson, in his report, said that if he had had heavy

ordnance on proper travelling carriages, he was convinced

same quantity of ammunition, he would have
It
silenced or dismounted every gun in the American lines.
that, with the

has been urged, and with reason, that it was a mistake to

commence with so small a quantity of ammunition but it
;

must be remembered that there was no immediate certainty

of a further supply, and the necessity of doing something
had become every hour more urgent, as the Americans were
busy daily in strengthening their position.
In consequence of the failure on the 1st January, Sir

Edward Pakenham

resolved to defer further action until the

some reinforcements which he knew to be on the

way, and in the meantime to withdraw the guns from the
batteries, and the troops from the advanced position which
they had taken up. The removal of the guns was not
effected without great difficulty. The rain, which was falling
continuously, had made the batteries and roads knee-deep
arrival of

with

mud

but, thanks to the energy of Sir

Edward

himself,

the whole was effected before daylight on the 2nd.

Although superfluous, it will confirm what has been so
often said in the course of this history, with reference to the
supply department of the Ordnance, if a few words written

by Colonel Dickson be now quoted, with reference to the

expedition against New Orleans, which had begun so unfor" With
respect,"
tunately, and was to end so disastrously.
" to our
he wrote,
own ammunition and stores, great quan"

tities

of articles have been sent

that are perfectly un-

"

necessary and never have been demanded, whereas others

"
greatly required have never been sent, although demanded

2 D 2

The Second American War.

404

CHAP. xxil.

" in
the most urgent manner." In this respect the narrative of the services of the Eoyal Artillery is singularly

monotonous.
On the 3rd January, General Lamhert arrived at headquarters, and on the following day the 7th and 43rd Begi'ments marched in. The attack, which was now decided upon,
cannot be understood without some preliminary explanation.
must be borne in mind that the Americans did not con-

It

tent themselves with remaining idly behind their entrenchThey had erected flanking works at each end of

ments.

their line,

made and armed batteries on the

which were useful both for direct and
was therefore resolved to send a column

and had

also

other side of the river,

enfilade fire.

It

to attack and, if possible, capture the

batteries there, prior to the general assault on the enemy's
main work. To do this it was necessary to obtain boats :

the river,

across

and a canal was dug from the head of the lake to within
a few yards of the river, up which forty-two ships' boats
were brought, ready to be launched in the river on the night
of the attack.
Considerable changes were made in the position and armament of the English batteries.
In order to
attack
on
the
the
other
the
side,
support
following guns were
so
as
to
command
the
and
river
fire at the enemy's
placed
batteries on the right bank
:

4 18-prs. manned by K. A. Kinder the superintendence

2
seamen) of Lieutenant Speer.
2 24-pr. carronades, manned by Marine Artillerymen.
4 field-guns, under Captain Carmichael.

The

batteries against the main entrenchment on the left

in number, containing four 18-pounders and
four 24-pounders. It was first intended that Captain Michell's

bank were two

brigade of heavy howitzers and 9-pounders should be sent

across the river, if the attack on that side should prove successful

but this plan was subsequently altered, and Captain

Michell's brigade, with Captain Deacon's, was employed in

the main attack on the enemy's line.

The attack took place on the morning of Sunday, the 8th

January. As soon as it was dark on the previous night, the

CHAP..XXII.

Fatiguing Nature of the Work.

405

operation of carrying the boats from the canal to the Mississippi commenced, but was found to be more difficult than

had been anticipated. There was scarcely any water in the

opening which had been cut in the levee, and between that
and the stream the water was shallow, and the mud very deep.
The greater part of the night was spent in getting the boats
afloat. At 3.15 A.M. only thirty boats had been launched into
the deep water, and the 85th Regiment alone had been
embarked. The fatiguing nature of the work passed description, and the exertions made by all to overcome the difficulties were beyond praise.
Many of the working parties
were obliged to stand in mud which almost reached their
Had
waists and yet there was not a word of complaint.
;

the determination of the troops in the battle of the 8th been

equal to that displayed on the night preceding, a painful

chapter in English history need never have been written.

difficulties experienced in getting the force under

The

Colonel Thornton transported across the river were almost

equalled by those experienced in getting the batteries ready
The ground over which the guns had to
for the main attack.

be transported was very heavy, and intersected with ditches

A.M. the batteries were not yet half finished.
:

and at 4.30

The reader

mind that it was necessary to defer

armament of these batteries until the night

will bear in

the erection and

preceding the engagement, in order to deceive the enemy.

When Sir Edward Pakenham quitted his quarters at 5 A.M.

on the 8th, he was surprised to hear that Colonel Thornton's

party had not yet crossed the river and, as it was so nearly
daylight, he hesitated as to the wisdom of letting them go,
as there would not be time for them to get possession of the
works on the other side, and to bring up artillery to enfilade
the enemy's line in support of the general attack, which was
;

bearing in mind that, at

the worst, Colonel Thornton's movements would operate as a
men had been
timely diversion, he sent to inquire how many
to take place at daylight.

Still,

and, having been informed that the 85th Regiment, with some Marines amounting in all to 460 had
been put on board, and that there was room for 100 more,

embarked

The Second American War.

406

CHAP. xxii.

he ordered that additional number to be embarked, and the

whole to cross without delay.

Too

literal

obedience to orders

often fatal.

is

Had

the

superintending the launching of the boats made use

of a smaller number, and made more frequent trips with
them across the river, there is little doubt that he would

officer

have succeeded in transporting the whole force in

sufficient time.
But, having received orders to launch fortytwo boats, he obeyed his orders to the letter nor did the
easily

which he encountered suggest to him

the propriety of consulting Sir Edward Pakenham, with a
view to modifying his orders, and bringing them into accord
unexpected

difficulties

The hurried embarkation

and the smaller force employed, produced the
alteration already mentioned in the disposition of the Artilwith the altered circumstances.

at the end,

lery intended to

accompany Colonel Thornton's

force.

Major

Michell, without his guns, and Captain Lane's rocket detach-

MS.
Journal of

ments alone crossed the river.

At 5.30 A.M. Sir Edward proceeded to the front. Colonels
and the description of
j)i c ^ son an <J Burgoyne followed him
the battle may be summarised from the voluminous account
of the former officer.
Day was fast breaking, and, as they
as La Konde's, a rocket was fired,
the
house
known
passed
which, they afterwards learned, was a signal for the advance
of the columns to the attack.
They had not proceeded much
;

Dickson.

farther

when the

fire

of

musketry commenced, followed by

that of artillery ; and, as they proceeded to a point about

600 yards distant from the enemy's line, they observed the
It
reserve troops moving forward by a road on their flank.
was evident that the attack should have been made a little
earlier

in the morning, as the Americans could not have

directed their fire with such certainty against the English

columns, which, as Colonel Dickson rode forward, he perceived must be distinctly visible from the enemy's lines. At

the musketry fire was scattered along the line

it
then became more general, although not so incessant as
might have been expected. The fire of artillery was heavy,
first

and kept up with the utmost vigour

but as Colonel Dickson

CHAP. xxii.

Death of Sir E. Pakenham.

407

advanced, he observed the infantry fire to be slackening,

heard that Sir Edward Pakenham was badly wounded, and

met the troops coming back in great confusion, the 1st

Brigade, however, which had been in reserve, continuing to
advance in good order.

Seeing the field Artillery on his left

Dickson rode up, and ascertained
Colonel
slowly retiring,
from Captain Carmichael that he had moved forward according
to order, taken

up a

position,

and opened as soon as the mus-

ketry fire commenced; but that he had scarcely fired five

rounds a gun when the attacking columns broke at the head,
and such numbers of men came in front of his guns that he

was obliged

to cease firing
and being under a most heavy
without the power of returning it, he had thought it
best to fall back.
One 3-pounder gun had been dismounted,
both gun-wheels having been shot away. It was soon appa;

fire,

rent that the attack had entirely failed but the sight of
the 1st Brigade continuing to advance, and the 2nd com;

mencing

to re-form, gave

some hopes of

were, however, soon dissipated

fire of the enemy continued

its

renewal.

These

the artillery and musketry

unslackened ; and the 1st

Brigade, followed by the other troops, was soon observed to

move to the right towards the wood, and to lie down under
cover.
During the whole of these events, the fire from the

Koyal Artillery batteries, under Major Munro, was kept up

with the greatest vigour. Colonel Dickson then moved the
brigades of Artillery, and formed line for action on the road.
While doing this, he heard that both General Gibbs and
" A
General Keane were wounded, the former mortally.
MS.
" I
" little
heard of the death of Sir ul nal
afterwards," he wrote,
"

Edward Pakenham, who perished

^A

in a noble effort to re-

Dickson.

"

establish the confidence of the troops, which had halted

" from
panic just as they were arriving at the line of the
"
a
which no exertion could
"

"
"
"
"

panic
restore, and
enemy,
which occasioned their total repulse and defeat. Major
Macdougal, Sir Edward's aide-de-camp, informed me that
at the moment the column of General Gibbs' brigade
stopped they began firing front and rear, and Sir Edward,
who was at some distance behind to observe the operation,

The Second American War.

408
"
"
'

CHAP.

xxn.

immediately galloped up to the head of the column,

exclaiming, Lost from want of courage !' and was trying
to encourage the troops on, which he succeeded in doing
'

"for a few yards, when he was wounded in the thigh, and

his horse killed.
Major Macdougal having extricated and
"
raised him from the ground, he was in the act of mounting
"
Macdougal's horse when he was hit again, and fell into
"
Macdougal's arms, ejaculating a few words, which were the
"
He expired just as he was conveyed to
last he spoke.
"
General Gibbs' house, thus falling a sacrifice to the mis"
conduct of his troops, by which Great Britain lost one of
"
her ablest and bravest soldiers, and myself one I must ever
"
regret both as a commander and a friend."
The troops advanced until very near the enemy's line
"

but, the enemy's

fire

becoming extremely heavy, they stopped,

and began

firing ; and, confusion taking place, nothing could

induce them to advance farther ; so that, after losing a great

number

of officers and men, they fell back.

party, conof
the
the
of
7th, 43rd, and 93rd
light companies
sisting
one
hundred
under
with
the command of
negroes,
Kegiments,

taking with them a

spiking party of Artillery, under Lieutenant Ford, attacked
the advanced work on the right of the enemy's line, which
they succeeded in carrying, but not without great loss,
Lieut.-Colonel Kenny, 21st Kegiment,

Colonel

Kenny and many

officers

and men being

killed.

They kept possession of the outwork for some time, and at

last were obliged to leave it, in consequence of the heavy fire
from the main work. This force was the advanced part of
General Keane's column, which consisted of the 93rd Kegiment, with two companies of the 95th. It had been arranged
that, in the event of Colonel Thornton succeeding in capturing the works on the other side of the river, General
Keane's column should press after Colonel Kenny's force,
and endeavour to turn the right of the enemy's line through
the small outwork.

Unfortunately, the delay in sending

Colonel Thornton's force across caused Sir Edward Pakenham
to alter this plan ; and General Keane's
to join the left of the 2nd Brigade in the

column was ordered

main attack. What

CHAP. xxii.

Retreat of the English

Army.

409

was the result ? General Keane complied with the new

order, and attacked the line to the left of the 2nd Brigade ;
but the ditch was found to be too deep at this place, and,
after the most gallant exertions, his attack was repulsed
with heavy loss. Had Colonel Benny's force, on taking the
outwork, been followed by the 93rd Eegiment, it is extremely
probable that, by means of the open communication between

and the main work, the latter might have been entered
and carried.
In the meantime, Colonel Thornton's force, which had
crossed the river without opposition, advanced rapidly, and
carried everything before them.
They turned and captured

it

with great gallantry the whole of the enemy's entrenchments, becoming possessors of the flanking batteries, which
it had been decided, if possible, to secure and silence before
the main attack commenced.

These batteries contained

six- Major

teen guns and howitzers ; and on one of the latter was found
"
the inscription,
Taken at the surrender of York Town in

thus
" Michell of
the Eoyal Artillery afforded me much assist"
ance by his able direction of the firing of some rockets,
" it
not having been found practicable in the first instance
:

"

to bring

Had

over the artillery attached to his command."

left bank of the Mississippi been

the attack on the

as well carried out as that on the right, the defeat of the

Americans would have been certain.
As it was, General
Lambert, to whom the command fell on the death of Sir

seeing how desperate the state of affairs

was, and bearing in mind that no fewer than 2000 men
had been killed or wounded, decided on withdrawing the

Edward Pakenham,

army

to its old

encampment, which was

to be strengthened

should the enemy adopt the offensive.

to prevent surprise
He also recalled Colonel Thornton's force from the other bank,

but not until that gallant officer had demolished the captured batteries and spiked their guns. He then decided on

abandoning the expedition; levelling the batteries which

had been thrown up; and rendering the heavy ordnance

Dickson,
an

Major Michell's conduct during this attack was 181 5 /

"
described in Colonel Thornton's despatch
Major

1781."

tc

^f^

The Second American War.

410

CHAP.

xxn.

The boats were removed from the river and

the canal, and the wounded were sent away as

unserviceable.

placed in

the limited boat accommodation would permit.

rapidly as

In answer to some proposals made by General Lambert, the

Americans agreed that all prisoners should be returned on

and promised that the wounded in their possesdown the river to the English ships.
The retreat of the English army towards the landingplace, where they were to re-embark, was admirably con-

both sides

sion should be sent

ducted in the face of great difficulties. The design was so

effectually concealed from the enemy, that by the 18th
January the whole army, with its field artillery and stores,

had moved, and the bridges in

its rear had been

destroyed,
the
It may interest
without attracting
enemy's notice.
the reader to know that the rocket detachments acted as the

On the evening of the 28th

Artillery of the rear-guard.
January the whole of the army had embarked on board the
In the despatch from General Lambert reporting the
"
Lieut. -Colonel
re-embarkation of the army, he wrote
fleet.

London

"
fnfojwh
1815.

Royal Artillery, has displayed his usual abilities

-Dickson,

"

and assiduity: he reports to me his general satisfaction

all the officers under his command, especially Major
"
Munro, senior officer of the Royal Artillery previous to
"
his arrival, and the officers commanding companies."
Before the news of the Peace, which had been concluded
between England and America, reached the army which had
"

with

been discomfited at

New

Orleans, a successful affair for the

English arms took place. General Lambert had now proceeded with his force against Fort Bowyer, Mobile, and,
after deliberate approaches by the Engineers, and the erec-

was summoned. After

Governor surrendered: begging, how-

tion of powerful batteries, the fort

a short

its

parley,
ever, to be permitted to defer its evacuation until the folThis was
day, as so many of his men had got drunk.

lowing

was immediately given

and the British flag
company
was hoisted. On the 12th February, the garrison marched
out and on the 13th, the arrival of the news of the Peace,
agreed to

over to a

but the gate of the

fort

of British Infantry,

Peace.

CHAP. XXII.

which had been signed

at

411

Ghent, put an end to further

operations.

The Second American War was unjustifiable in its comwas unpopular with the majority of the
mencement,
Northern States, and failed to effect either of the two great
the annexation of Canada,
objects desired by the Americans
or the coercion of embarrassed England into their own
terms. Sixty years have passed away; and the first of these
dreams is as visionary as it ever was. The loyalty of Canada
is undimmed; and her power for self-defence is marvelShe remains a Naboth's vineyard in the
lously increased.
American
Ahabs but their power for gratifying
of
eyes
their lust is diminishing yearly with the development of
Canadian resources, and the political manhood of the Canadian people. What is to be said of the second of the two
objects which inspired the men who declared the war of
1812? For nearly three years while they were fighting
obscure and petty battles in the north and west, in which
the combatants were numbered by hundreds only
the
country, which they had attacked so wantonly while bearing
her Titanic burden of war, was writing on the pages of
history tales of conquest in Europe, which shall never die.
Not until her hands were free again did England suffer the
:

disaster at

New

Orleans

as if the fates

grudged her

unfilial

sons their wish to strike with disaster the parent country,

while in the agony of another struggle.
And ere they

obtained this one solace from

New

Orleans, the

hand

of the

invader had reached the American capital.

But what better description of the uselessness of this war

can be given than the words used by a modern historian in

describing the Peace agreed to between the two countries ?
"

No

"

stances which occasioned the war."

notice ivhatever,"

he writes, " was taken of the circum-

Russell's

?Modern
Europe.'

CHAPTER

XXIII.

WATERLOO.

rTHE year, with which

this narrative

must

for the present be

an end, was an eventful one. The same year

brought
which witnessed the great battle of Waterloo was the hundredth of the Eegiment's existence. How marvellous was the
-*

to

development of England's Artillery between 1716 and 1815,

cannot be better seen than in contrasting the two struggling

To

A. G.

companies of the former year with the magnificent force of

Artillery collected in Belgium in 1815, of which its corn"
I do believe there never
mander, Sir George Wood, wrote
:

Brussels

16 May,

^e

wor ^ sucn a Proportion of Artillery so well

"
equipped. The result must be felt by Europe."
The growing importance of the arm is apparent from the
The proportion of guns per 1000 men
following statistics.
in the British armies at Marlborough's three famous battles
was as follows Blenheim, 1/2 Eamilies, 2 and MalplaIn the Peninsula, the proportion was somewhat
quet, I/I.
"

was

higher: at Corunna, 3 ; Talavera, 1/2; Albuera, 1/2; Salaand

Nivelle, 1*3 ; Orthes, 1/3
manca, 2 ; Vittoria, 1/3
of
But
the
whole
the
Peninsular
1*2.
Toulouse,
War,
during
;

Duke

of Wellington complained that he was inadequately

and as soon as war was inevitable
with
Artillery
supplied
in 1815, he urged upon the Government at home to send him

the

The result was that in the

a large proportion of that arm.
British army at the battle of Waterloo the proportion of
guns per 1000 men was no less than
The circumstances, which led to

3'7.

this great battle,

must

be briefly stated. It will be in the reader's recollection

that in February 1815, Napoleon quitted Elba and on the
20th March entered the Tuileries. As he had foreseen, the

first

army

rallied

round him

but to his mortification he found

Napoleon's Plans.

CHAP, xxill.

413

coldness and even mistrust on the part of the Chambers, and

He
a decided apathy on the part of the civil population.
beheld also the whole of continental Europe resolving to

arm against him,

to

stamp out the man, who had so

audaciously violated the solemn Convention of Paris ; while

England to compensate for the weakness of her military
contingent furnished money to the other Powers, and a

General whose name was in

itself a host.

No

uncertain

sound came from the European council, which sat at Vienna

and Napoleon saw before him a stern and growing resolution
for war to the bitter end.
He was not sorry. If he could
;

win

battles,

he knew that he would have found a cure for

home

all

the army, which had again placed him

if victorious, consolidate his
power, and
independent of all who distrusted him. He com-

coldness at

on the throne, would,

make him

menced, therefore, to reorganize and equip a force which

should sweep all before it. He hastened his preparations,

hope of encountering his enemies in detail, before

should
have effected that concentration of their armies
they
eastern frontier of France, which he knew
the
entire
along
in the

they contemplated. It will be seen, hereafter, that on more

than one occasion during this last of Napoleon's campaigns,
he was guilty of unaccountable lack of energy ; but no one

admire the spirit and ability with which in the

short spring of that fatal year he organized the army, which

can

fail to

was

to ensure his complete success,

or witness

his utter

ruin.

To

realise his difficulties,

one must bear in mind the state

"

of the country which he governed.

France had exhausted Hooper.
" her
vigour in the unrestrained indulgence of her passion
" for
Her blood was impoverished, her
military glory.
" muscles
relaxed, her nerves unstrung, her moral force

" debilitated
by twenty-three years of almost uninterrupted
" warfare. The laurels
gathered in a hundred battles were
"
for
a paralyzed industry and a crippled
poor compensation
"
for
desolate
corn-fields and half-cultured vinecommerce,
"
la
She
was
belle
France no longer
she had
yards.
*

'

"

used her prime in the debauch of war

!"

And

yet from

Waterloo.

414

CHAP.

xxm.

this country, Napoleon, before the middle of June, had

raised the effective force of the regular army to no less than

276,000

men

besides

having 200,000 other and inferior

troops.

He

determined to carry the war first into Belgium. For

concentrating an army with this view, the line of fortresses

on the French frontier to the north-east offered special

advantages. And, on crossing it in force, he hoped to defeat
to make by this
the Prussians and English separately,
means the war and the Government unpopular in England,
and to detach from the Allies some whom he believed to be
but half-hearted in their opposition to him. Another and
important reason for selecting Belgium as the theatre of his
operations,

was the undoubted presence in that country of

many who on his first success would flock to his standard.

On the night of the 14th June, Napoleon had collected on
the French side of the frontier an army ready to march on
the following morning, consisting of 128,000 men, and 344

Of this number, 22,000 were cavalry and the whole

was divided into five corps d'armee, besides the Imperial Guard, and four corps of reserve cavalry.
On that
at
he
made
his
he
which
Avesnes,
slept
head-quarters,
night
and from which he issued a characteristic address to his
Leaving him there, with the great mass of his
troops.
"
army gathered, so to speak, to a head at Beaumont," and
guns.

force

Hooper.

pointing directly upon Charleroi, the reader is invited to

turn to the English army, and examine its constitution and
disposition.
force of Artillery

had been in Holland

for

some time

with Sir T. Graham, under the command of Sir G. A. Wood

and this formed the nucleus of the contingent of that arm in
;

the

Duke

of Wellington's

army

in Belgium.

Many names

familiar to the reader re-appear in the lists of those who

fought at Waterloo. Colonel now Sir Alexander Dickson

America; but arrived in time for the battle.

Others, who had received honours for their Peninsular
Sir Augustus Frazer, Sir John
services, were also there
May, Sir Hew Eoss, and Sir Kobert Gardiner. Norman

was

still

in

CHAP. XXIII.

Constitution of British

Army.

415

Kamsay, transferred to another troop in order to be present,

had also joined and was already, as Sir Augustus Frazer
"
adored by his men
kind, generous, and manly, he
wrote,
"
is more than the friend of his soldiers."
Other names will
;

Frazer's

p*"^.'

appear, as the narrative proceeds ; suffice it at present to

say that it is doubtful if ever in one field, or even in one
generation,

the Regiment

has

had

so

able

many

men

gathered together.
Sir George Wood was enthusiastic, and revelled in his
command. His enthusiasm, while not forbidding him to
point out his wants, aided him in remedying or bearing
but they
them. They were at first but two in number
were rather important to a force, for they were officers and
men. Fortunately for him and the Corps, General Macleod
was still Deputy Adjutant-General of the Eoyal Artillery,
and was indefatigable in supplying Sir George Wood's
demands. As fast as the companies and drivers arrived
from America, they were sent to Belgium but the demand
;

still
it is

exceeded the supply. Only six days before the battle,

recorded that no fewer than 1000 drivers were wanting.

This had been partly caused by the Duke of Wellington

insisting on the formation of three brigades of 18-pounders,
to be placed under the command of Sir Alexander Dickson
;

and partly by the demands of the small-arm ammunition

He would neither hire nor enlist Belgian drivers,
trains.
he placed too much consequence on his Artillery
that
saying
and he ordered Sir George Wood
to trust it to such a crew
to write to General Macleod, requesting that four companies
;

of foot Artillery might be sent out to act as drivers. It was

not often that the Duke tried to coax the Board, or honoured
it with his reasons ; but on this occasion he did.
He said

that he was well aware that

was not the particular duty

of Artillery soldiers to take care of horses, but he was
confident that should the Master-General be pleased to
it

allow that duty to be performed by gunners for the present,

"
the service would receive much greater benefit,
the
"
Artillery officers having more power over their own men,
" than
any given number from the Line ;" and that in the

Sir G.

^^

A G

Brussels,

Waterloo.

CHAP. XXIII.

case of a siege they might do their Artillery duties in the

trenches, as at Antwerp in 1814.

was on the 4th April, 1815, that the Duke of Wellington

Less fortunate than Sir George Wood, he
found that his demands, at first, were merely made excuses
hy the authorities at home for the exercise of official patroHe at last ironically suggested to them that it would
nage.
be well, hefore sending him any more Generals, to send
him some men for them to command. The local arrangements, as far as the Artillery was concerned, are graphically
described in Sir A. Frazer's letters, and in General Mercer's
The historian must,
journal of the Waterloo campaign.
however, draw his information from a less sparkling stream,
the official letters of Sir George Wood and others.
From
these it is ascertained that Ostend was the principal port of
disembarkation for artillery and stores
that Sir George
Wood himself, and afterwards Sir A. Frazer and LieutenantIt

reached Brussels.

Colonel S. G. Adye, superintended the arrival of these at

Ostend, and their removal to various places ; and that in
these matters they were assisted

by

man whom

all

united

pronounce marvellously able, Mr. Commissary Stace.

It appears that the urgent demands for more Horse
SirG.
d
came from Sir A. Frazer, who was appointed to the
toi> A G Artillery
command of that branch ; whereas the Duke himself at first
Ostend,
to

'

seemed more anxious

1815.

foot Artillerymen for

Ghent, and Ath.

As

to get drivers for the brigades, and

the garrisons of Mons, Oudenarde,

early as the beginning of May, the

heart by deciding

Duke almost broke Captain Whinyates's

on changing his rocket troop into an ordinary troop nor

was it without much difficulty and pleading that Sir G.
:

Wood

succeeded in obtaining permission for him to carry

The
a proportion of 12-pounder rockets with his guns.
Duke's prejudice against rockets was unmistakable; and

Mercer's

U
voi

a1 '

p. 166.

big unofficial language

feeling
Sir G. A.

toi>
i

A G

May,

1815.

'

but the

on this occasion was somewhat unreason he gave was that when he

official

had a proper proportion of Artillery attached to his army, as

the r nations had, then he would bring the Kocket
a^
Corps into play

but that he thought, situated as he was, the

Admirable Horsing of Batteries.

CHAP, xxili.

417

The argument, which had most

a superior weapon.
in
the
of
weight
request to retain a proportion of
support
"
The Duke was To
thus
stated
was
rockets,
hy Sir G. Wood
" determined at first to
in
the
rockets
depot, but after J 8
place
"
the good appearance of our friend Whinyates's troop, and the
gun

D.-A.-G.

"
"
"

y'

plan and mode he suggested to his Grace, he has permitted

him to take into the field eight hundred rounds of rockets

with his six guns, which makes him very complete."

The horsing of the Horse and Field Batteries during the

Waterloo campaign was admirable but the Field Artillery
excelled in this particular to such an extent, that Sir George
Wood wrote " the Horse Artillery are really jealous of
" their
appearance." The Duke had inspected the 9-pounder
;

Field Brigade,

commanded by Captain

C. F.

ibid.

Sandham, and

so pleased that he desired General Maitland to

"
The Duke of Wellington
write to that officer as follows

had been

"

me

to you (and I have to

the
do
so
to
officers, non-commissioned
request you will
"
officers, and soldiers under your command), his unqualified
"
approbation of the appearance of the brigade. I feel

has desired

to

communicate

"

"

gratified in being able to assure you that he commented

" on the
horses, appointments, and every part of it, with
"
This company, which was No. 9
peculiar approbation."
of the 3rd Battalion, and fired the first shot at Waterloo,

reduced in 1819. In forwarding a copy of the

was alas
above complimentary letter to the Ordnance, Sir G. Wood
"
All the other brigades are equal, if not better, in
said
!

"

horses."

and the

What

first

a contrast to the Field Brigades of Egypt,

how staunchly had the
years of the Peninsula
!

lessons taught by the experience of the latter been studied

and accepted

12th May, the Duke desired Sir G. Wood to

write to the Ordnance, requesting that two troops of Horse
to the six already in Belgium, should
Artillery, in addition

On

the

be sent out; stating, as his reason, the deficiency of Field

of getting drivers in suffiBrigades, and the impossibility
He would gladly have taken 1000 drivers
cient numbers.
over his actual artillery wants, for service with the small-

VOL. n.

2 E

Sir G.
t

D.-A.-G.

4i 8

Waterloo.

CHAP. XXIII.

arm ammunition waggons, which he had succeeded

Frazer's
Letters,
p.

530-533.

the country.

H.

in horsing

Boss's, the Chestnut Troop,

and
Major Beane's, were accordingly despatched; and arrived,
the former at Ghent, on the 9th June, and the latter on the
in

Sir

10th, at Ostend.

Constant changes in the armament of the troops of Horse

Artillery in Belgium had been suggested with a view to
the weight of metal, and some of a tentative
On the
description were made in the beginning of May.
16th of that month, the following armament was finally
increasing

M.S. Return
to D.-A.-G.
with Letter

from Col.
Adye,
30 May,
1815, and
Sir G.

Wood,

to

D.-A.-G.
2 June,

1815.

Frazer's
Letters,

551.

decided upon

CHAP. XXIII. Detail of a

Troop of Horse

A rtillery.

419

" stars
that I had obstinacy enough to persist in changing
" the
guns of the Horse Artillery." The forethought was
certainly more consistent in one who was an able and enthusiastic

Horse-Artilleryman, than in one who, like the

of Wellington,

knew

Duke

little of

Artillery details or tactics.

The arrangement and constitution of a troop of Horse
Artillery at Waterloo are given with minuteness by General

Mercer in his Diary. Taking the troop, which he commanded,

1
although only its 2nd Captain, as a sample of those more
heavily armed, it appears that each gun, and the howitzer,

Mercer's
Jjjfjf
P. 160.

were drawn by 8 horses, and each waggon by 6. Each of

the six mounted detachments required 8 horses; 5 were
required for the staff-sergeants and farriers;

18 for the

spare-wheel carriage, forge, curricle-cart, baggage-waggon,

&c. ; 17 horses for officers, and 6 mules, and 30 spare, additional horses.
This gave a total of 226 per troop. There
were 23 non-commissioned officers, artificers, and trumpeters
80 gunners, and 84 drivers.
On parade, the 5J-inch
;

howitzer was the right of the centre division of the troop.

was of this troop that Blucher said, at the review near

It

Grammont on

"
the 29th May, that
he had never seen any-

"

thing so superb in his life ;" concluding by exclaiming,

"
Mein Gott dere is not von orse in dies batterie wich is
"
not goot for Veldt-Marshal !"
!

There is in the official correspondence of May and June

1815, a collection of quaintly amusing letters from various
2nd Captains of Artillery in Belgium, who, prior to the war,

had been

left

their 1st

in undisturbed

command

of their batteries,

Captains being specially employed and who

that the latter should not be allowed to

now wrote begging

join,

and thus rob them of their chances of distinction and

One of these Captain Napier wrote direct

preferment.
to the Master-General, protesting against the appointment
of Captain Bolton to command his battery ; which, he wrote,
Sir A Dickson, being only regimentalty a 1st Captain, had been
appointed to the command of Gr Troop, on Sir A Frazer's promotion and
At
in his absence in America, Captain Mercer held the command.
Waterloo, Sir A. Dickson was otherwise employed.
1

2 E 2

ibid.
p> 217>

Waterloo.

420
"hurt him, much."

CHAP.

XXI 1 1.

Little did he think as he wrote that a

mightier hand than the Master-General's was in a very few

days to cancel the appointment, and that ere the first "battle

resume the command, vacant by

might be filled with instances of
nor were
this resentment at the presence of a 1st Captain
to
the
from
seniors
to
confined
attempts
prevent
they
whose
officer
2nd
was
One
commanding
Captain,
joining.
should be over, he should
his senior's death
Pages
!

wounded at Quatre Bras, wrote off immediately, begging the

Master-General to appoint no one in his place, but to leave
the

command

in his hands.

When

the Allies were ready, as far as equipment was concerned, Brussels remained the head-quarters of the Duke of
Wellington, and the army was scattered through the country,

much criticism among continental

he
when
fought the battles of Ligny and
Napoleon,
Quatre Bras, had hoped to find the English army still in its
in a

way which has

excited

writers.

but he was disappointed, for it had quitted

to concentrate on the 13th and 14th
commenced
and
them,
June. His intention had been to defeat the Prussians, and
compel them to retire on the base of their communications
and supplies, and to compel the advanced part of the AngloIn
allied army to retire from Quatre Bras on Brussels.
He certainly
neither particular were his hopes fulfilled.
compelled the Prussians, after their defeat at Ligny on the
16th June, to retire; but they quitted the main road to
Namur, along which Napoleon expected that they would continue their retreat, and marched to Wavre by a road parallel
to that occupied by Wellington between Quatre Bras and

cantonments

This brilliant movement was unsuspected by

remissness after Ligny and during the early
whose
Napoleon,
the
17th
of
was unaccountable. Disappointed in his
part
plans with regard to the Prussians, he failed also in his
Marshal Ney with two corps
P ur P se against the English.
Brussels.

Sir G.

toD -A -G
24/6/15.

attacked part of the Allied force at Quatre Bras, a place in

front of the village of Genappe, where two main roads

from Genappe to Chaiieroi, and Namur to Nivelle cross one

The endurance of the Allies was tried to the
another.

CHAP. XXI 1 1.

Battle of Quatre Bras.

42 1

utmost by having to wait the arrival of reinforcements, and

to fight against superior numbers, but it was rewarded by a
The first attack was
complete, although costly, victory.
received by the Belgians but Picton's English division, over
;

7000 strong, soon came up, followed by over 6,500 Brunswickers and Germans. The battle commenced at 2 P.M. on
the 16th; and at 4 o'clock the Duke of Wellington came on
the field with a brigade of- foreign cavalry, and assumed the
command. Later in the evening, the 1st British division,
under Generals Cook and Maitland, with its artillery, arrived
from Enghien, having marched for a period of fifteen hours *
and with the approaching darkness came the retreat of the
French on Frasnes. This defeat ruined the French Emperor's
plans, and paved the way for the greater defeat of the 18th.
The following field-officers, troops, and brigades of Artillery were present at the battle of Quatre Bras

Oust.

Sir

to D.-A.-G

24/6/15.

Lieut-Colonel S. G. Aclye, commanding the Artillery of Ihe 1st Division.

Sir A. Frazer, commanding Koyal Horse Artillery.
,,
,,

Sir J.
Sir J.

Hartmann, commanding King's German

May, Assist. Adjutant-General.

Sir A. Dickson.
,,
Captain Sandham's Brigade, K.A.
Major Kuhlmann's Troop, K. G. L.
Major Lloyd's Brigade, K.A.
K. G. L.
Capt. Cleeve's

K.A.

Major Roger's

Artillery.

Attached

to the 1st Division.

"

3rd Division.
5th Division.

Major Heise, with Captain Eettberg's brigade of Hanoverian

Artillery, was also engaged.
The Horse Artillery and British Cavalry did not come up
until after the battle and the want of the latter was
severely
felt during the day, the French being very
strong in that arm.
Major Lloyd's and Major Kogers' batteries were warmly
;

sir A.
'
razcr s

engaged at Quatre Bras. Two guns belonging to the former

were lost, but were afterwards recovered.
The troop of p.
German Horse Artillery was of great service, sustaining

541.'

1
In recent times, the most remarkable march made by Artillery was on Commuone occasion during the Indian Mutiny, when a battery of K.H. A. marched Seated
78 miles in 24 hours, and continued marching, elephants carrying the
\

forage.

K.C.B.,
&c. &Q.

Waterloo.

CHAP.

xxm.

the reputation which that corps had earned in the Peninsula.

But the losses among the Artillerymen were small in pro-

s ii' A.

Utters,
540.

Of 3750
portion to those among the regiments of Infantry.
British killed and wounded at Quatre Bras, only 28 belonged
The losses were, however, very
to the Koyal Artillery.

i>.

the horses, and crippled the batteries very

In Sir George Wood's despatch announcing the
"
I beg you will be pleased to mention to
battle, he wrote
" his
Lordship, the Master-General, the good conduct

severe

among

much.
TO D.-A.-G.

me

'

iVr>!

"

"

part of the Artillery which was engaged on

16th.
They were warmly engaged, being several

that

of

the

"

times charged by the French Cavalry, and tended much

The merits of Quatre Bras,
to the success of the day."
as a scene on which English courage and endurance were
"

nobly displayed, are too often forgotten in the recollections of the greater battle,
followed.

by which

it

was so speedily

In consequence of the Prussians moving on Wavre, it

became necessary for the Duke of Wellington to fall back
and orders were given on the 17th for the army to
also
retire to Mont St. Jean, not far from the village of Waterloo.
This position had been carefully selected and examined by
the Duke, with a view to the event which was now at hand.
The retreat through Genappe was effected with the greatest
order, and was covered by the Horse Artillery and Cavalry.
Captain Mercer's and Captain Whinyates's troops were the
;

Mercer's

YohT
P.

270.

last to retire, the

duty

having been detailed for that

exceeded
his orders, and remained
having

former

the latter

officer

behind, hoping to come in for some fighting. For the Horse

The
Artillery and Cavalry, the retreat was no bed of roses.

heavy rains had made the roads and fields almost impassable.
Genappe is in a hollow ; and as the Horse Artillery mounted
based on Mercer's diary, but

it seems possible that

army, to which he was attached.
Sir Robert Gardiner, who was on the extreme left, always believed that
his troop was the last to retire.
Certainly, the army retreated from the
1

he

This statement

is

refers to the retreat of the centre of the

right,

retreat

and Sir Robert's

through the

troop, on the left, had to

the east of the Genappe

fields to

make

a very hurried

and Brussels

road.

CHAP, xxiii.

Battle of Waterloo.

423

La Belle Alliance, pursued by the French

had
to
move at a gallop through fields, which
Cavalry, they
would have tried them even at a walk.
Sir Eobert Gardiner's troop was especially taxed in this way
and he used
it
to
that
was
fortunate
that
his
frequently
say
6-pounder
armament had not been exchanged for the heavier nature
for his guns would certainly have been captured had this
been done.
The nature of the ground which was traversed
may be gathered from the fact that not a horse in Sir
Kobert's troop reached Mont St. Jean without losing at least
one shoe. The whole night of the 17th was spent in shoeing Commu
the horses, and getting the troop ready for the work of the
the slopes towards

following day.
On the morning of the 18th June, the French army was
drawn up on the south side, and the Allies on the Brussels

L Gar ;

R.-H.-A.

long hollow, which common parlance has inaccuthe " field of Waterloo." The strength of the
rately
French army, according to the industrious Siborne checked
side, of a

named

was, in round numbers, 72,000 ; that of

the Allies, about 68,000.
The French had, in addition,
Marshal Grouchy's force of 33,000 men, fourteen miles away,

by

later writers

on a blind chase after the Prussians, who were already six

miles nearer Waterloo than their pursuers ; and Wellington
had a division of 18,000 men on detachment to his right,
towards Hal, at a distance of ten miles.
This extra precaution this strange nervousness about his right has been

When one reflects

justly condemned by critics.
what value that force would have been at different times

much and
of

during the 18th, one cannot but feel that if the Allied information to the right had been as carefully procured as it had
been to the left of the army, the whole of these 18,000 men

main body. However,

be a blunder, the French were never-

might have been drawn in

to the

even admitting this to

theless utterly outmanoeuvred.

Napoleon's rernissness on

the night of the 16th, and his idleness on the morning of

the 17th, were now to receive the punishment which, such
qualities

in

generally get.

the

face

of an

enemy always

deserve,

and

'

Waterloo.

424
The

sir George
to D.-A.-G.

CHAP.

Artillery engaged on the side of the Allies

follows

was as

24 June,

Sir G.

Lieut.-Colonel Sir A. Frazer,

Wood commanding.

commanding R. H. A.

S. G. Adye,
Gold,
Williamson,

Sir J.

Artillery of 1st Division.

2nd Division.

3rd Division.

,,

,,

Hartmann,

German

King's

(Six troops of

A.Macdonald,
Major

xxm.

to Oftval

Dmmmond,

Artillery.

H. A. attached

Reserve Artillery.

,,

Lieut.-Colonel Sir A. Dieksoii.

The troops of Horse Artillery attached to the Cavalry

were those commanded by
Lieut.-Colonel

Webber Smith,

Lieut.-Colonel Sir R. Gardiner,

Major R. Bull,

Major N. Ramsay,
Captain Mercer, and
Captain Whinyates.

The

divisional Artillery

was as follows

R,
Captain Sandhain's Brigade, R.A.
K.G
Major Kuhlmann's Troop, K.G.A.
Captain Bolton's Brigade, R.A.

Major Sympl.er's Troop, K.G.A.

Major Lloyd's Brigade, R.A.
Captain Cleve's Brigade, R.A.
Mnjor Rogers' Brigade, R.A.

Dm 1Oh
.

lsfc

'

2nd

Divisio11

(
)

3rd Di viion.
f

5th Division.

The reserve Artillery the whole

action early in the day
consisted of

of which

came into

Lieut-Colonel Sir H. D. Ross's Troop, R.H.A.

Major Beane's
Captain Sinclair's Brigade, R.A.

Major Heise, and two brigades of Hanoverian Artillery, were

also engaged.
It will thus be

brigades of the

seen

that

the

number
at

of troops and
the battle of

Koyal Artillery engaged

Waterloo was thirteen, or a force of 78 guns, exclusive of
the German and Hanoverian Artillery.
Some companies of

the regiment were also present with the small-arm

nition for the army.

ammu-

Captain Baynes acted as Brigade-Major to the Artillery

CHAP, xxill. Distinguished

Conduct of I Troop.

and Captain Pakenham, Lieutenants Coles,

W.

J. Bloomfield,

425
and

Bell, acted as staff officers.

The

description of the battle which will

be brief; as

more

it

now be given

will be necessary subsequently to enter

detail into the services

will

with

and conduct of the Artillery

ra

<-

A]>J,.MI-

dix

during the day.

The

battle of Waterloo

expresses

it

drama

was

James Shaw Kennedy

The first was the attack

as Sir

in five acts.

on Hougomont at 11.30 A.M., many precious hours having

been w asted by Napoleon the second was the attack by the
French on La Haye Sainte, at half-past 1 the third was
r

the celebrated succession of cavalry attacks on the Allied

between Hougomont and La Haye Sainte, commencing

4 o'clock the fourth was the successful attack by Marshal
Ney on La Haye Sainte, at 6 o'clock, an event which, if
properly used by Napoleon, might have had a very grave
effect on the result of the battle, for it caused a great gap
in the very centre of the Allied line
and the fifth was the
celebrated attack on the Allied centre made by 12 battalions

line

at

of the Imperial Guard, strengthened by the co-operation of

"
other divisions, and supported
by a powerful Artillery, and
"
what remained of the Cavalry."
In the attack on Hougomont, the battery which most dis-

Kennedy.

tinguished itself was the famous old I Troop now

Battery,
Brigade, E.H.A. under Major E. Bull, whose Peninsular

It was armed
history rivals that of the Chestnut Troop.
with howitzers ; and cleared the wood in front of Hougo-

mont

of the

French

troops,

firing shell

with wonderful accu-

racy over the heads of the English Infantry ; an operation

so delicate, as to make the Duke remark to Sir Augustus

^ho ordered it, that he hoped he was not undertaking

much. But Sir Augustus said that he could depend on

Frazer,
too

the troop ; and the event proved that he was right for after
ten minutes' firing, the French were driven out of the wood.
:

Webber Smith's troop was

also hotly engaged

during this
and suffered during the day very severely, not
merely as all did from the French skirmishers, but also
from having been on one occasion enfiladed by one of Prince
first attack,

Frazer's

CHAP. XXIII.

Waterloo.

426
Jerome's batteries.

Captain Bolton's field brigade, which

was to have so great glory at a critical period in the day,
was in action at the first attack on Hougomont and when
subsequently moved more to the centre of the Allied line, its
place to the left of Hougomont was taken by Norman
Kamsay's troop. It has already been mentioned that the
first shot fired by the Allied Artillery at Waterloo was fired
by Captain Sandham's brigade. This was in reply to the
first attack on Hougomont
and during the day no fewer
than 1100 rounds of ammunition were fired by this single
1
brigade.
Although beyond the province of this work to
enter into the Infantry details of the battle, it must yet be
said that, even in a day when the British Infantry showed
a valour and endurance which have never been surpassed,
;

their defence of

Hougomont shines with especial lustre.

Knowing its value, as strengthening the right of his line,
the Duke had taken precautions on the previous night by

loopholing the walls to render its defence more practicable.

Although set on fire, and attacked repeatedly by superior
numbers, it was never lost ; its defenders showing a tenacity

and courage unexampled almost in the annals of war.

In the second act of the drama the first attack on La
Haye Sainte Captain Whinyates's troop and Major Kogers'
field brigade were first engaged
and it is important to
a
with
to
the
view
remember,
argument, which is to come,
a * ^ was during this act that the Artillery of the reserve
was brought up. Sir Hew Boss's and Major Beane's troops
;

vide

dhJT"

suffered at this time great loss.

Among

the officers alone,

Major Beane was killed, and both 2nd captains and two
subalterns wounded.
The third act, the charges of the French cavalry, will be
fully discussed in the argument, which will be found in the
Appendix. Suffice it to say, at present, that they were
preceded by clouds of skirmishers, and by a tremendous
artillery fire

Many

and that at no period of the day were the

of the guns at Waterloo actually

incess-int firing.

became unserviceable from

Death of Norman Ramsay.

CHAP. XXIII.
losses
fell

among

then was

the Artillery more severe.

Norman Kamsay

and

it

437

Among
was the

who

those

lot of his

dearest friend to witness and to tell the circumstances. " In Frazer's

" a
momentary lull of the fire," wrote Sir Augustus Frazer,
" I
buried my friend Kamsay, from whose body I took the
"
portrait of his wife, which he always carried next his
"
heart.
Not a man assisted at the funeral who did not
"
shed tears. Hardly had I cut from his head the hair
"
which I enclose, and laid his yet warm body in the grave,
"
when our convulsive sobs were stifled by the necessity of
"
returning to renew the struggle." Two days later, the Niveiie,
same hand wrote " Now that the stern feelings of the day
"
have given way to the return of better ones, I feel with
"
the bitterness of anguish not to be described, the loss of
"
my friend Kamsay. Nor for this friend alone, but for
"
Dated
less dear than
:

though
poor Norman." And
" I
from
Sir
Frazer
A.
said
cannot
Paris,
yet again, writing
"
head
of
such
roout
such
my
generosity,
get Kamsay

many

others,

" mantic

self-devotion as his, are not common."

It
"
written of Kamsay, Sibi satis vixit, non patrise ;" and
difficult

to conceive a nobler eulogy.

A man

was
it is

who never

tampered with temptation, but trampled on it instead, he

left behind him the story of a life, which is a model for his
There is a Waterloo
successors in the Corps to imitate.
going on daily in a soldier's

life

more

his enemies are

Napoleon they are as relentless as death they

come dressed in many garbs, but their names are sloth,
ignorance, and vice ; and the weapon by which alone they
skilled than

is an earnest and conscientious performance of duty. This weapon must be grasped most firmly,
and wielded most mercilessly, when the duties to be per-

can be overcome

formed are monotonous or uninviting but its unfailing use,

even through a life of uninteresting routine, will earn for
the soldier, when the night comes, the same words as were
;

"
non patriae."
Satis sibi vixit,
at
6
drama
The
witnessed,
o'clock, the
after
a
magnificent
capture of La Haye Sainte by the French,
defence by Major Baring and part of the King's German

spoken of Norman Kamsay,

fourth act of the

CHAP. XXIII.

Waterloo.

428

Legion, which only failed from want of ammunition. There

seems little doubt that the Duke of Wellington had underrated the importance of this position
later years to

have admitted

it.

indeed, he

is

said in

Fortunately, Napoleon did

not sufficiently note the advantage he had gained ; and

contented himself with using its now friendly cover in
preparation for his great final effort.
The Prussians had by this time arrived, and were in force

on the French right. At the village of Planchenoit, they

were already in such numbers that the French General,
Loban, required 16,000 men to keep them in check. On the
extreme left of the English, at Papillote, the advanced

column had also arrived and,

now at an end, the Duke of
was
enabled
to
Wellington
strengthen his centre, and his
and Yaudeleur's Cavalry
Vivian's
right centre, by moving
from
the
left, accompanied by Sir Robert Gardiner's
Brigades
of
Horse
troop
Artillery.
The necessity of a great final effort was now apparent to
Napoleon and the curtain rose on the fifth act of the drama
at half-past 7 o'clock.
It is a point which the Artilleryman
parties of another Prussian
all fear for his left being

should never forget, that, in this majestic advance of the

Imperial Guard,
confusion by the

its

head was broken

and

thrown into

Captain Bolton's guns, before the

52nd Eegiment, and the Guards, did their celebrated work,
It was at this time that Captain Bolton was killed, and that
fire of

Duke personally gave his orders to Captain Napier,

as the French approached, to load with
the 2nd Captain,
the

canister.

Mercer's
'

vol.

i.

P. 331.

While the advancing columns of the enemy were in the

hollow, their artillery carried on a cannonade over their
heads, more terrible than had been witnessed during the
The following description of Mercer's battery at the
day.
end of the day will give the reader an idea of the murderous
"
fire to which the Allies were
Of 200 fine
exposed.
"
"
with which we had entered the battle,
horses," he wrote,
U p war(j s o f 140 lay dead, dying, or severely wounded. Of
"

the men, scarcely two-thirds of those necessary for four

Rout of the French.

CHAP. XXIIL
"

guns remained

"

be

429

and these so completely exhausted, as to

Lieutenant
incapable of further exertion.
" Breton had
had three horses killed under him; Lieutenant
" Hinks
was wounded in the breast by a spent ball
"
Lieutenant Leathes on the hip by a splinter and although
" untouched
myself, my horse had no less than eight wounds.
"
Our guns and carriages were all together in a confused
"
heap, intermingled with dead and wounded horses, which
"
it had not been
And
possible to disengage from them."
;

totally

was but typical of most of the batteries engaged.

As for the Infantry, words cannot paint too highly their
endurance on that long day. One regiment had 400 men

this

wounded, before they were allowed to fire a round;

Yet there was not a word of
heavily.
distrust as regarded their great commander.
They pined
with all their hearts for permission to attack, instead of
killed or

and

all

suffered

lying where they often were

being shot by scores but

was
than
desire.
Even at the worst
discipline
stronger
a
from
word
the
or
a
times,
Duke,
report that he was coming,
sufficed to produce a silence and a steadiness, as perfect as if
on parade in a barrack-square. For those who were present,
Waterloo was thus a double victory, over their enemies,
and over themselves. True discipline is a succession of such
;

victories.

With the noble charge

general advance

of

the

of the

whole

52nd, followed by the

the French retreat

line,

the most disastrous, as has been said, on

rout,
but the record referred to did not include the

became a
record

Titanic battles of the last few years.

The Prussians took
and
the
Allied
the
bivouacked
on the field
pursuit,
Army
up
of battle.

So much detail connected with the services of the Artillery

must of necessity be given in the Appendix,

at Waterloo

that

it

has not been thought advisable to anticipate it here.

several interesting Regimental matters con-

But there are

nected with the battle, for the insertion of which this seems
the most suitable place.

In the

first place,

the names of the officers belonging to

Waterloo.

430
the

troops

and

CHAP. XXIII.

which were

brigades,

may

present,

be

given.
TOTAL NUMBER OF ALL RANKS
at

WATERLOO, according

of the following

to

MS. RETURNS

to

TROOPS and BRIGADES present

BOARD OF ORDNANCE, dated

Paris, 18th September, 1815.

R.H.A.
"
Major R. Bull's Troop, now

D " Battery, B Brigade.

No.

2nd Captain Brevet -Major R. M. Cairnes

..

Lieutenant Louis

1G8

Smith

Townsend
Lieutenant Colonel Webber Smith's Troop,

now

"

B"

Battery,

2nd Captain E. T. Walcott

Lieutenant Edwards-.

Brigade.

167

Forster

Crawford

. .

Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Robert Gardiner's Troop,

now "A"

Battery,

2nd Captain T. Dyneley

Lieutenant Harding
Swabey

Brigade.

174

Ingilby

Captain Whinyates's Troop (reduced in 1816).

2nd Captain Dansey

Lieutenant Strangways
Wright

194

Ward
Ord
2nd Captain Mercer's Troop, now

"

C"

Battery,

Brigade.

2nd Captain Newland

KViPH
Lieutenant Leathes

. .

164

Hinks
Breton

. .

Major Ramsay's Troop, now

"

D"

Battery,

Brigade.

2nd Captain A. Macdonald

Lieutenant Brereton..
Sandilands

173

Robe
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir

H. D.

Ross's Troop,

now

"

A"

Battery,

Brigade.

2nd Captain and Brevet-Major Parker

Lieutenant Hardinge
159

Day
Warde
Onslow

..

CHAP, xxili.
Total

Officers present at Waterloo.

Number of all ranks present

at Waterloo,

(fee.,

431

continued.

R.H.A.
Major Beane's Troop (reduced in 1816).

2nd Captain Webber

Lieutenant Maunsell
Bruce
Cromio
R.A.
Captain C. F. Sandham's Brigade (reduced in 1819).

2nd Captain Stopford

Lieutenant Foot

Baynes
Jago
This and

all

the other Field Brigades were armed, each with five 9-pounders
and one 5 \ -inch howitzer.

Captain Bolton's Brigade,

"

now

E"

Battery, 8th Brigade.

Returns,
dated

2nd Captain Napier

30 May,

Lieutenant Pringle

1815.

Anderson

Spearman
Sharpin
B. Cuppage

Major Lloyd's Brigade (reduced in April, 1817).

2nd Captain S. Rudyerd
Lieutenant Phelps

Harvey

97

Captain Sinclair's Brigade, now "4" Battery, 3rd Brigade (Captain Gordon
being absent).

2nd Captain F. Macbean

Lieutenant Wilson
Poole

Burnaby

..

Major Roger's Brigade, now

Lieutenant R. Manners
(Oilier officers'

"

names not

"

Battery, 13th Brigade.

94
given.)

These were the only troops and brigades which were

engaged. There were others, which were in the vicinity,
but not present at the battle and there were also detachments of other brigades present with small-arm ammunition.
;

Lieutenants E. Trevor, W. Lemoine, J. Bloomfield, E. W.

Wood, G. T. Maule, Or. T. Hume, and others already named,

were present on

staff

MS

or unattached duty.

CHAP. XXIII.

Waterloo.

43 2

Of the officers named above, the following were

wounded at the battle of Waterloo

killed or

Sir George

A.
to

Wood
Master-

General,
24 June,
1815.

Major W. N. Ramsay,

R.H A

Killed.

E. M. Cairnes
G. Boane

Severely wounded

Farker
R. Bull

J. B.

leg amputated.

Slightly wounded.

Captain Whinyates

Dansey
Macdonnld

Webber
Lieutenant Strangways
Brereton
,,

Severely, not dangerously.

Robe
Smith
Cromie

(since dead).

Slightly

Severely

Forster

wounde
:

1.

both legs amputated.

not dangerously.
Slightly wounded.

Crawford

Day
Slightly wounded.
Killed.

R.A.
Major EL Baynes
Captain Bolton
Major Lloyd
Captain Napier
Lieutenant Spearman
R. Manners

Severely wounded (died).

Severely wounded.
>

Severely (since dead).

Harvey
Poole

Dated
24 June,
1815.

The numerical

,,

losses, as

right arm amputated.

not dangerously.

Wood

shown by

his official return to the Ordnance,

Sir George
were as follows

Rank
Officers.

Sergeants.

and

Horses.

File.

Royal Horse Artillery

Killed
Missing

31

3
14

..

Wounded..

107
7

. .

Total

H5

17

229
59
21

309

Royal Artillery
Killed

....

Wounded..
Missing
Total

....

19

..7

61

34

12

82

120

in

CHAP, xxiil. Killed

and Wounded at

Waterloo.

433

Rank
Officers.

Serg.-ants.

and

Horses.

File.

Kind's German Legion

Artillery

....

Killed

Wounded..
Missing

....

Total

....

General Total

..6

..

10

47

47
44

58

94

32

15

285

529

field brigades, which formed part of the

of Wellington's army, but which were not brought up
in time for the battle, although they were of great im-

There were two

Duke

portance during the subsequent siege operations against the

Their armament was the same as that of the
fortresses.
others; and one of them, Captain Brome's, would appear to
have been in position, although not engaged
possibly deThe officers with these, and their numbers,
tached at Hal.
;

were as follows

Total
of all

Ranks.

Captain Brome's Brigade,

2nd Captain

J. E.

now

2 Battery, 13th Brigade, R.A.

G. Parker

Lieutenant Saunders
Cater

Molesworth

Major G. W. Unelt, now 3 Battery. 7th Brigade, R.A.

2nd Captain Browne

Lieutenant Lawson

106

Montagu

These brigades received the boon service granted for the

battle of Waterloo under a Horse Guards' decision, which
was promulgated in Paris on the 5th September, 1815, including among Waterloo men all troops, which had on the
18th June been employed either in the village of Waterloo,
or had been detached to the right to prevent the advance of
the enemy towards Brussels by Hal.

companies which were present with small-arm

ammunition, or which furnished detachments for that
service, will be found in the chapters on the various

The

battalions.

VOL.

II.

% P

rfe'Hisi.
J^f"|
P-

22L

CHAP.

Waterloo.

434

The commendations passed on the corps generally

xxm.
for its

services at Waterloo will be found in Appendix A, in support

But it may be interestof the argument therein contained.

ing to the friends or descendants of individual officers, who

were present, and who specially distinguished themselves, to
read extracts from the reports sent to the Ordnance. These
"

Dated
1

^JunT
1815.

'

I feel," wrote Sir George

will be given without comment.
I
should
"that
Wood,
particularly mention that I wish

" Lieutenant-Colonel Sir John

May may succeed to one of
" the vacant
I
and
do
assure you the conduct of
troops
"
to the whole
This
was
;

conspicuous
army.
Major Lloyd
1
"
officer and Captain Mercer are candidates for the other
"
vacant troop.
Captain Mercer was the senior second
"
I must also
captain in the field, and behaved nobly.
"
mention that Lieutenant Louis commanded Major Bull's
"
Lieutenant Sandilands was the only
troop for some time.
"

left with the command of poor Major Eamsay's

I beg to
rest of the officers being wounded.
the
"troop,
"
mention him to your protection, as well as Lieutenants
officer

"
Coles and Wells, whom I have appointed to do duty with
" the Horse
Artillery, and I beg you will use your interest
"
with the Master-General that they may be confirmed.
"
I shall certainly give in the name of Captain Macdonald
"
it was with great difficulty that he
for brevet promotion
"
field when severely wounded,
as
the
made
be
could
quit
"
in
the
field
of
well as Lieutenant Brereton, who remained
"
battle until Lieutenant-Colonel Macdonald ordered him to
" the
to have his wounds dressed.
.

rear,

Although

" Lieutenant-Colonel Gold was in command of a Division of

"
Artillery in the field, I beg you will mention to the
" Master-General that I have received
great benefit from
"
his advice and zeal, during the time I have commanded
"
the Artillery in the Pays-Bas. ... I beg leave to mention
" that Lieutenant Bloomfield was both
days in the field with
"
me ; and should he wish at some future time to be posted

The

casualties at

1st Captain.

Waterloo promoted Captain Mercer to the rank of

CHAP, xxili.
"

Commendation of

Officers

and Men.

435

Horse Brigade, I hope he will not he forgot." In

another despatch to General Macleod, Sir George Wood
wrote as follows " I must call your particular attention to
" the
officers who attended me personally in the field, whose
"
merits I heg to recommend to the consideration of His
"
These officers were
Lordship the Master-General."
to the

Lieutenant-Colonel

Sir

Sir

Lieutenant-Colonel

J.

Hartmann,

Lieutenant-Colonel Sir

A.

Frazer,

Lieutenant-Colonel
Sir

A.

Dickson,

J.

May, Captain Baynes, Brigade

Major, Lieutenants Coles, Bloomfield, Bell, and Meelmann
all of

whom

were mentioned hy name.

Lieutenant-Colonel Macdonald thus described the services To

"
"

ham, who
I feel

it

Sir

" In
justice to the conduct of Captain Paken- ?
acted as my Adjutant in the hattle of the 18th, i

of his Adjutant

a duty I

owe

this

most promising

officer to state

" to
you that he made himself equally conspicuous hy his
" coolness and
hravery, and the precision with which he con"
veyed my orders to the troops of Horse Artillery I had the
"
honour to command on that occasion."
Sir Augustus

Frazer spoke in equally favourable terms of his Adjutant

" I
beg to submit my hope that, in the promotion which
"
may be expected, the Horse Artillery may not lose the
"
services of Lieutenant Bell, who, both here and in the
:

"
"

ibid.

Peninsula, has acted as Adjutant of Horse Artillery, and

much professional merit, whose judgment,

and
intelligence,
unceasing application to the duties of his
"
rendered
him very valuable."
have
office,
is

an

officer of

"

Major Bull thus described the conduct of his gallant

troop, now D Battery, B Brigade, Eoyal Horse Artillery
:

" I
consider it a duty I
" commissioned
officers,

owe equally

to the officers, non- Major

gunners, and drivers, to say that,

"

throughout the day, and in every situation, nothing could

"
exceed their coolness, intrepidity, and strict attention to
" orders

and as a proof of their zeal in the service, at one

when we were short of ammunition,
"
"
and H Troop (Major Eamsay's) " on our left rather short
" of
gunners, on an application for assistance, several of my
;

"

period of the evening

"

men

volunteered joining their guns, until our ammunition

2 F 2

CHAP. xxni.

Waterloo.

436

" came
and as far as was prudent or necessary, I
up
"
I must also beg leave to say that,
their
request.
granted
" from
Cairnes
having unfortunately fallen very early
Major
;

" in the
action, I received the greatest assistance through" out the
and it is
from Lieutenant Louis's
activity ;
day
" but
officer to add, that, when I was under
this
to
justice
" the
necessity of quitting the field for half an hour, in con-

"
"

"

sequence of

my

during
credit,

my being wounded, he commanded the troop

absence in a manner that did himself great

and gave me perfect satisfaction

at a very arduous

"

To

Sir

period of the action."

General Colquhoun Grant, in writing of Captain Walcott,
" I
said
beg to recommend this gallant and meritorious
"
He added " * nave g reat
officer to y ur attention -"
"
pleasure in embracing this opportunity to mention my
" entire and full
approbation of the conduct of Lieut.
"
Colonel Webber Smith, and the officers and men of his
"
"
troop
(now B Battery, B Brigade, Eoyal Horse Artillery),
"
during the whole of the period they have been attached
" to the
brigade under my command."
Lieutenant-Colonel Macdonald, an enthusiastic Horse
:

d'

ttd

15 July,

in addition to the letter quoted above, wrote

" In addition to the names of the various officers

Artilleryman
Ibid,

as follows

"
16 July
1815.

belonging to the six troops of Koyal Horse Artillery,

attached to the Cavalry, whose lot it was to command
"
troops on the memorable day of the 18th June, it has
"
"

me to be no less my duty to express to you

admiration of the cool and determined conduct of

occurred to

my

"

Captain Walcott, who was some time detached from his

troop on that day and who, in the handsomest manner,
" after the whole of his ammunition was
expended, volun"

"

"
"

teered to

take charge

Eamsay's troop, after

some of the guns of Major

had suffered much by the loss

of
it

It is also highly satisfactory to me to report

the
equally gallant conduct of Captain Dansey, of
you
"
Captain Whinyates's Eocket Troop, which I also had an
"
opportunity of witnessing ; and who was wounded when
"
detached with rockets in the chaussee, which crossed the

"

of officers.
to

CHAP, xxiii.

Death of Major Lloyd.

"

You are already aware, from your

how much all the officers of these troops

437

centre of the position.

"
"
"
"

"

own

observation,

distinguished themselves on the occasion, and what a noble

example they set to the non-commissioned officers and men

by whom

it

was so gallantly imitated.

inadequate to express

"

my

Words

sense of the conduct of

are indeed
all,

where

the reputation, which the Horse Artillery had before ob"

and
tained, was so nobly sustained, if not even surpassed
"
which I must plead as my excuse for extending the limits
" of
;

this

communication beyond

my

original intention, viz.,

" that of
drawing your attention to the merits of Captains
"

Walcott and Dansey."

In reporting the death of Major Lloyd, from his wounds,
" I
Sir George Wood wrote
can, without hesitation, affirm
:

" that a
braver, or more zealous
" of battle and who did his

officer,

never entered a

field

duty on the 16th and 18th to

" the satisfaction of
General
officer."
A few days
every
later, in enclosing a letter from Lieutenant Brereton, Sir
"I have received from every commanding
George said
;

Dated

isio."

i^ia.

" officer the handsomest

u
testimony of the conduct of Lieu- JL^
" tenant
Brereton, both in the Peninsula and at the battle
"*of Waterloo ; and T have it from General Byng to say that,
"
on the battle of the 16th (the Horse Artillery not being
"
engaged on that day), he proffered his service to act as
"
aide-de-camp, which service he performed to the great
" satisfaction of the General."
At a subsequent date, in

forwarding an application from Major Percy Drummond,

"I have ever found Major Drummond
Sir George Wood said
:

"

a most active, zealous,

" under

and attentive

officer,

having been

"

proved
you every justice,
at the battle of Waterloo, in which
tinguished feature."

Almost every

your command
your brigade bore a dis-

officer

who served in the

commander

Artillery at Waterloo received from his gallant

official commendation
and, by this means, many Regimental incidents connected with the battle have been handed

some

\^~

my command on

several occasions, particularly in the

" battle of Waterloo."
In acknowledging a letter from
"
Your company at all times
said
Sir
George
Major Kogers,
" did
and
it under
''

ibid.

ibid.

Waterloo.

438

CHAP.

xxm.

In writing, for example, about an officer who lived to

be a revered General in the Corps, Sir George Wood said:

down.

"Lieutenant William Anderson has conducted himself in

everv situation as a good and zealous officer.
On the 18th

Dated

"
demies
29 Feb.

"

on many occasions during that day, he carried my

and brought off some disabled guns under a severe fire.
"
Having my horses shot, I was forced to dismount him."
June.

"

orders,

Sir George

to'oen.

Macieod,

At the battle of Waterloo, the Artillery expended 10,400

rounds of ammunition. The amount fired by one battery,
Captain Sandham's, has already been stated and it may be
mentioned here that Captain Whinyates's troop fired 309
;

3 July,
,

Memoir

of

Sir E. c.

Whmyates,

shot,'

236 spherical
r

case,

15

common

case,'

and 52 rockets.

The subsequent operations of the English army during

e y ear? { n wn i cn this history comes for the present to an
The main body of the army
end, will merely be glanced at.
marched at once towards Paris and the damage suffered by

the Artillery during the battle was so quickly repaired, that

Sir George Wood was able to take every gun with him that
had been on the field, with four 18-pounders in addition ;
Sir George

D.-A.-Gen.,
dated
'

total of 123 pieces of ordnance, and over 20,000

roun(ls of ammunition, with which the army marched on
The collapse of any opposition, and the ultimate
Paris.

making a

occupation of that city by the Allies, are facts well known to

the reader.
There were, however, some Artillery operations

1815.

against the French fortresses, in which some brigades of

Artillery,

under

Sir

Alexander

Dickson,

Maubeuge surrendered on the 12th

Sir A.

toD -A -G
dated
'

were

engaged.

July, and

was taken
of
on
the
after
three
and
14th,
trenches,
days'
open
possession
surrendered
on
the
and
taken
was
21st,
Landrecy
firing.
possession of on the 23rd July, after two days' open trenches,
and about two hours' firing. Marienbourg surrendered on
*ke 28th, and was taken possession of on the 30th July, after
one day's open trenches and heavy bombardment. Philippey iU e was taken possession of on the 10th August, having
surrendered on the 8th, after one day's open trenches and
heavy bombardment. Sir Alexander Dickson spoke in the
highest terms of the officers and men under his command
;

he attributed to their energy the fact that at every place he

CHAP, xxill.

was

able

sufficient

to

Operations subsequent to Waterloo.

collect,

previous

to

commencing

439

operations,
it, as he

ordnance and ammunition to have reduced

by main force. At Maubeuge, he had 60 guns 30 of

which were 24-pounders, 20,000 round shot, and 26,000
At Landrecy he had 60 guns, 24,000 round shot, and
shells.
At Marienbourg, he had 15 mortars, with
shells.
22,000
3000 shells and 6 24-pounders arrived, just as the place
said,

At

surrendered.

Philippeville, he

had 66 pieces of ordnance,

with 17,000 round shot, and 23,000 shells. During these

operations, the Artillery was attached to a corps of the
Prussian army, by which the sieges of the fortresses were
conducted. The terms on which the duties were performed

were somewhat peculiar.

A. Dickson,
" fix
the

"

is to

shells,

"

"

Our

line

of duty,"

wrote Sir

Sir A.

move the

fill

battering-train, keep it in order, toD-A.-G

the cartridges, and, in short, do every d ted
<j

which my
thing except fighting the guns
"
instructions neither authorize me to do, nor would it be
"
pleasant to do, if they did for we should not get the
"
credit we ought, when working in competition with the
"
Prussian Artillery whereas, as the duty is conducted now,
individual

isis.

"

and just credit is allowed for our exertions, and

every
"the service goes on with the utmost cordiality. Prince
fair

"

Augustus of Prussia is chief of the Artillery of that

kingdom, and he takes into his own hand very much the
"
application of the artillery; which is very pleasant for me,
"
as I receive all the arrangements and instructions direct
"
from his Koyal Highness. An application is given in every
"

"

"

at the park during a siege, expressing

ordnance and ammunition required for the next day

the

morning

and

" in the
evening the Prussian Artillery come to receive their
" demands.
I have, however, a few officers and men of the
"
Eoyal Artillery in the trenches, to afford any assistance
" when
required; and also to watch the practice, report
" about the
fuzes, &c."

After the

fall

of Philippeville,

Major CarmichaeFs company,

with the advanced division of the battering-train, consisting

of thirty-three mortars and howitzers, reached a point near
Eocroy, on the 15th August

followed by Major MichelFs

ibid,

^^
1815.

"

CHAP.

Waterloo.

440

xxm.

and Major Wall's companies with ten 24-pounders, and a

The Prussians opened the
large supply of ammunition.
trenches on the night of the 15th, and batteries were prepared for twenty-one mortars and howitzers. With such
effect were these opened on the morning of the 16th, that
before 9 A.M. Eocroy capitulated.

After this event, Prince

Augustus expressed himself highly satisfied with the exertions

of the British Artillery attached to the battering-train ; and
orders reached Sir Alexander Dickson from the Duke of
Wellington to bring the second battering-train, which was at
Antwerp, to Brussels, and to land it forthwith. The next

operation of any importance was against the town of Givet,

against which no fewer than one hundred guns were collected.

Before the bombardment commenced, however, the Governor

consented to give up the place, and retire into Charlemont ;

To the

which he did on the llth September.

A force under Sir Charles Colville had been sent against
Cambray, immediately after Waterloo, and the place after a
short siege
was carried on the 25th June. Of the conduct
"
of the Artillery on this occasion, Sir Charles wrote
The
:

"
Welting-

iT'jun
1815.
Sir George

D.-A.-G?,

?s'e%
1815.

MaJor

three

brigades of Artillery under

Lieutenant

Colonel

"

Webber Smith, and Majors Unett and Brome, under the

direction of Lieutenant-Colonel Hawker, made particularly
"
good practice." The services of Major Unett's brigade
"

(now 3 Battery, 7th Brigade) received special mention in a

report from Sir Charles Colville to Sir George Wood and
the following extract from a letter written by its gallant
commander may interest the officers and men now serving in
the battery.
"My brigade, being in reserve, had not an
;

"

to sir G.

opportunity of witnessing the late glorious battle of

Waterloo, but it afterwards proceeded with the 4th Division
"of the army for the purpose of reducing the fortress of
"

dated'

3 Aug.

"

Cambray

and, in justice to my officers, I must be permy three subalterns, never having been

"

mitted to say that

"

under

"

steady behaviour at their guns (within four hundred yards

fire before,

deserve

much

praise for their cool and

"
of the curtain of the citadel, in an open field), and which
" was
clearly evinced by the uncommon good practice made*

CHAP.

XXI 1 1.

A rtillery with A rmy of Occupation.

44 1

" which so
completely silenced the enemy as to cause (by
"
from their guns and ramparts) a most
them
driving
"
to
our
Infantry when they stormed the place."
trifling loss
The French king entered Camhray on the day after it was

taken and on the same day, Peronne was taken by General

Maitland and the Guards.
Arrangements for concluding hostilities, and entering
:

upon a

treaty,

were soon made in Paris.

One

the

of

conditions inflicted on the French people was that an army

of occupation should be left in France for five
afterwards

reduced to three

years;

and considerable

was

difficulty

found in apportioning the various arms in the English contingent of that army.

The Duke

of Wellington decided on reducing the Artillery

share to a point far below what Sir George Wood thought

desirable

as he said,

and the

"What

urged his views very strongly, but,

can a Lieut. -Colonel do against a Field-

latter

Marshal ?" x However, his importunity succeeded in obtaining

an addition of two companies to the Artillery force which
was at first intended to remain in France.

The following was the number ultimately decided upon

\
1

Atttant Adjutant-ben.
Brigade Major

for
I

dut ? as the Regimental Staff of the Koyal

the Army of Occupation.

Artillery

Three troops of Royal Horse Artillery to be attached

amount to 542 of all ranks, with 516 horses.

to the Cavalry,

and

to dated
Paris,

Seven brigades of Foot Artillery, having a company of Artillery to each six

o^ .v'nich were to be attached to the three divisions of the army, and one to be
The total of all ranks, with these brigades, amounted to 790 and
in reserve.
there were in addition 599 officers aud men of the Koyal Artillery Drivers, and
;

770 horses.

For duty with the small-arm ammunition brigades for the three divisions of
150 non-commissioned
the army, there were three officers of Royal Artillery
and 210 horses.
officers and men of the Royal Artillery Drivers
;

There was

also a

company

of Royal Artillery in reserve,

numbering 111 of

all rauks.

and one Major were attached to the Royal Horse Artillery.

and one Major were attached to the Royal Artillery.
one Lieut.-Colonel was attached to the Royal Artillery Drivers.

One

Lieut.-Colonel

Two
And

Lieut. -Colonels

to B> of

1
Although a Colonel in the army, Sir George
mental Lieutenant-Colonel in 1815.

Wood

was only a Regi-

Dec.

Waterloo.

The following were the

was decided upon

xxm.

troops of Horse Artillery

five

selected to return to England,

CHAP.

when the above establishment

R. A.
Horses. Drivers

Strength.

atta-jhcd.

MS. Return to B.

rd

Lieut-Colonel Sir R. Gardiner's troop

Webber Smith's
^

'

Sir

te d

Paris,

10 Dec.
1815.

H. D. Boss's

Major Whinyates's
Captain Mercer's (lute Beane's)
Detachment K. H. A

179 of
176
189
223

all

ranks.

176
59

198
197
219

22
20
30

219
196

nil.

156

83

26

Orders for the shipment of the battering-train also arrived

end of 1815, with a view to its return to England

in the

and, as Sir Alexander Dickson's active duties on the continent then ceased, it seems but justice to the memory of
one whose name has occupied so prominent a place in these
pages, to quote a passage from a letter written by Sir George
Wood, proving that his exceptional Peninsular honours had
To
D.-A.-G.,

Cambray,

not unfitted him for serving, when required, in a subordinate

"
You may expect Sir A. Dickson in the course of
position
" ^ ne
next week at Woolwich. I have found him the same
" 00 ^
omcer an d man, as you well know him."
:

The reductions which followed the

battle of Waterloo

have been frequently alluded to in these volumes. They

would furnish but a gloomy topic for the historian, for the
pruning-knife was used without regard to sentiment, and
some of the best companies in the regiment were the victims.
It is more pleasant to close this story in 1815, when the

Corps was at the greatest strength attained since

its birth,

hundred years before. Suffice it to say that from 114

troops and companies in that year, it fell before 1819 to 79,
and even these were mere ghosts or skeletons of their former
For nearly thirty years, after 1819, the history
selves.
of the Kegiment was almost a blank page, and hopelessness
and depression weighed heavily on its members.
But 1815 is the year in which this narrative ends nor is
it meant to close it with
any gloomy foreshadowing of those
of
inaction
and
years
despondency, which rolled on with
dismal monotony, until the Kegimental firmament was lit by
a

Kane's

CHAP, xxiii.

Close of the Narrative.

443

the lurid fires of the Crimean struggle.

In 1815 the military
She possessed
reputation of England was at a maximum.

an army which had graduated with honours in the sternest

school, and a General to whose words the Sovereigns of
Determination, singleEurope listened with deference.
mindedness, and an exalted sense of duty were the qualities
which had animated the Duke of Wellington through his
whole career. Their reward was found in his successes and
his successes were crowned in Paris.
Imperfections exist in
the most able, and even in the most conscientious
and
General
was
no
to
this
England's greatest
certainly
exception
rule. But, if we allow for the irritation caused by frequent and
and for occasional hastiness, which
injudicious interference,
led him to speak without always testing the accuracy of his
we must admit the Duke of Wellington to
information,
have been the most perfect type of an English soldier ever
;

presented in the pages of our history. When, however, the

Artilleryman seeks for something that is genial and lovable
in the soldiers of that victorious age,
he turns from the
cold and undemonstrative Chief, and dwells
fondly on the men
who had by their exertions raised Artillery, as a science, to

an unprecedented point, and had elevated with it the Corps

they loved. The researches of a recent writer have brought
to light words spoken by a chivalrous
enemy, which should
be emblazoned in the records of every battery, and im-

"Les canonniers
pressed on the mind of every Artilleryman:
"
Anglais se distinguent entre les autres soldats par le bon
"
En bataille leur activite est judiesprit qui les anime.
"
cieuse, leur coup d'oeil parfait, et leur bravoure stoi'que."
Of the

two may be ensured by diligence

and the third is tested by the difficulties and
war but the history of the great and the good
in the Corps must indeed have been feebly written, if it do
latter three qualities,

in

peace,
dangers of

not strengthen

now, as of old,

among
"

le

its

living

bon esprit qui

members that which

les aniine."

exists

General
*

oy

'

APPENDICES.
APPENDIX
THE DUKE
Jones's
8'

voM
p.

222.

IN

A.

OF WELLINGTON, AND THE AETILLEBY AT WATERLOO.

volume of Sir

J. T. Jones's

'

Sieges in Spain/
Lieutenant-Colonel
H.
D.
Jones, the following
by
" It becomes the
occurs
duty of the Editor to
passage
first

tlie

edited

"

remove the very injurious and unmerited censure cast upon

"
the officers of Engineers who were employed at the Siege
" of
Badajoz, and which is contained in a letter from the
"

Earl of Wellington to Major-General G. Murray, a copy

" of which is
published in the collection of the Despatches
" of the Duke of
Wellington."

The Editor then proceeds

to prove, most clearly and sucthat

the
cessfully,
hasty language used with reference to the

Engineers was not only injurious, but also unmerited.

The same great General is also convicted by his admirer,

Napier's

vol. vi.,

Napier, of hasty inconsistency in his private correspondence.

It was of the very same troops, and referring -to precisely
the same time, that the Duke of Wellington wrote in one
" The soldiers are
letter
detestable for everything but
"
fighting; and the officers are as culpable as the men:" and
" that
he thought he could go anywhere, and do
i n another,
"
anything with the army that fought on the Pyrenees."
Well might Napier say that the vehemence of the censure
:

the former of the quotations is inconsistent with the

latter, and now celebrated, observation.
in

APP. A.

The Duke and the Artillery at Waterloo.

445

It now becomes the painful, and yet necessary, task of the

chronicler of the services of the Eoyal Artillery, as of the
member of the sister corps already quoted, " to remove a very

"

injurious and unmerited censure

in a private letter, written by the

"

cast

upon the Regiment,

Duke

of Wellington, with
reference to its conduct at the battle of Waterloo.
Of this
letter's

1872,

existence

when

it

the world was

made

its

ignorant until the year

appearance in a volume of

'

Supple-

mentary Letters and Despatches of the Duke of Wellington,'

published by his son. The sensation which it was certain
to produce was foretold by one of the reviews, and was
As, however, his object
anticipated by the noble Editor.
was to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth, the present Duke did not feel justified in withholding

from publication any

letter

which was found among his

father's papers, merely because it might wound the feelings

of its readers, or give a new interpretation of historical events.

And although the indiscriminate publication of a man's

private correspondence is a doubtful tribute to his memory,
and a severe test of his reputation, it is, on the whole,
fortunate for the Eoyal Artillery that this letter made its
appearance while

officers

were yet alive who had taken

and clearly

a part in the battle referred to in its pages,

remembered its details.

The original letter was written by the Duke of Wellington
to Lord Mulgrave, then Master-General of the Ordnance, on
the 21st December, 1815.
The published letter was from a
copy, or draft, of the original which was found among the
Duke's papers. The hope that perhaps there may have been
modifications in the original, which did not exist in the draft
that Lord Mulgrave's
answer was also found among the Duke's papers, expressing his

or copy, disappears before the fact

amazement

at the letter he had just received.

The harsh
statements in the published draft or copy were doubtless,
The cirtherefore, left in the original when forwarded.
cumstances under which the letter were written were as

The field officers of the Eoyal Artillery, who had

follows.
been present at Waterloo, applied to the Master-General

'Athen*'

The Duke of Wellington,

446
'Hist.^
vol.

ii.

P. 3o6.

APP. A.

same pensions for service as had

The indignation with which the
Duke of Wellington had heard of the Yittoria pensions was
well known in the Regiment nor can one avoid sympathising
with him. Discipline must suffer if the power of rewarding, or recommending for reward, he independent of the
commander of the forces as a channel. The special interference of the Ordnance on hehalf of the Corps, which was
their protege., was not merely a breach of discipline, to which
a man like the Duke of Wellington was not likely tamely to
submit, but must have had an irritating effect on the rest
Ordnance

O f the

for the

been given after Vittoria.

of the army.

When, therefore, the field officers of Artillery

present at Waterloo resolved to apply for the same reward as
had been given after Yittoria, they had the alternative before
them

of making their request through the Duke, basing it

a
upon
precedent which was detestable in his eyes, or of
availing themselves of the dual government under which

they served, by making a direct application to the Ordnance.

alternatives, the former would have been the more

Of these

but was not likely to succeed the latter, therewas unfortunately adopted.
The application was not couched in a very official form,
nor was it officially pressed by Sir George Wood. The only
reference to it which can be traced in that officer's cor-

soldier-like,

fore,

Dated
3 Tug
1815.

respondence is in a letter announcing Major Lloyd's death,

"
which he writes
Should Lord Mulgrave, in his goodness be inclined to grant pensions to field officers and

in
"

>

"

captains
"

Yittoria, I

"

family

brigades, similar

commanding

hope and trust that the

may

The precedent

receive

the benefit

of Yittoria

that of Waterloo

his

to the battle of

late

Major Lloyd's

service

was not quite a

deserved."

parallel case to

in the former every brigade with the

in
had
been
action
while, in the latter, some had been
army
detached. It seems to have been on this distinction, mainly,
that Lord Mulgrave based his refusal to grant the reward.
:

justify himself, he referred the matter to the Duke of

Wellington, who approved of the refusal, as might have been

To

expected, but did so in terms which reveal an inaccuracy,

APP. A.

and

the Artillery at Waterloo.

447

and a hastiness unparalleled in his Grace's correspondence.

He

wrote as follows
"

"

To THE EARL OF MULGRAVE.

"Paris, 21s< December, 1815.

MY

DEAE LORD,

" I received
yesterday your Lordship's letter of the 10th,
of the field officers of the Artillery prethe
claim
regarding
sent in the battle of Waterloo, to the same measure of favour
granted to those in the battle of Yittoria.
" In
my opinion you have done quite right to refuse to grant
this favour, and that you have founded your refusal on the
I cannot recommend that you should depart
best grounds.
from the ground you have taken. To tell you the truth, I
was not very well pleased with the Artillery in the battle of

Waterloo.
"

The army was formed in squares immediately on the slope

of the rising ground, on the summit of which the Artillery
was placed, with orders not to engage with artillery, but to
fire only when bodies of
It
troops came under their fire.
was very difficult to get them to obey this order.
The
French cavalry charged, and were formed on the same ground
with our Artillery in general, within a few yards of our guns.
In some instances they were in actual possession of our guns.
We could not expect the artillerymen to remain at their
guns in such a case but I had a right to expect that the
officers and men of the Artillery would do as I did, and as all
;

the staff did, that is, to take shelter in the squares of the
Infantry till the French cavalry should be driven off the
But they did no
ground, either by our Cavalry or Infantry
such thing ; they ran off the field entirely, taking with them
.

limbers, ammunition, and everything

minutes, we had driven

and when, in a few

the French cavalry, and had reour

and
our guns, and could have made good
ground
gained
use of our artillery, we had no artillerymen to fire them ;
off

and, in point of fact, I should have had no Artillery during

the whole of the latter part of the action if I had not kept
a reserve in the

commencement.

The Duke of Wellington^

44 $
"

Mind,

I do not

my dear Lord,

I have above mentioned

is

APP. A.

mean to complain but what

known to many and it
;

a fact

would not do to reward a corps under such circumstances.

The Artillery, like others, behaved most gallantly but when
a misfortune of this kind has occurred, a corps must not be
rewarded. It is on account of these little stories, which
must come out, that I object to all the propositions to write
what is called a history of the battle of Waterloo.
" If
it is to be a history, it must be the truth, and the whole
truth, or it will do more harm than good, and will give as
;

many

false notions of

what a battle

is,

as other

romances of

the same description have.

But if a true history is written,
what will become of the reputation of half of those who have

acquired reputation, and

who

deserve

it

for their gallantry,

but who, if their mistakes and casual misconduct were made

I am certain that
public, would not be so well thought of ?

were to enter into a critical discussion of everything that

occurred from the 14th to the 19th June, I could show ample
reasons for not entering deeply into these subjects.
if I

"

The fact is, that the army that gained the battle of
Waterloo was an entirely new one, with the exception of
some of the old Spanish troops. Their inexperience occasioned the mistakes they committed, the rumours they circulated that all was destroyed, because they themselves ran
but they behaved
away, and the mischief which ensued
;

gallantly,

and I

am

convinced,

again, they would show

of even one battle.

what

it

the thing was to be done

was to have the experience

if

"

Believe me, &c.,

"

(Signed)

"

WELLINGTON.

I am very well pleased with the field officers for not

have their application referred to me. They know
the reason I have not to recommend them for a favour."

P.S.

liking to

In discussing this letter, it is proposed to examine what

may be termed the internal and external evidences of its
inaccuracy,

commencing with the former.

In his despatch of the 19th June, 1815, announcing the

and

APP. A.

the Artillery at Waterloo.

Duke wrote

449

"

The Artillery and Engineer deto my satisfaction by Colonel

much
conducted
were
partments
Sir George Wood and Colonel Smyth."
Evidently, then, the
victory, tlie

"

known

"

of the Artillerymen running off the

to him when he wrote his
had
not
been
known
ground
despatch, or he could hardly have described the Artillery
department as having been conducted much to his satis-

fact

faction.

to

many

Nor does the

fact,

even when made known to him,

seem to have produced the effect upon his Grace's mind,

which misconduct among the troops under his command, in
the face of an enemy, would at any other time have instantly

Were not the genuineness of the letter beyond all

of the contradictions and inconsistencies in it
some
question,
would have justified the reader in pronouncing it a forgery,
invented to throw discredit on the reputation of England's
created.

Was

greatest General.

the

Duke

of Wellington who,
ran
off
the field entirely,
They
them
with
limbers, ammunition, and everything,"
taking

after writing the words,

it

"

" The
proceeded to say,
Artillery, like others, behaved most
"
"
it the Iron Duke who, after
?
Was
In
gallantly
saying,
"

"
"

point of fact, I should have had no Artillery during the

whole of the latter part of the action if I had not kept a
reserve in the

commencement," went

tion of a martyr, to say,

"

to

complain "?

"

Mind,

on,

with the resignaI do not mean

my dear Lord,

The inconsistency with

his

known

character

is

astounding.
After describing the disappearance of his Artillerymen,
and the straits to which he was consequently reduced, he
" It
would not do to reward a
proceeds in this letter to say
If he were correctly
such
circumstances."
under
"corps
:

informed as to these circumstances, there would not have

been a single individual in the whole of his army who would
have differed from him as to his conclusion. But, unfortunately for him, he endeavoured to prove too much. Not
content with giving, as a reason for withholding rewards, an
assertion which,

case

if

accurate,

he must needs

him,

would have more than

by a mysterious insinuation

VOL.

II.

justified

strengthen an already overwhelming

in the postscript of the

2 G

The Duke of Wellington,

45 o

A PP.

A.

respecting some other unexpressed ground of his

displeasure, with which the field officers must be familiar as
letter,

a cause for his refusing to recommend them for reward.

there not, in this piling of Pelion upon Ossa, some

Was

consciousness of the necessity of self-justification ?

But these are merely striking self-contradictions
inconsistencies

in

style.

It

is

when the truth

and
the

of

statements made by the Duke in this letter is inquired into

that one stands astounded at the inaccuracy of his infor-

mants, and the hasty assumptions of the writer himself.

The

letter is so involved,

so confusing in its mixed referto the army generally,

so laden

ences to the Artillery and

with marvellous didactic sentences as to the propriety of
writing a history of the battle of Waterloo, that it is not

always easy to ascertain the connection between argument

and conclusion. So slovenly, indeed, is the style at the end
of the letter, that it reads as if the whole army ran away

Let two sentences be reproduced: "The fact is, that the

11
army that gained the battle of Waterloo was an entirely
" new
one, with the exception of some of the old Spanish
"
troops.

"

Their inexperience occasioned the mistakes they

committed,

the

rumours they circulated

that

was

all

"

destroyed, because they themselves ran away, and the

"
mischiefs which ensued; but they behaved gallantly."
One rises from a perusal of these words with a bewildered
.

feeling that gallant behaviour

with running away

among

troops

is

identical

and that the whole army, with the

exception of some of the old Spanish troops, exhibited their

But, as the statement
gallantry in this singular manner.
that the army was entirely a new one is used apparently in
the

first

field,

it

instance to account for the Artillery running off the

may be interesting to glance at the troops and

in the Puke's
brigades, whose inexperience seemed
made
their
almost
natural.
he wrote to have
flight

mind

as

Horse Artillery present at the

battle of Waterloo, five were the old tried troops of the
Peninsula, whose gallant services had been recorded year after
year by the Duke's own hand Sir Hew Boss's, Sir Kobert

Of the eight troops

of

and

APP. A.

the Artillery at Waterloo.

Webber

45

Major Beane's, and

sixth, Captain Whinyates's, was the famous
Major
and of the other two, one had
Rocket Troop of Leipsic
and
the other in Walcheren.
It
at
Buenos
fought
Ayres,
was to one of these latter and more inexperienced troops,
Colonel

Gardiner's,

Bull's.

Smith's,

Captain Mercer's, that the victory at one period of the day

was due.

With regard

to the field brigades of this

new

would seem that Major Kogers's company had been

engaged for two years past in the operations in Holland,
and had been in the Walcheren Expedition previously that
Captain Sinclair's brigade had been at Copenhagen, Corunna, and Walcheren Captain Sandham's at Copenhagen
and Walcheren
and that
Major Lloyd's at Walcheren
the
without
war
service,
only brigade
Captain Bolton's,
happened to be the one whose effect in breaking the head of
the columns of the Imperial Guard has become historical,
and whose inexperience would therefore hardly appear to
From this statement it is
have been very detrimental.
evident that the Artillery element in the Duke's army at
Waterloo was veteran rather than new
for, if the troops
records
as
are given above,
and brigades possessed such
much more did the majority of the field and staff officers
army,

it

present deserve the title of veterans.

But the next inaccuracy is more unpardonable ; and the
informants of the Duke on the subject were guilty of errors
"
for which there was no excuse.
In point of fact," wrote
"
I should have had no Artillery during the whole
the Duke,
" of the latter
part of the action if I had not kept a reserve
"
at the commencement."
Fortunately for the exposure of
this grave inaccuracy, there is no point on which there is
more full and official information both in Sir George Wood's
and other despatches, and more detailed notice in private

correspondence, than on the subject of the Artillery reserves

As stated in the last chapter of this volume,
it was composed of Sir Hew Boss's and Major Beane's
at Waterloo.

Horse Artillery, and Captain Sinclair's Field

far was this force from being kept in reserve,
So
Brigade.
and being brought forward providentially at the end of the
2 G 2
troops

of

Battalion
8

Jjfg^jJ

Artillery.

The Dnke of Wellington,

45 2.

APP. A.

action to replace the runaways, that it was actually in action

every gun almost at the commencement of the daij, and
suffered

losses before half-past one.

By a
the Artillery, which must have been

the heaviest

happy coincidence,

Duke as his reserve, is mentioned by

"
Frazer
Some time before this i.e., the
Augustus
of
the
second
line
during the cavalry attacks the
massing
"
Duke ordered me to bring up all the reserve Horse Ar-

represented to the
Frazer's
p. 559!*

Sir
"

"
tillery,

which at that moment were Mercer's and

Bull's

"

But, instead of these troops being a reserve

troops."
"
from the commencement,"
kept, as the Duke's letter says,
they also had both been in action from the beginning of
ibid.

p 557<
-

the day, and Bull's troop had actually been sent to the
"
centre of the second line
to refit and repair disabled
"
"
carriages
The importance of this inaccuracy in the letter cannot be
!

If the Artillery, which the Duke admits having

had at the end of the day, was not the reserve, which he
had kept in hand, and it certainly was not, what was it ?
The asserted flight of the gunners with their limbers and
ammunition hangs upon the truth, or otherwise, of there
having been reserves in hand to replace them. But the fact
of these reserves having been in action from the beginning
of the day is incontestable and is proved by the correspond-

overrated.

Hew

Eoss, who commanded one of the reserve

as
as
well
by the official and semi-official correspondtroops,
ence of others. It is possible that the arrival of Sir Eobert

ence of Sir

Gardiner's troop, with Vivian's and Yandeleur's brigades,

left of the line, at the end of the day, may have

from the

deceived the Duke's informant, and led him to imagine that

was fresh Artillery from the reserve. That it was not so,

it

however, but merely moved with the division to which it was

attached, is a matter of fact ; and at no time in the day was
this troop ever in reserve.
Therefore, in a vital point, the
Duke's letter is unquestionably inaccurate.

is

"

The next statement in the letter which demands scrutiny

" The
the following
Artillery was placed with orders
not to engage with artillery, but to fire only when bodies
:

and

APP.A.
" of
troops

"

the Artillery at Waterloo.

came under

their

fire.

get them to obey this order."

453

was very difficult to

John Bloomfield, who

It

Sir

was on Sir George Wood's staff, carried this order to all the
troops and brigades, and is confident that, with one excepHe remembers that the Duke
tion, it was rigidly obeyed.
saw a French gun struck by a shot from one of the English
batteries,
and, under the impression that it came from
Sandham's
Captain
brigade, he sent orders to have that
officer placed in arrest.
This was not done, some satisfactory
been
explanation having
relieving Captain Sandham
given,
of the disobedience.
Singularly enough, the offender was
never discovered, until, in 1870, with the publication of
General Mercer's Diary, came the confession of the crime.
"

About

this time, being impatie*nt of standing idle, and Mercer's

u
annoyed- by the batteries on the Nivelle road, I ventured ^j 'f/
"
301
to commit a folly, for which I should have paid dearly had p<

"

" our
Duke chanced to be in our part of the field. I ven"
tured to disobey orders, and open a slow, deliberate fire at
"

the battery, thinking, with

9-pounders, soon to silence
his 4-pounders."
As Captain Mercer's troop was placed
near Sandham's brigade at this time, it is evident that this

my

"

occurrence, and that mentioned by Sir John Bloomfield, are

Sir John, whose duties carried him to all parts of

identical.

the

and whose recollection of the day

field,

is

as clear as

possible, asserts positively, that in no other instance was the

order disobeyed; and it will be seen from accounts, both

French and English, to be quoted hereafter, that the order

to fire upon bodies of troops approaching was literally obeyed
with the most marked results. Was it, then, quite worthy
of the Duke of Wellington to reason from the particular to
the general, and to visit the disobedience of one -officer
upon a whole corps ? As has been well said by the son of Colonel
one of the bravest Artillery officers on the field, Sir Eobert
Gardiner " If a Regiment of Infantry had run away, and
" all
the others had behaved splendidly,
would the whole
"
arm have been similarly condemned? Would it not have
" been
more just to reward those who deserved it ?"
The mention of reward suggests the next amazing incon:

The Duke of Wellington,

454

APP. A.

and makes it almost certain

sistency in the Duke's letter,
that it was written on receiving some subsequent information
not from his personal observation. In
" It
this letter, dated six months after the battle, he wrote
"
would not do to reward a corps under such circumstances;"
and again " The field officers know the reason I have not
" to
recommend them for a favour." How are these sen-

from another source,

tences to be reconciled with the following extract from the

London Gazette,' which immediately followed the battle,
'

and was issued while

all

in the Duke's recollection

Dated
Whitehall,

22 June,"

its

details

must have been fresh

His Eoyal
the Prince Kegent has further been
Highness
J
&
_
to
nominate
and
pleased
appoint the undermentioned om"
cers to be Companions of the said most Honourable Military
"
Order of the Bath, upon the recommendation of Field Mar"

" shal the

Duke of

"fought upon

Wellington, for their services in the battles

the 16th

and 18th of June

Lieut. -Colonel S.

G-.

last

Adye, Koyal Artillery.

Lieut.-Colonel E. Bull,
Lieut.-Colonel C. Gold,
Lieut.-Colonel A. Macdonald,
Lieut.-Colonel J. Parker,

Major T. Eogers,
Lieut.-Colonel J.

W.

Smith,

Lieut.-Colonel J. S. Williamson,
Colonel Sir G. A. Wood, Kt.,

This list includes the very field officers of whom the Duke
wrote afterwards, " They know the reason I have not to re"
commend them for a favour." Was it no favour to be
recommended for the Order of the Bath ?
"
It would not do," wrote the Duke in December,
Again
"
to reward a corps under^ such circumstances." Let
1815,
:

the reader glance at the following picture of an unrewarded

corps.

Out of thirteen troops and brigades, with the

staff,

requisite

the following officers obtained rewards, in addition to

APP. A.

and

the Artillery at Waterloo.

455

the nine appointments to the Order of the Bath, quoted

above.
It must be remembered that the number
eligible

excluded subalterns, and was further reduced by the death

of Majors Beane, Lloyd, Kamsay, Cairnes, and
Captain Bolton.
Brevet promotion, for service at Waterloo

Major E. Bull to be Lieut.-Colonel, dated 18th June, 1815.

Major J. Parker
Captain E. Whinyates to be Major
Captain T. Dynely
Captain A. Macdonald

Brevet promotion for services at Waterloo was also conferred in January 1819 on

Captain C. Napier,
Captain
Captain

W. Webber,
W. Brereton,)

Captain E. H. Ord,

Subalterns at Waterloo.

At the

request, also, of the Duke of Wellington, Sir George Dated

obtained permission to accept a knighthood of the 2
Tug.
Order of Maria Theresa, from the Emperor of Austria and, 1815

Wood

a few days later, the Order of St. Wladimir, from the

peror of Eussia.

Em-

J^Au
1815.
ibid.

Yet again, at the request of the Duke of Wellington,

the following officers obtained permission to accept from
the Emperor of Eussia the Order of St. Anne, " in testimony
" of
His Majesty's approbation of their services and conduct,
"
particularly in the late battles fought in the Netherlands :"
Lieut.-Colonel Sir J. May, K.C.B., E.H.A.
Lieut.-Colonel Sir H. Eoss,
Lieut.-Colonel Sir E. Gardiner,
Lieut.-Colonel E. Bull,
Major A. Macdonald,
It is unnecessary to add that the boon service granted for
the battle of Waterloo, and the Waterloo medals, were given

8 Oct -

The Duke of Wellington,

45 6

APP. A.

It would, thereto the Artillery present, without exception.

did
not
that
for
a
which
deserve to he
corps
appear

fore,

rewarded,

it

did not fare badly

only called in question

and that

its

merits were

when pensions based on an unpopular

precedent were asked for. It is also impossible that the

Duke could have been so generous in his original recommendations had he known, of his own personal observation,
that which he stated in his letter of the 21st December, and
which must now receive grave consideration the asserted
;

flight

from the

field

of battle of

many

of the Artillerymen

with their limbers, &c.

In ascertaining the unmistakable inaccuracy of this cruel
and hasty assertion, which must have been made by the Duke
of Wellington on the most worthless evidence, the advantage
of the late publication of the letter has become apparent.
Much of the evidence, which will be adduced to rebut it,

was not written with the view of meeting such an accusation,

is merely extracted from the simple narrative of a battle,
in which the facts are stated without any idea of their being
questioned. Had the Duke's letter been published while the
writers of many of the letters to be quoted were alive, their
answers would not have had half the historical value they
now possess, for they would have been regarded as the

but

pleadings of interested defendants. The statements of disinterested historians will conclude this brief argument.

When the celebrated charges of the French cavalry at

Waterloo took place, the English guns lined the crest of the
position, and the Infantry was formed in squares in their
rear.

men

The order given by the Duke was that the Artilleryshould stand to their guns as long as possible, and then

and that the Umbers

take refuge in the Infantry squares
should be sent behind the squares.
This order was carried to
;

the various batteries by Sir John Bloomfield, and was obeyed

to the letter.
"The idea of six limbers," writes Colonel

Gardiner, "with six horses in each limber, going into a

Communi- " square of Infantry, was of course an impossibility, and
G

by

Sir J.

Bloomfield.

"

The gunners had cartouche-bags

never contemplated."
round
them, containing ammunition, and invariably,
slung

and

APP. A.

the Artillery at Waterloo.

457

with the exception of those of Captain Mercer's troop, took

refuge in the adjacent squares, or under the bayonets of the
kneeling ranks. When the cavalry retired, on each occasion
the gunners ran out, and, as a rule, the guns were in action
against the retreating cavalry before they had gone sixty

The delay of a few moments occurred once or twice,

while shot were being brought from the limbers; and Sir John
Bloomfield remembers an expression of impatience escaping
the Duke on one of these occasions.
Nor was it unnatural.
"
To lose," writes Colonel Gardiner, " an opportunity of
"
inflicting destruction on the French cavalry, directly they
"
turned their backs, and before they could get out of the
"
range of canister, must have been very tantalizing." But
that the delay ever exceeded a few moments, or that a single
yards.

limber ever

left

the ground, Sir

John Bloomfield

is

confident

an utter delusion. Such an occurrence as is described in

the Duke's letter could not have happened without being
well known. The Duke himself said, " It is known to many ;"
and yet Sir John lived for three years with the head-quarter
is

and never heard even an insinuation on the

Another
Waterloo survivor writes on this point
subject.
" I
never did hear, nor any one else, of the artillery mis- General
"
behaving at Waterloo. Sir Alexander Dickson took me R
" with him
into Brussels after the battle.
We saw every Author

staff in Paris,

"
"

"

who came in, and the action was in every part the
constant theme of conversation, both in our private, as well
officer

more general moments. Had anything bearing such a

term taken place, it would certainly have been canvassed.
"
I was in daily conversation with our wounded in the town.
as

"

"
"

may say, but that the

as cruel as it is unjust."

Surely I
it, it is

If

known

commanding

to

many,

officer of

that Sir George

Wood

Duke

of Wellington says

it could hardly have escaped the

the corps most interested. The fact
did not write his despatches to the

Ordnance until the 24th June, that during the six days'
interval since the battle he had been constantly with the
Duke, and yet that he could write as follows, proves most
clearly that the Duke himself cannot then have been aware of

B.

The Duke of Wellington^

45 8

APP. A.

what he afterwards wrote to Lord Mulgrave, and that his letter

must have been based on subsequent malicious and worthless
The wording of Sir George Wood's letters have
testimony.
an almost providential bearing on the point at issue and
could not have been used, had there been even a doubt as to
;

Dated Le

a^June
1815.

the conduct of the Corps.

"
"
I beg leave," he wrote,
to call the attention of His
"
^ ne Master-General to the skill and
lordship
intrepidity
"
so eminently displayed by the British and German
"
The accompanying return of their loss will
Artillery.
"
show how much they participated in the action, and I can
"
assure His Lordship the Master-General, that, notwith"
standing their being outnumbered by the Artillery of the
"

their merits never shone

enemy,
"
"
"

this

occasion.

It

now remains

more conspicuous than on

for me to express with

pleasure and satisfaction that every officer and man

in the field of battle did their duty."
With his despatch, Sir George wrote a private letter to

much

General Macleod, in which the following passage occurs

"
I do assure you, I have not words to express the extreme
:

ibid.

"

good conduct of the Corps. All exerted themselves, both

officers and men, and such a conflict of guns never was in
" the
memory of man."
"

But there are recorded, also, the opinions of the Generals of

other arms, under whose immediate command various troops
and brigades served and who would have known had any
:

misconduct occurred among them, better than the Duke

himself, on account of the more limited field of their
observation.

General Colquhoun Grant's

Vide
p. 436.

order with reference to Colonel

Dated

Lord Hill
"
2nd

2o June,
1815.

already been quoted.

"
The

Di*

The following order was

highly distinguished

complimentary

Webber Smith's Troop has

issued

conduct

of

by
the

and Colonel Mitchell's Brigade of the

011
" 4th
Division, who had the good fortune to be employed in
" the memorable
action, merit His Lordship's highest appro"
bation and he begs that .... Colonel Gold, command"
ing Koyal Artillery of the 2nd Corps, .... Major
"
Sympher, commanding a troop of Horse Artillery, King's
;

and

APP. A.

"
"
"

the Artillery at Waterloo.

459

German Legion, Captain Napier (to whose lot it fell to

command the 9-pounder Brigade, 2nd Division, on the

death of Captain Bolton), will accept his best thanks for

" their
exemplary conduct, and will be pleased to convey
"
his sentiments to the officers, non-commissioned officers,
"
and

men under their command."

The following extract from the 5th Division orders, by
Sir James Kempt, speaks equally favourably of another
"
The British Brigade of Artillery commanded by
brigade
"
Major Kogers, and the Hanoverian Brigade commanded by
:

"
"

Dated
1

Major Heisse, were most nobly served, and judiciously

and these officers and men will be pleased to
placed
;

"

accept of his

i.e.

" for
their service."

the Major-General's

particular thanks

Eeferences to the services of other brigades, and of the

Artillery, by the officers of the Corps under whom

Horse

they served, have already been quoted; and in every case

commendation of the warmest description was passed upon

them. The following quotation from Sir Augustus Frazer's
correspondence is interesting here, as asserting what was
denied by the Duke in his letter to Lord Mulgrave, that the
"
took shelter in the squares.
The repeated charges of
the enemy's noble cavalry were similar to the first each

men
"

"

was

fruitless.

"

Not an infantry

soldier

moved

and, on
sheltered

each charge, abandoning their guns, our men

" themselves
between the flanks of the squares. Twice,
"
however, the enemy tried to charge in front ; these
"
attempts were entirely frustrated by the fire of the guns,
"
wisely reserved till the hostile squadrons were within
"
twenty yards of the muzzles. In this, the cool and quiet
" steadiness of the
troops of Horse Artillery was very
"
creditable."
This was written two days after the battle ;

and no man had better opportunity of seeing the conduct of

his Corps than the writer.
Every historian of the battle
endorses this version
and the testimony of an impartial
historian always represents the carefully sifted testimony of
:

many.

Sir

writes thus

Edward
"
:

Cust, the laborious military annalist,

Suddenly some bugles were heard

to sound,

Frazer's

TJie

460
"

and

Duke of

APP. A.

Wellington,

the Artillerymen, abandoning their guns and

In a
tumbrils, ran back into the infantry squares.
"
moment, the Artillery gunners quitted the protection of the
all

"

"

squares, and running up to their guns, which were most

of them ready loaded, opened heavily with grape and with
"
The cavaliers again
every species of projectile
"
mounted the plateau ; again the gunners abandoned their
"
guns, and took refuge within the squares." Creasy writes
"
As the French receded from each attack, the British

"

"

Artillerymen rushed forward from the centre of the

squares, where they had taken refuge, and plied their
"
guns on the retiring horsemen." The same is the account
"

Were they

given by every historian of the battle.

dreaming ? or were they in

truth ? And if so, did the

some conspiracy

Duke

all

to conceal the

himself join

it ?

In the

thirty-seven years of his life after Waterloo, he

contradicted the numerous accounts of the battle,

never
all

of

which agreed in their statement of the eminent services of

the Artillery. Was it consistent in one
belief in an occurrence "known to many,"

Battle of
^

'

'

ChaplainGeneral.

an

Ibid.

battle, says

Sir J. s.

J\v

work."

they

James Shaw Kennedy,

P. 179.

course of the day every battery was brought into action

"
and not even the records of that noble Corps can point to
"
better did their
occasion in which

Gleig,

nned y

professed

and who gave

that belief as a ground for the refusal of favours,

to allow
such passages as the following to be published without
contradiction, unless indeed he had subsequently ascertained
"
the worthlessness of his information ? *
There," wrote
"
did
its duty ; the Artillery from the
every arm
Gleig,
"
"
In the
beginning to the close of the day." Again

IT

by G. B.

who

Sir

in

summing up his description of the

" Full
scope was thus given for the British

"

'

'

Cavalry and Artillery to display their surpassing gallantry

"
and they did not fail to display these
and excellence
"
in
an
eminent
degree."
qualities
But it has been admitted that Captain Mercer's troop was
;

an exception to the others

1

that his

men

This seems the most probable solution of the

did not

difficulty.

take

and the

APP. A.

Artillery at Waterloo.
Let him

shelter within the Infantry squares.

461

own

tell his

story. "Sir Augustus, pointing out our position between

"
two squares of Brunswick Infantry, left us with injunc"
tions to remember the Duke's orders (to retire within the
"
The Brunssquares) and to economise our ammunition.
"
wickers were falling fast .... these were the very hoys
"
whom I had but yesterday seen throwing away their arms
"
and fleeing, panic-stricken, from the very sound of our
"
moment I feared
feet

Mercer's

3^'

Every
they would
their
arms
and
To
throw
down
flee
have
again
sought
"
refuge amongst men in such a state were madness the
"
very moment our men ran from their guns, I was convinced,
horses'

"

"

We

for their disbanding.

had better,
in
our
than
a
He
at
such
situation."
then,
posts
made
his
stand
to
the
until
men
the
accordingly
guns,
cavalry
were within a few feet of them ; and on each occasion the

would be the signal

"

fall

havoc he wrought among them

as he drove

them back

was

The immense heap

of dead, lying in front of

frightful.
that
Mercer's guns, was such
Sir Augustus Frazer said that,
"
could plainly distinin riding over the field next day, he
"
guish the position of Gr Troop from the opposite height by

ibid.
P-

343

" the dark

mass, which, even from that distance, formed a
" remarkable
feature in the field."

Captain Mercer's men, therefore, were those who did not

obey the Duke's order. It was a fortunate act of disobedience,
and it saved the Brunswickers but Captain Mercer was
;

He was

not recommended for

severely punished
brevet rank ; and, on his appointment by Lord Mulgrave to
a vacant Troop, he was deprived of it by the Duke of -Welfor

it.

i^d.
P-

313

who got it summarily reduced in 1816. Did, howlimbers of Captain Mercer's battery ever leave the
the
ever,
That they did not, can be shown most clearly. In
?
ground

lington,

his Diary, he describes the state of his Troop after a heavy

fire, to which it was exposed after the charges of the French

"

The guns came toIn the description, he says

cavalry.
"
gether in a confused heap, the trails crossing each other,
"
near the Umbers and ammunition
:

"

and the whole dangerously

waggons." The same description also proves that the

Ibid>
P-

32G

The Duke of Wellington,

462

APP. A.

by the troop took place during the

time
when, according to the Duke's letter, the men
very
and limbers would have been off the field. In going to take

frightful losses suffered

position, they moved at a gallop, and in so compact a

"
Ah that's the way I
body, that the Duke cried out
" like to
move !" In a short
such
Horse

up the

see

time,

Artillery

was the havoc committed among men and horses, that Captain
Mercer wrote "I sighed for my poor troop it was already
:

"

a wreck."

With regard

to the insinuation as to the lack of artillery

end of the battle, it is shown clearly by Siborne, in

his model of the battle as it was at a quarter before 8 P.M.,
that thirteen Troops and Brigades of the Koyal Artillery
at the

were in action, when the final attack took place this being
the entire number with the army.
Of these, some were so
that they were unable
as Mercer's was
crippled by losses
;

to join in the pursuit ; and possibly

this fact may have been in the Duke's

some recollection of

mind when he wrote.

the end of the day was

That the artillery fire, however, at

slack from the cause stated in the Duke's letter is an utter
mistake; nor do the French seem to have found it very
slack, as will presently be seen.
One word before appealing to a

few other historians.

If

such conduct had taken place as is described in the letter

under consideration, it would have been bruited over the

whole army.

To

Concealment, or collusion, would have been

inquiries would have been officially instituted.

believe that such an occurrence could have been kept

impossible

quiet requires a considerably greater stretch of credulity

than to believe that the Duke of Wellington was misinformed.

In fact, that such unanimity of testimony to one version,

and such a general agreement to be silent to another should
be possible, unless the former were true, and the latter
imaginary, would be nothing short of a miracle.
two miracles of this description would demolish
in history.
In the earliest

One
all

or

belief

and most detailed account of the Battle of

Waterloo, the tenth edition of which was published in 1817,

and

APP. A.

the Artillery at Waterloo.

463

and which is called The Battle of Waterloo, also of Ligny,

and Quatre Bras, described by the series of accounts published by authority, by a near observer ;' edited by Cap'

"
No account
tain G. Jones, the following passage occurs
"
has menthe
of
the
seen
Editor,
battle,
yet published
by
"
tioned in adequate terms the effect of our artillery at
:

" Waterloo no
The enemy felt it,
English account at least.
" and in
their manner of expressing themselves have passed
"
the greatest compliments.
A French account, given in
"
our preceding pages, says
The English artillery made
'

"

"

'

"

'

"

'

The Imperial Guard

'

dreadful havoc in our ranks.'

made several charges, but

was constantly repulsed,

crushed by a terrible artillery, that each minute seemed to
*

These invincible grenadiers beheld the grapemultiply?

" shot make
day through their ranks ; they closed promptly
" and
In proportion as
coolly their shattered ranks."
"
they ranged up the eminence, and darted forward on the
"
squares, which occupied its summit, the Artillery vomited
11
death upon them, and killed them in masses. ... In an

..."

" account
given by an officer of the Northumberland,' of
"
BonaNapoleon's conversation on board that ship, he says
"
"
and
credit
to
our
Infantry
parte gives great
Artillery.'
" The
artillery on both sides was well served, but
Again
'

'

'

"

Bonaparte had upwards of 250 pieces in the field. Notwithstanding our inferiority in this arm, which was still
" more
apparent from the size of the enemy's guns (being
"
12-pounders, ours only 9 and 6), than from their numbers,
"

" ours were so well

fought, that I believe it is allowed by
"
See also the account of
all they did equal execution.
.

"

Captain Bolton and Napier's Brigade of Foot Artillery,

"
from which it appears the Artillery had turned the enemy,
"
"

The French disprevious to the advance of the Guards.

and
cursed
the English
the
fury they
played
greatest rage
;

"

while they were fighting, and cursed the precision with

At

this

time, according to the Duke's letter, he had nothing but

his reserve Artillery, the rest having quitted the field

The Duke of Wellington^ &c.

464
"

APP. A.

which the English grape-shot was fired, which was neither

"
too high nor too low, but struck right in the middle.'
From the many writers who have done credit to the
exertions and courage of the Artillery at Waterloo, three
more extracts will be made.
"

Gleig.

'

'

In proof of the activity of the Corps at the end of the day,

the following quotation, from an author already mentioned,
is given.
In describing the reception given to the French
"
The English gunners once more
Imperial Ghiard, he says
"
their
It
trade.
was
plied
positively frightful to witness
"
the havoc that was occasioned in that mass."
Sir James
:

Kennedy,

Shaw Kennedy

also describes the strength of the British

end of the day.

artillery fire at the

In a Paper on The Campaign of Waterloo,' which appeared in the United Service Journal,' in 1834, the follow'

'

ing passage occurs

"

and

" If

we admit

that,

during this arduous

the British Infantry acted up to the

"
standard
of
right
soldiership, which their long career of
"
had
established, it must be added that the Artillery
victory
"
actually surpassed all expectation, high as, from their pre"
vious conduct, that expectation naturally was.
In point
" of zeal and
the
officers
and
men
of
the three
courage,
"
arms were of course fully upon a par ; but the circum"
stances of the battle were favourable to the Artillery
" and
certainly the skill, spirit, gallantry, and indefatigable
"
exertion which they displayed, almost surpasses belief."
Only one more witness will be called from the ranks of
terrible day,

Hooper, in his work on Waterloo, to which he

devoted eight years, and in the compilation of which he used
every known authority on both sides, made use of words

historians.

which appropriately close this argument " The Artillery,

".so devoted and effective, gathered another branch from the
:

" tree of honour."

465

APPENDIX

B.

THE ROYAL ARTILLERY AND THE MAGNETIC SURVEY

OF

THE GLOBE.

AFTER the peace

of

opportunity for

active

other officers

who

1815

officers of

Koyal Artillery had

little

employment or staff duty. Among

turned their attention to employments out

of the ordinary routine were General Sir Edward

and the late Colonel Colquhoun. The latter officer

Sabine

made

an amateur whaler, took

Seas
voyage
employment in connection with a South American Mining
Company, and, before his appointment to the Carriage
Department, in which he did most excellent service for
to

many

the

years

Arctic

till

commanded the

as

nearly the date of the Crimean war

Lacy Evans's Spanish

Artillery of Sir de

Legion, and was employed with the naval expeditions sent

to Spain and to the coast of Syria.

Edward Sabine began a long scientific career by

accompanying the late Sir Edward Parry to the North Polar
Sir

Seas in 1819-20, as the scientific observer of his expedition.

scientific pursuits, and especially in the

His interest in

determination of the figure of the Earth and in the science

of terrestrial magnetism, has continued to the present date.
He filled the office of Secretary of the Koyal Society from 1828
to 1829, that of Foreign Secretary from 1845 to 1850, and
that of Treasurer from 1850 to 1861 ; and he was President

from 1861 to 1871, when he retired from office. In 1839,

the Koyal Society and British Association procured -the
sanction of the

Government

Antarctic Seas, and for

the

for a naval expedition to the

establishment

magnetic and meteorological observatories

of four

fixed

at four stations

widely apart, namely, Hobarton, in Van Diemen's Land,

The station at
Cape Town, St. Helena, and Toronto.
VOL. n.
2 H

J
CO

466

The Royal Artillery and

the

APP. B.

Hobarton was undertaken by the Admiralty, and given to

late Sir James Boss's Antarctic expedition.
The establishment of the other observatories was, under the
authority of the Master-General and Board of Ordnance,
entrusted to Koyal Artillery officers, with non-commissioned
officers as assistants, who were employed under the orders of
the Deputy Adjutant-General and of Sir Edward (then
The officers
Major) Sabine, as an ordinary staff duty.
successively employed were Lieutenants (now Major-Generals) F. Eardley-Wilmot, W. J. Smythe, J. H. Lefroy, C. J. B.
Lieutenant (now Colonel) YoungEiddell, and H. Clerk
husband and the late Colonel H. J. Strange.
officers of the

The magnetic instruments employed, of singular elegance

precision, were designed by the Eev. Humphrey Lloyd
(now Provost) of Trinity College, Dublin, by whom the
officers were instructed in their manipulation at the Magand

netic Observatory in the College grounds, the only one then

Tlte discovery which had
existing in the United Kingdom.

been made of the simultaneous manifestation of magnetical

disturbance over a wide extent of the globe rendered it
desirable that the observations at all the stations should be

taken at the same

moment

of absolute time

and, in com-

pliment to Professor Gauss, to whom magnetic science was

so deeply indebted, Goettingen time was universally adopted.
Observations of the three elements

Declination, Horizontal

Force, and Vertical Force were made every two hours, day
and night, and with such strictness that, if by any accident
the right moment was lost, the observation was entered in
red ink, with a note of the number of seconds elapsed.
Once
a month, on what was called " Term Day," the observations
were prosecuted at intervals of a few minutes for twentyfour hours uninterruptedly, and a similar course was adopted
whenever a magnetic storm declared itself, and persevered
in until the storm passed away, a period, occasionally, of as
much as thirty hours.

The

observatories were

established originally for three

years, but were continued, in the case of the Cape and

St. Helena, for a second term of the same length, and in

APP. B.

Magnetic Survey of the Globe.

that of Toronto for three terms.

At the conclusion

467
of these

Helena observatory was discontinued, and

the remaining observatories were taken over by the local
terms the

St.

governments.
Lieutenant Clerk commenced his magnetic employment by
a cruise in the Antarctic Seas for a magnetic survey.
Lieutenant Lefroy carried out a magnetic survey of a considerable portion of the Hudson's Bay territories, and Lieutenant
Eardley-Wilmot a survey of the Cape Colony.

The observations made

Ordnance and Naval Observatories have been published under the direction of Sir
Edward Sabine, who has had an office for the purpose at
Woolwich, which has been subsequently removed to the

Kew

at the

in

Novem-

ber' 1871

'

Observatory.

The

brief

summary given above of the operations which

many Artillery officers the blue riband of

earned for so

Fellowship of the Koyal Society, would establish

to a great extent that which its most distinguished officers
have always sought to secure for the Kegiment, a scientific
Science,

But in the career of Sir Edward Sabine, so

reputation.
alluded
to, there has been one continued proof of the
briefly
possibility of a soldier attaining the highest eminence in the
world of science. Although personally unknown to many

of his brother officers, his fame has been the pride of all ;
and has been felt to reflect a lustre, unprecedented in the
profession, upon the Corps of which he is a member.
Many
readers of these pages will remember the reception given to

him when, with the other Colonels-Commandant, he was

per-

suaded during the present year to revisit the head-quarters

In the enthusiasm with which he was
of the Kegiment.
greeted by old and young, there was an unmistakable
evidence of an esprit de corps, which, while admitting the
claims of the scientific world at large upon their distinguished comrade, yet determined that it should be known to

him that

his honours

were doubly dear to them because he

was one of themselves.

In the sketch of the Magnetic Survey of the Globe given
if it were not stated

above, there would be a great omission

2 H 2

f.

Lt

The Royal Artillery and the

APP. B.

how much

the employment of Artillery officers in these

operations was due to the previous labours and successes of
Sir Edward Sahine.
It was in 1817, two years after the
conclusion of the war, that the first Polar Expedition was
prepared.

The Admiralty,

to

whom

the preparations were

entrusted, applied to the President and Council of the Eoyal

Society to recommend a person who should he competent to

Physics and Natural History.

already mentioned in this work was then

conduct the researches

General

Mudge

in

head of the British Trigonometrical Survey, and was

a memher of the Council of the Ptoyal Society.
It may he
at the

here mentioned, in passing, that in those days the Artillery

and Engineers had the alternate direction of the Trigonometrical Survey, now apparently vested exclusively in the
Sir Edward Sahine was already favourahly known,
not merely to General Mudge, but also to other leading
members of the Council of the Koyal Society, such as
latter.

Young, Kater, Wollaston, and Davy, on account of some

works which he had written, one being on the Birds of North
America, in which country he had served during the war of
1812-14. After passing a severe examination, with great

Edward Sabine's appointment to the Polar Expewas sanctioned by Lord Mulgrave, then MasterGeneral of the Ordnance and early in 1818 he sailed in
credit, Sir

dition

the

'

Isabella,'

making

his first

Pendulum

Hare

station at

The results
Island, in Baffin's Bay, in the spring of 1818.
of his experiments, then and subsequently, appeared in the
'

PenPhilosophical Transactions,' and in a work entitled

dulum and other Experiments,' published in 1825, at the
'

cost of

Government, on the recommendation of the Duke of

Wellington, who had succeeded Lord Mulgrave as MasterGeneral of the Ordnance.

It

was Sir Edward's hope

appointed

that a series of

in which, however, he

was

dis-

Pendulum experiments on the

continental surface comprised between the high Canadian

latitudes and the shores of the Mexican Sea, should also be

He

has lived, however, to see the same object

admirably accomplished on the continent of British India

undertaken.

APP. B.

Magnetic Survey of the Globe.

469

between Cape Comorin and the Higher Himalaya, under the

able direction of Colonel Walker of the Boyal (Indian) Engiand to take himself a final part in the completion of
neers,

Kew Physical Observatory, by Captain Heaand the men of the Indian Engineers, employed
on that service by Colonel Walker. It may be said without
the series, at the

viside, E.E.,

exaggeration that the support given by Sir Edward as

President of the Koyal Society to Colonel Walker's propositions,

same

field,

and the earlier experiments made by himself in the

have been among the highest services rendered by

any man to science. Among the many Artillery officers who,

since the peace of 1815, have sought to make a return to
their country by their devotion to physical science, Sir

Edward Sabine stands

and he has had the

facile princeps :
satisfaction of living to see, not merely his experiments
carried to maturity, but also the inferences, which he did not
hesitate

to

draw with confidence from

experiments, confirmed by the

results of

his

the

own

earlier

labours

of

The

results of his experiments, which claimed to be

sufficiently extensive to justify the conclusion which they
others.

were held to establish of the measure of the

ellipticity in the Trans10

northern portion of the globe, have received an increased fa

value since the published results of a similar series in the Astronosouthern hemisphere by Captain Henry Foster, from the fact
society.
of their mutual agreement.
These earlier services of Sir

Edward Sabine supplied the

on
the
then
which
Master-General
ground
(Lord Vivian)
and on which Sir Eobert Peel, as head of the
justified,
Government, approved, his nomination to the superintendence of the Magnetic Observatories in 1839, fourteen
years after the publication by him of the work mentioned

'Pendulum and other Experiments.' It was while

held this appointment, that he directed the Magnetic
Survey of the Globe, in which so many Artillery officers had
above,

he

the good fortune to take a leading part.

47

APPENDIX

C.

TABULAR STATEMENT SHOWING THE DATE OF FORMATION, AND FORMER

DESIGNATION, OF EVERY BATTERY OF THE KEGIMENT NOW IN THE
SERVICE.

N.B.
Tables.

Battery.

The

reader should look at the explanatory notes before using the

APP. c.

Date of Formation, &c., of Batteries.

TABULAR STATEMENT

Battery.

continued.

471

472

Statement of Date of Formation

TABULAR STATEMENT
Battery.

continued.

APP. c.

APP. c.

and former Designation of Batteries.

TABULAR STATEMENT

Battery.

continued.

473

474

Statement of Date of'Formation

TABULAR STATEMENT

Battery.

continued.

APP. c.

APP. c.

and former Designation of Batteries.

TABULAR STATEMENT

Battery.

continued.

475

NOTES TO APPENDIX

C.

* Formed from the Horse

Artillery galloper guns raised at different periods
between 1760 and 1800, and attached to Regiments of Cavalry. It first served as
a distinct troop with Sir David Baird's Division of the Army that fought in Egypt

under Sir Ralph Abercrombie in 1801.

" The 1st
(a) Extract from G. 0. by G. G. of India, dated Agra, 11/4/43
Troop
" of the
Bombay Horse Artillery shall hereafter, for ever, be denominated Leslie's
"
Troop of Horse Artillery and shall, in addition to all other decorations or
:

"
inscriptions

(b)

upon

its

appointments, bear the eagle."

The 7th Battalion was formed from the Royal

X Two Companies

Irish Artillery. G. 0. 1/4/01.

of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions of Royal Artillery were

The remaining Companies of these three Battalions and the first

Companies of the 4th Battalion were formed at different periods from 1716 to

formed in 1771.
six

1757.

Their identity with those Batteries

-f Date of formation

now

in the Service cannot be traced.

unknown, but these Batteries are mentioned

in G. 0. dated

19/3/1800.
N.B.

The Companies of the llth and 12th Battalions are

in

almost every case

shown

as existing only since 1848. But as they were

in many instances
already
existing as the 9th and 10th Companies of other Battalions before that year, they

are really entitled to an earlier date, if

it

could be accurately traced in each case.

G. E.

WYNDHAM MALET, CAPTAIN

R.A.

477

PRESENT DESIGNATION OF THE OLD FIELD BATTERIES.

Before the introduction of the Brigade system, Companies of Artillery
were made Field Batteries periodically and on receiving the necessary
horses, guns, &c., they assumed the letter, or number, borne by the
Company from which they respectively received the equipment. The
Table given below shows the Companies which were Field Batteries at the
date of the introduction of the Brigade system. Some of these had become
and bore the letters, which distinField Batteries since the Crimean war,
;

guished other Batteries, during that campaign.

Letter

Designation.

477'

The

tables in

Appendix C were prepared before the recent remodelling

of the Kegiment, and must be modified by the reader in accordance with

the following changes in designations of Batteries occasioned by the new
organization.

ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY.

A
B

Battery

Brigade has become

Battery

Brigade.

47 8*

Changes in Designations of Batteries

FIELD ARTILLERY.

APP. c.

APP. o.

Occasioned by the

New

FIELD ARTILLERY

Organization.

(continued).

479'

480*

Changes in Designations of Batteries

GARRISON ARTILLERY.
2 Battery 2nd Brigade has become 1 Battery
3

APP. c.

Occasioned by the

Apr. C.

New

GARRISON ARTILLERY

Organization.

(continued}.

6 Battery 6th Brigade has become 1 Battery

7

481*

482*

Changes in Designations of Batteries.

GARRISON ARTILLERY
1 Battery 12th Brigade has

17th
17th
17th
21st
21st
21st
21st
21st
2 1st
21st

23rd
23rd
23rd
23rd
23rd
23rd
23rd

Dep.

(continued}.

become 1 Battery'

APP. c.

INDEX.
A " BATTERY, A BRIGADE.
"

A " Battery, A Brigade (A Troop),

A Brigade.)
( Vide

ANTRIM.

i.

396.

Battery, B Brigade (E, afterwards

D, Troop), i. 399.
1st Brigade (4 Company, 7th Battalion), i. 422.
4th Brigade (1 Company, 3rd Bat,
talion), i. 220.
9th Brigade (9 Company, after,
wards 7, 5th Battalion), i. 409.
llth Brigade (8 Company, 1st Battalion), i. 177, 208.
14th Brigade (10 Company, after,
,

wards

8,

2nd Battalion),

i.

183.

"A" Brigade, R.H.A. A (Chestnut) Troop,

now "A" Battery, ii. 34, 76, 79, 89,
91, 99, 100, 257, 275, 276, 277, 325,

355, 373, 376, 378, 380, 381, 418.

" B"
Battery (formerly B Troop,
R.H.A.), ii. 34, 38, 40, 76, 79.
"
" C
Battery (formerly C Troop,
R.H.A.), ii. 35, 44, 76, 79.
"
D Battery, i. 401 ii. 225.
Abbott, Charles, i. 179.
Edward, i. 173, 176.
Abercromby, B., ii. 218.
;

P.,

Sir

ii.

85.

Ralph;

in Flanders,

ii.

60, 61,

Adour

River, Operations at,

382, 383.
J.
P., i. 172, 176, 326
Adye,
160.
Mortimer, i. 222.

to the Helder, ii.

, expedition
,
90, 96, 97, 99, 100.
in Egypt, ii. 104, 108, 111,
,
,

116, 121, 127, 128.

ii.

ii.

Vide

192, 193,
141, 144,

R. W.,

S.

180, 411

ii. 140, 146.

106, 108, 132,
230, 234, 416, 421, 424,
Vide PayAgents, R.A., Regimental.
masters.
Albuera, ii. 280, 293, 294, 297, 298.
,
proportion of Guns to Troops
at, ii. 412.
Alcabon, repulse of Spanish by French
Troops at, ii. 254.
Alexandria, ii. 122, 126, 127 to 130, 138.
Algabaria Nuova, affair at, ii. 245.
Algesiras, expedition to, ii. 193, 281, 283.
Alkmaar, ii. 97, 98, 100.
i.

G.,

i.

408

ii.

Allowances, Contingent, ii. 26.

Good Service.
Vide Pensions.
,

Almaraz, storming of, ii. 321.

Almeida, ii. 275, 285.
Alms, Chas. G., i. 421, 423; ii. 154.
Alost, defeat of French at, ii. 64.
Alten, Baron,

America

65, 69.

i.

ii.

294, 296.

Braddock's Expedition (1755),

158.

American War of Independence, i. 164,

297 to 381.
2nd War, ii. 187, 188, 195, 323,
,

Aboukir, ii. 112, 126, 127.

Abson, George, i. 259.
Academy, Royal Military, i. 13, 19, 108
to 121, 243.
Vide Cadet Company.
Ackland, General, ii. 207, 208.
Adair, R. B., i. 409.
Mr., Paymaster R.A., ii. 82.
Addams, James, i. 257 ii. 186, 188, 189.
,

Adjutant-General, R.A., Deputy,

ii.

5, 6,

92, 136.
Assistant, ii. 5.
Deputy Assistant, ii. 5.
Adjutants of Battalions or Brigades,

6,12,25.

Adjutants of Woolwich Garrison.

Brigade Major, R.A.

892, 410, 411.

South, Expedition, ii. 168.
of Artillery, ii. 178, 401.
, Transport
Amiens, Peace of, ii. 104, 135, 138.
Anderson, George, i. 188.
J. R., i. 400.
,
ii. 234,
, W.,
431, 438.
W. C., i. 174.
i.
421.
Andrews, R.,
,

Annapolis (Port Royal, Nova Scotia),

to 78, 105.
Anson, A. E. H.,
ii.

i.

179.

Anstruther, General,

Antrim

Militia,

ii.

ii.

76.

207 to 209.

i.

71

Index.

ANTWERP.

480

Antwerp, Expedition to, ii. 224, 231, 416.

Appendices, i. 426 to 443 ii. 444 to 447.
;

Arabin, Frederick, i. 254; ii. 143, 261.

Arbuckle, B. H. Vaughan, i. 417.
Arbuthnot, C. G., i. 181, 403, 414.
John, i. 177 ; ii. 74.
Hon. W., i. 401, 422.
Arentschild, Colonel (Portuguese Artil-

Artillery (continued), to pay 40 for each

field-piece captured, ii. 175, 176.
materiel and
should
transport

devolve upon Artillery control alone,

Egypt.

in

South America.

ii.

America.

244, 252, 269, 276, 387.

in Peninsula.

Armagh

Militia,

Armstrong, James,
R. S., i. 254
,

Horse, Field, and

45, 51, 52, 86, 268.
complete separation of ditto deprecated, ii. 52, 301, 391.
Garrison,

174

i.

ii.

ii.

105.

of,
Artillery Officers
52, 53, 89.
ii. 71, 79.
, Pay of,
of Reserve.
Vide Reserves.

of Occupation in France, ii. 441.

Arsenal,
Manufacturing Departments,
ii. 15, 137.
L.,

16.

i.

Royal,

74.

ii.

Artificers and Engineers,

i.

38-9.

2, 3.

Company

Establishment per Battery in 1813,

of,

ii.

342, 343.

Artillery, earliest records of the use of,

36-7.
Distribution of, in 1797, ii. 84, 85 ;
in 1798, 86 ; in 1810, 262, 270.
East India Company's, ii. 130.

i.

Vide also Indies, East.

,

field,

horse,

i.

37-8.
37.

i.

Vide History
History of.
in England, infancy of, i. 35 to 44.
ii. 72.
, Loyalty Loan,
105,
officers,
precedence of, i.
137-8-9, 155.
Precedence of, ii. 3, 4. 41.
.

Royal

Vide

Irish.

Irish Artillery.

of the Guard, ii. 52.

command of in the Field, 52.
to the Helder,
, Expedition

88, 90.

ii.

104, 106, 109.

-in the Peninsula, ii. 196,
in Egypt,

ii.

346.
in the

2nd American War,

394.

-at Waterloo,
,

first
,

Officers

Pay

ii.

of,

89, 90.
for

Army

com-

52, 53, 89.

of, ii. 71.

ii.

Director-General

of, ii. 83, 137.

Inspector of, ii. 83, 137.
claim to bells in towns captured,
,
167, 237.
,
,

ii.

ii. 412, 424.

General Officer of R. A.

employed,

mands,
,

Marine.
Vide Marine Artillery.
proportion of Guns to Troops, ii.
412.
with Army of Occupation in
France, ii. 441.
Askwith, W. H., i. 407.
Assistant Adjutant-General, R.A.
Vide
Adjutant-General, R.A.
,

Woolwich Garrison,
Vide

Troop.

"A"

Sir S.,

Auchmuty,

ii.

ii.

83.

Battery,
170.

Brigade.

Augmentations,

i. 82,
97, 104, 106, 152,
154, 169, 218, 251, 405 to 425 ; in 1786,
ii. 3 ; 1787, 2
1791, 2 ; 1793, 27 35 ;
;

1803, 138, 139

1806, 150 1808, 185
1812, 322.
of
Augustus,
Prussia, H.R.H. Prince,
ii. 439, 440.
Aylmer, Henry, i. 176.
;

Badajoz, 1st Siege,

290, 291.

2nd Siege,

ii.

260, 280, 287, 289,

298, 299 to 305.

3rd Siege, ii. 305, 307, 314, 316,
317.
Bagot, Mr. John, ii. 138.
,

ii.

Bagwell, Colonel, Tipperary Militia,

ii.

77.

Baird, Sir David, in Egypt, ii. 108, 130.

at Copenhagen, ii. 161, 162.
,
with expedition to Cape of Good
,

Hope,
-

ii.

,
misapplication of, by the Duke
of Wellington, ii. 276, 335, 336, 354,
419.

ii.

Arthur,

ii.

394.

Army, command
for,

comparison of

76.

ii.

Vide Penin-

sula.

Ariaga, Major (Portuguese Artillery),

ii.
296, 331, 353, 364, 375, 377.

Vide Egypt.
Vide

in

lery),

ii.

121.

ii.

ii.

168.

at Corunna, ii. 211, 215, 218, 219.

Baker, G. W., ii. 188.
,

W.,

Baltic,

ii.

ii.

74.

96.

Baltimore, battle of, ii. 395.

Band, Regimental, i. 209 ii.
Bank of England, ii. 70.
Baring, Major, ii. 427.
Barker, Sir George R., i. 416.
Barlow, E., ii. 144.
Barnes, John, i. 411.
Joseph, i. 225.
;

2.

Index.

BARNES.

BOARD.

Belford, General Wm.,i. 115,125, 127-8,

Barnes, Samuel, ii. 186.

Barnett, W. T., i. 262.
Barossa, battle of, ii. 68, 190, 193, 280,
281, 283, 284.

Belgians at Waterloo,
Belgium, ii. 414.

Barreiros, Capt. (Portuguese Artillery),

Bell, Sir William,

305.

ii.

Barry,
Bastard,
,

J.,

J. S.,

ii.
i.

256.
145.
182.
i.

Vide Re-

55, 59, 76, 78, 94, 95, 99,

107.

Bayley, F., ii. 148, 277, 396.

Bayly, Z. C., i. 180, 414.
Baynes, C., i. 414 ii. 141, 143.
G. M., ii. 186, 431.
,
, H., ii. 141, 255, 432, 435.
Bayonne, siege of, ii. 193, 383, 389.
"B" Battery, A Brigade (B Troop), i.
398.
B Brigade (F, afterwards E, Troop),
i. 400.
1st Brigade (2 Company, 1st Bat,
;

173.

i.

8th Brigade (4 Company, 6th Battalion), i. 414.

9th Brigade (5 Company, 4th Bat,
talion), i. 259.
llth Brigade (5 Company, 3rd Bat,
talion), i. 223.
B Brigade, "A" Battery, ii. 91, 430.
"B"
,
Battery, ii. 430, 436.
"C"
,
Battery, ii. 170.
"
"D"
Vide " I
Battery.
Troop,
R.H.A.
Beane, George, i. 223, 399.
,

at Corunna, ii. 215, 220.

at Vittoria and San Sebastian,

ii.

345, 348, 353.

,

and Toulouse,

at Orthes

385, 388.
at Waterloo,
,
432.

Bedingfeld, F.,

Beer Money,
Beevor, R.,

VOL.

i.

II.

ii.

ii.

i.
223, 396.
261, 388, 425, 435.
ii.
112.
Belleisle,
108,
siege of, i. 227 to 240.
list
of
,
Artillery officers at,

i.

229.

on by

R.A., ii. 167.

,
privilege withdrawn, ii. 237
240.
Belson, G. J., i. 172 ; ii. 257, 325.

W. H.

Benn, Anthony,
,

Piercy,

i.

to

i. 417.
i. 181.
222.

C.,

Bennett, Lieut. Henry, i. 125; 127.

Bent, Henry, i. 220, 422.
W. H., i. 175.
,

i.
179, 223, 413
106, 271.
Beresford, D. W. Pack, i. 177.
G. J., i. 176.
,

Bentham, Wm.,

ii.

57,

in South America, ii. 169,

, Marshal,
170, 180.
in
the Peninsula, ii. 243, 246, 250,
,
251, 252, 286, 287, 288, 291, 293,
296, 298, 369, 383, 385, 387.
his capacity, ii. 293.
,
Bergen-op-Zoom, siege of (1747), i. 134.
,

64, 66, 98, 99.

ii.

Berners, W., ii. 145.

Bettesworth, J., i. 421.
Bidassoa, passage of the, ii. 374, 375.
Biddulph, M. A. S., i. 179.
Bingham, Charles Cox, i. 226, 256, 413,

416

ii.

74.

Birch, R. H., i. 180, 181 ; ii. 186, 271.

Bissett, Daniel, i. 180, 414.
Blachley, Charles, i. 220, 398, 399.
i. 423.
, Henry,
H. B., ii. 332, 362.
,
Blackheath, reviews of Artillery on, i. 266.
Bladensburg, battle of, ii. 395.
Blake, General, ii. 294.
Blomefield, Sir Thomas, i. 174, 177, 188,
315, 379; ii. 83, 137, 151, 158, 159,
165, 167.
Bloomfield, Benjamin Lord, i. 398, 411,

415.
Bloomfield, SirJohn, i. 223, 400, 406.
at San Sebastian, ii. 362, 364.
,
at Waterloo, ii. 425, 431, 434, 435,

and Appendix.
Blucher, Marshal,

ii.

45, 57, 92.

260.

i.

186.
71, 72.
;

384,

418, 424, 426, 431,

ii.

223

421.

ii.

ii.

Beckman, Sir Martin,

Beckwith, General,

13.

ii.

Benezet,

Battering Train for Ciudad Rodrigo, ii.

309, 310, 311.
for sieges in France in 1815, ii. 439,
440, 442.
Battery (or Company), the unit for refor promotion of'N. C. 0,
liefs, ii. 135
ii. 342.
esprit, i. 4, 170, 206.
Battle-Axe Company (2 Battery, 5th
Brigade), i. 418-19.

talion),

ii.

Bells, in towns, &c., captured, lien

liefs.
ii.

Bastia (Corsica), ii. 68.

Bates, Henry, i. 225, 409.
Battalion (or Brigade), Reliefs.

Guns,

152

132-3",

W. W.,

48 1

ii.

ii.

419.

Blumenbach, Lieut. King's German Artillery,

ii.

388.

Boag, James, i. 179, 274 ii. 57, 61.

Board of Ordnance, i. 1, 9, 10, 19, 23 to
Vide Ordnance Board.
28, 1 37.
;

57, 132, 219.

Index.

482

Boats, flat-bottom, for transport of Artillery, ii. 125.

Boddy, Bombardier, R.A., i. 366.
Boger, T., i. 175 ; ii. 58, 63, 105, 143.
Bogue, R., i. 394, 404 ; ii. 390.
Bois-le-duc, ii. 64.
Bolton, S., ii. 153.
at Copenhagen, ii. 160.
,
at Waterloo, ii. 420, 424, 425, 428,
,
431, 432.
Bomb-vessels, ii. 54, 58, 74, 82, 85, 109.
Bonaparte, Napoleon, at siege of Toulon,
67.

ii.

his

,
designs
158, 224.

against

England,

Walcheren, ii. 228, 232.

Peninsular campaigns, ii.

ii.

270 to

387.
388.
from Elba, ii. 412.
, escape
events of the 100 days, ii. 412, 413,
414, 420.
at Waterloo, ii. 420, 423.
,

his abdication,

ii.

ii.

Joseph,

Braun, Capt. (Portuguese

Breda, ii. 54, 64.
Bredin, Andrew, i. 261
211, 269, 309, 310.

195,

253,

329,

350,

79, 104, 157, 431.

,
,

Memoir

of, i. 83 to 100.
Regimental Orders by, i. 141.

i. 124.
, Withers,
Borthwick,General, ii. 314, 316, 318.
i. 175, 263, 400.
, William,
i. 225 ; ii.
56, 106, 107,
, William,

132.

276, 314, 319.

Bousfield, William, i. 61, 104, 431.
Bowater, George, i. 176, 416.
Bowes, General, ii. 206, 208.
Bowyer Fort, capture of, ii. 410.
Boxtel, action at, ii. 64, 66.
Bradbridge, J., i. 260, 292.
,

ii.

Braddock's Expedition in America (1755),

i.

158.

Brady, Chas.
,

at

Breton,

J.,

Thomas,

i.

262 ii. 67.

175-176.

i.

Brandling, J. J., i. 399, 404, 415.

Brandreth, T. A., i. 177,400; ii. 147,
215, 220, 345, 387.
Brandy wine, battle of, i. 319.

140, 157, 186,

Waterloo,

434,

430, 432,

ii.

J. F.,
ii.

429, 430.

ii.

194.

Brettingham, R. W., i. 423.

Brevet to 2nd Captains R. A.,
Bridge, Cyprian, i. 222, 261 ;
Brigade-Major, R.A.,
R.A.,

ii.

at

356.
394.

ii.
ii.

Head-quarters

5, 6, 83.

the Field, ii. 90,

,
107, 314, 353, 375, 424, 435.
Bridges, E. J., ii. 143, 190, 191, 192, 193.
Brietzche, Lieut., i. 229.
in

Brigade system established (1859),

i. 220, 410, 423.
Brittenstein, George, i. 432.

i.

3.

Briscoe, John,

Broadbridge, Thomas, i. 124;

Brock, General, ii. 392, 393.

57.

ii.

Brome, J., at Copenhagen, ii. 160, 162.

at Walcheren, ii. 230, 231.
,
,

at Waterloo, ii. 433, 440.

Lieut.-Colonel Joseph, i. 263.

Brooke, Colonel, 44th Regt.,

ii.

395.

Brooklyn (Long Island), battle of, i. 308.

Broome or Brome, Lieut.-General Joseph,
i.

124, 127, 130, 182, 221, 266.

Brough, R. S., i. 177, 421.

Broughton, S. D., i. 180.
Brown, Colonel, Commandant of Monte
ii. 177.
ii. 142.
Lieut.-Colonel
Browne,
George,
St. John T., i. 257.
,

Video,
,

S.,

409

433.
162.
Bruce, Sir J. R., ii. 431.
Bruges Canal, destruction of,
,

(recruiting) in 1787, ii. 2.

Bourbons, restoration of, ii. 388.
Bourchier, D. M., i. 221.

Bounty

ii.

437.

432.

Boon Service, for Waterloo, ii. 433,

Boothby, J. G., i. 416.
Bordeaux, entry of Allies into, ii. 385.
Borgard, Lieut.-General Albert, i. 22, 61,

65.
Bremen,
Brereton, Sir William, i. 223.
at San Sebastian, ii. 362, 364.
,
at Orthes, ii. 385.
,

Bonnell, Andrew,

ii.

ii.

352.
i.

Artillery"),

296.

Brett, S.,

contrasted with Wellington in use

of Artillery, ii. 336.
,
rupture of Treaty of Amiens by,
and hostilities resumed, ii. 138.
war in Spain and Portugal, ii. 195.
,

BULL.

T. G.,

i.

i.

Brune, General,

96, 97, 98.

Brussels,

ii.

Troop.

420.
Vide

431.

ii.

Brownrigg, Major,

ii.

i.

"B"

ii.

Battery,

88.

Bri-

gade.

Buchanan,
,

G. J.

J. F.,
L.,

i.

188.
175.

i.

i.
408, 409 ; ii. 144,
230, 231, 352, 361, 368, 378.
Buenos Ayres, ii. 166, 168, 169, 171.
Buffalo City, destruction of, ii. 393.
Bull, Robert, i. 401.
at Fuentes d'Onor, ii. 32.
,
at Talavera, ii. 259.
,
at Busaco and Torres Vedras, ii.
269, 277.

Buckner, Richard,

Index.

BULL.

Bull, Robert (cow.), at Barossa, Badajoz,

Albuera, and Ciudad Rodrigo, ii. 284,
285, 319.
at San Sebastian, ii. 325, 338.
,
at Bidassoa, ii. 374.
,
at Waterloo, ii. 424, 425, 430, 432,
,
434, 435.
Bullock, Lieut. Edward, i. 124.
Bunker's Hill, battle of, i. 302.

Burgos, siege of, ii. 321, 323, 330, 331,

332, 335 to 337.
blockade of, ii. 350.
Burgoyne, Sir John, R.E., ii. 336, 397, 406.
Burn, R., i. 223.
Burnaby, C. H., i. 422.
R. B., i. 416; ii. 431.
,
159, 161, 208, 210,

ii.

211.

Burrows, A. G.,

i.

258.

Burslem, J. G., ii. 108, 128.

Burton, John, i. 254.
J. C.,

Caddy, William, i. 261 ; ii. 74.

Cadet Company, i. 15, 110 ii. 24, 27, 263.
Cadets, i. 13, 106-7, 110 to 121.
;

Expedition to (1702), i. 93; in

1801, ii. 114, 123.
defence of, in 1810-12; ii. 68, 190,
193, 194, 273, 280, 284, 330.
Cairnes, R. M., summary of his services
with No. 4Company,old 10th Battalion,
ii. 186, 189 to 192.
at Copenhagen, ii. 160.
in the Peninsula, ii. 341, 343, 345,
,
346, 353, 377, 382.
organisation and equipment of his
Battery, ii. 341 to 343.
at Waterloo, ii. 430, 432, 436.
,
Cadiz,

ii. 124, 126, 129, 130, 131.

Calcutta, i. 178.
Calvi (Corsica), ii. 68.
Cambray, siege of, in 1815, ii. 440.
Camden, battle of, i. 367.

Cairo,

Camels

A., i. 416.
Campbell, Alex., i. 127, 220.
A. M., ii. 160.

Cameron,
,

180

ii.

Dugald,

i.

F. A.,

173, 177.

i.

Fredk.,
General,

i.

406
ii.

ii.

255.

107, 108, 128.

B., i. 406.
230, 244, 269.
ii.

73.

American invasion

392, 393.
i. 35-6.
used in the field, i. 35.
tables of, in the reign of Charles
ii.

of,

of,

first
,

II.,

i.

46.

Cape of Good Hope, R.A.

in, ii. 85, 138.

expedition to, in 1806, ii. 168.
reliefs in, ii. 135.
, system of R.A.
"Car" Brigade, ii. 205, 211.
W.
i.
Carey,
R.,
257; ii. 106, 143, 271.
Carlisle, i. 128.
i.
244.
, Robert,
,

Carmichael, Lewis, i. 226,417.

in Egypt, ii. 107.
,

in

in

South American War, ii. 170.

2nd American War, ii. 395, 396,

398, 400, 401, 404, 407.

in the Peninsula, ii. 377, 379.
at Waterloo, ii. 439.
,
Vide also ii. 146, 186.
,

Carncross, Sir Joseph, i. 406 ; ii. 236, 352,

383, 384, 385.
Carriages in Egypt, ii. 118, 119.
Carronades, employment of, in Egypt, ii.
115, 116, 123.
Carter, John, i. 176, 244, 420.
Carterell, S. S.,

74.

ii.

Carthagena, attack on (1741),

expedition to, ii. 193.
Carthew, R., i. 134, 407;
215, 230, 269.

i.

123.

Cater, T. 0.,

i.

180, 256

ii.

ii.

Cathcart, Lord, ii. 161.

Catholic Disabilities Bill,
Cator, John F., i. 421.

ii.

106, 211,

283, 433.
77.

Sir William, i. 396

ii.
,
193, 381.
Vide
Cavalry, 3-pr. guns with, in Egypt.
Guns.
, Capture of Dutch Fleet by, ii. 67.
in Egypt, ii. 129.
in the Peninsula, ii. 207, 245, 348,
383, 386.
at Corunna, ii. 212, 216.
at Walcheren, ii. 225.
in 2nd American War, ii. 395.
;

in Egypt, for Artillery Transport,

117.

ii.

ii.

Cannon, early construction

ii.

Butler, James, i. 180, 244, 400 ; ii. 35.

Butts, William, i. 254, 258 ; ii. 186, 261.
Byfleet, camp at (1756), i. 150-1-2.
Byng, General, ii. 437.

P.,

Camperdown,

262, 274, 276, 277, 278.

Bussman, Capt., King's German Artillery, ii. 272.
Busaco,'

483

Canada, i. 18, 303-4-5.

annexation of, to United States,
,
ii.
392, 411.
system of R.A. reliefs in, ii. 135.

186.

ii.

BATTERY'.

Campbell, H. A.

Burrard, Sir H.,

at Quatre Bras and Waterloo,

421, 422, 428.

Cayenne, capture

of,

ii.

ii.

260.

Cawnpore, ii. 142.

Cazal Nova, ii. 284.
"

C"
i.

105.

i.

Battery,

Brigade

(C Troop),

398

B Brigade (G,

afterwards F, Troop),

400.

" C " BATTERY.

484
"C"

Battery (continued),

Index.
1st Brigade

Company, 7th Battalion), i. 421.

8th Brigade (6 Company, after
wards 5, 6th Battalion), i. 415.
9th Brigade (9 Company, afterwards 7, 6th Battalion), i. 416.
llth Brigade (1 Company, 6th Bat(1

i. 413.
Ceylon, system of R.A. reliefs in, ii. 135.
Chalmers, J. A., i. 256 ii. 141.
Chalmers, John, i. 158.
Chamberlain, Sir Henry, i. 414.
Chamberlayne, J., i. 406 ii. 157.
Changes in the designation of troops and
companies, i. 439.

talion),

Chaplains,

ii.

Charleroi, capture of, ii. 63.

Charles II., royal warrant of,
Charles, J. N., ii. 244.

Chester, John,

i.

Chestnut Troop.
"A"

426.

173, 226, 398

Vide

"A"

ii.

186.

Battery,

Clare, Militia,

76.

Clarke, Christopher, i. 176.

ii: 153.
, R.,
Clason, A. J., i. 409.
Clausel, General, ii. 329, 330.
Cleaveland, R. F., i. 6, 261, 422 j ii. 105,
108.
Lieut.-General Samuel, i. 124, 127,
,
188, 189, 207, 301-2-3, 319, 378.
Cleeve, William,
261.

i.

Capt., King's

176, 224, 425

i.

John,

J. P.,

ii.

40,
;

ii.

153.

356.

i.

177, 415, 422, 424

i.

i.

ii.

143,

414.

G. C., i. 259 ; ii. 143.

Coimbra, ii. 276, 278.
Colburne, Roger, i. 432.
Colclough, George, i. 172, 407.

ii.

Colebrooke, J. R., i. 182.

-, P. W., i. 416.
Sir William, i. 174.
,
Cole, General Sir Lowry,
312, 384.
Coles, G., ii. 425, 434.

294, 295,

ii.

i. 179, 256
ii. 68.
;
Collington, J. W., i. 172.
Collins, Captain, i. 364.
Collyer, Admiral Sir George, ii. 361.
,
E., ii. 160.

Collier, William,

Colonels-Commandant,

ii.

4,

5,

11 to 15,

151.
Colonies, paucity of Artillery in, in 1790,
ii. 94.

Colquhoun,

J.

W.,

i.

416.

Colville, Sir Charles, ii. 440.

Command of Army in the Field, Artillery
Officers for, ii. 52, 53, 89.

of Artillery.

Vide Artillery.

ii. 82, 136.

Vide Stores and Supply

Commandant, Woolwich,
Commissariat.

Department.

Committee on Inventions, ii. 15

Ordnance

Select, 83.

Commons, House of, i. 2, 69, 381.

Company of Artillery, strength and pay

Artillery, at

Albuera, ii. 296, 297.

at Badajoz, ii. 300, 302.
at Quatre Bras, ii. 421.
,
at Waterloo, ii. 424.
Clement, J. A., i. 424 ; ii. 144.
Clerk, Henry, i. 410.
Clerk or Conductor of Stores, ii. 110.
of the Cheque, ii. 10.
of the Deliveries, i. 17, 18.
of the Ordnance, i. 17.
,

Cockburn, C. V.,

of (1720),

German

i.

Coffin,
i.

Brigade.
Chevenix, Major, i. 162.
Chevrons for N.C.O., ii. 137.
Christie, H. P., i. 422.
J., ii. 396.
Cintra, convention of, ii. 196, 210, 211.
Ciudad Rodrigo, sieges of, ii. 274, 275,
305, 307, 309, 312 to 315.
Clairfayt, General, ii. 62.
ii.

ii.

Gobbe, George, i. 172, 177, 222, 400

186.
Cobourg, Prince of, ii. 59.
Cochrane, Admii-al Sir A., ii. 397.

156, 160.
Cocks, P. R.,

Charlestown, siege of, i. 361.

Charleton, Thomas, i. 179, 182 ; ii. 186.
Charlton, George, i. 125, 127, 175.
i. 173.
, George,
Chatham, Lord, ii. 138, 223, 225, 230,
231.
Chesney, F. R., i. 261.

153, 157, 261.

174.
Clinton, General, ii. 324.
J.
ii.
Close,
153, 193.
M.,
Clothing issues, ii. 11, 22, 399.
Clyde, Lord, ii. 142.
Coa, crossing of the, ii. 275.
Coast Brigade (invalid companies),
167, 268, 349.
Clibborn, W.,

Clifford, Miller,

11, 18, 19.

Chapman, Eichard, i. 175, 223.

Chapman, S. R., ii. 232.

CONNEL.

i.

i.

104.

loss of, in the

(1716), 434.

Doddington (1755),

158.

Company, R.A., the unit (for reliefs)

135 (for promotion of N.C.O.) 342.
Compton, Sir William, i. 44, 45.

ii.

Concannon, J., ii. 74.

Conde, blockade of, ii. 59, 60.
Congreve, Sir William, i. 307.
,

in Flanders,

ii. 56, 57,

60, 61, 62.
Staff Appointments, ii. 83, 137.

Connel,

J. J.,

ii.

300, 319.

Index.

CONNELL.

Connell,A. F., i. 177.

Conrade, George, i. 432.
Contingent Allowances. Vide Allowances.
Cookson, C. N., i. 181.
George, i. 400, 409.

DE RETTDERO.

Cuppage, William,
35, 109.
Curry, Sir

172, 274, 399

i.

Edmund,

485

263, 421

i.

ii.

ii.

106,

129, 144.

G., in Flanders, ii. 57.

in Egypt, ii. 106, 110, 127, 130,

,
,

132.

at Walcheren, ii. 225, 230.

,
Coote, Sir Eyre, ii. 88, 89, 96.
Copenhagen, siege of, ii. 158, 162
164.
Cornelius, R. L., i. 258.

Cowper,
Cox and

J. T.,

i.

ii,

133

ii.

to

ii.

E.,

Troop.

i.

Davers, W.,

ii.

11, 12, 13, 14, 31, 44,

74.

D"

Battery, A Brigade (H, afterwards

G, Troop), i. 401.
B Brigade, (I, afterwards H, Troop),
i. 401.
1st Brigade (4
i. 180.

Company, 2nd Bat-

4th Brigade (8 Company, 3rd Bati.

225.

8th Brigade (2 Company, 5th Battalion), i. 406.

llth Brigade (6 Company, 7th Bat,

170.

i. 423.
Deacon, C. P., at San Sebastian,
364.
in second American War,
396, 398, 399, 404.

talion),

Henry,

i.

ii.

361,

ii.

395,

174.

Deal, James, i.,124.

De Butts, Lieutenant, Royal Engineers,

ii.

ii.

153,

144, 394.
"
"
Vide " C
Battery,

A"

68.

De Ginkle, Hon. C., ii. 56.

Denmark, capture of Fleet,
siege of Copenhagen,

Dennis,
Bri-

160.

Thomas, i. 254, 258 ; ii. 143.

Cuesta, General (Spanish), ii. 245, 253.
Culloden, battle of (1746), i. 128.
Cumberland, Duke of, i. 132-3, 152.
Cuppage, Burke, ii. 156, 431.
,

179.

47.

ii.

i.

Joseph,

talion),

ii.

gade.
Cubitt, H. F.,

Artillery,

394.

Dartmouth, Lord,

396, 399, 401.

Crawley, J.,
Crimea, ii. 140, 232.
Crofton, E. W., i. 423.
R. H., i. 180, 423.
,
Cromie, M. T., ii. 431, 432.
183, 261, 423

German

Dansey, C. C., i. 404, 416.

in the Peninsula, ii. 319, 332, 334,
,
362, 364, 375.
at Waterloo, ii. 430, 432, 436.
,
Darby, Joseph, i. 423 ; ii. 153, 160, 220.
D'Arcy, Colonel, ii. 165.

ii.

i.

ii.

156, 232.

ii.

talion),

275, 276.
at Busaco, ii. 277.
,
W. J., i. 417.
,

C.,

J.,

at Roli$a, ii. 206. At Vimiera, 208.

At the Coa,
at Talavera, ii. 257.

Cruttenden,
154.

406.

Dalton, Charles, i. 173, 175

Charles J., i. 174.
,

"

General, in South America,

i.

142.

Davies, Thomas, i. 379.

k
Davis, Thomas, i. 183.
Day, J., ii. 188, 378, 430, 432.

14.

152.

J.,

ii.

Daniel, Captain, King's

ii. 387.

Co., Paymasters, R.A., ii. 82.

Cox, William, i. 182.
Coxwell, E., ii. 160.
Cozens, W., ii. 193.
Cradock, Sir J., ii. 243.
Craufurd, R. E. F., i. 221.
Crawford, A. F., i. 406 ; ii. 396, 398.
i. 413.
, George,
ii. 394.
, George, Major,
George, Lieut., ii. 430, 432.
H., ii. 154, 215, 395, 399.
,

P.,

Daendels, General, ii. 96.

D'Aguilar, C. L., i. 400, 417.
Dalrymple, Sir Hew, ii. 210, 211.

Cornwallis, Lord, ii. 73.

Corps d'elite, ii. 48, 49.
Corsica, ii. 68.
Corunna, battle and retreat, ii. 195, 211
to 221.
,
proportion of guns to troops at,
ii. 412.
Costa, Lieut., of Portuguese Artillery,
ii. 364.
Cotton, Sir Stapleton, ii. 325.
Coupere, General, ii. 148.

Courts-martial,

N.

J.

Dadson,

at Copenhagen, ii. 160, 162, 166.

at Corunna, ii. 2l2, 215, 217.

Dacres, Sir Richard

ii.
ii.

158, 165.
158, 160.

i. 421.
362.

J. B.,

W.,

ii.

Depeyster, J., ii. 57, 60.

if
Deputy Adjutant-General, R.A.
Adjutant-General, R.A.
Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General. Vide
Adjutant-General, R.A.

De Rettberg, Captain, King's

Artillery,

ii.

318, 319.

German

Index.

DE RINZY.

486

De Rinzy, G. A. F., i. 224.

De Rottenburg, General, ii.
Deruvijnes, F.
,

H.,

ii.

L.,

i.

224

189.
ii. 74.

74.
i.

125, 127,

Desbrisay, George, i. 183; ii. 143.

i. 183.
, Thomas,
i. 221.
, Theo.,
Des Etans, L. P., i. 432.
Designation of troops and companies,
changes in the, i. 439.
Detroit, fort, capture of, ii. 392, 393.
Dettingen, battle of, i. 125.
Devereux, Hon. G. T., i. 407.
De Watterville, General, ii. 189.
De Winton, T., ii. 156.
Dexter, Lieut., i. 133.
"Diadem," Her Majesty's Ship, ii. 110.
Dick, F., i. 176.
Dickens, C. R., i. 414 ; ii. 144.
Dickenson, E., i. 283 ; ii. 144.
Dickinson, R., ii. 186, 272.
Dickson, A., i. 174, 175.
Sir Alexander, i. 400, 415.
,
in

South America,

ii.

168,

170,

176, 178.

with the Portuguese Artillery,

251, 287, 289, 294, 297, 339, 340.

ii.

under

Circumstances

commanded the R.A.

ii.

which

he

in the Peninsula,

253, 298, 309, 321, 346.

at Oliven9a, ii. 288.
,
at sieges of Badajoz, 1st,
,

289,
292, 294, 296; 2nd, 298, 300,
31
&.
305; 3rd, 316,
at Albuera, ii. 294, 297, 298.
,
at Ciudad Rodrigo, ii. 309, 311,
,
314, 316.
ii.

291,

at Salamanca and Burgos, ii. 321,

,
326, 327, 330, 332, 334, 335, 336, 347,
350.
at Vittoria, ii. 351, 352, 353, 355.
,

at San Sebastian, ii. 339, 361, 362,

366, 371, 373.
the Pyrenees, ii. 379, 380.
, crossing
of the Adour, ii. 382, 383.
, passage
,
entry into France and battle of
Toulouse, ii. 385, 388.
in second American War, ii. 396,
,

397, 398,
410.
,

399,

at Waterloo,

William,

ii.

414, 415, 421, 424,

i.

180;

ii.

186, 225, 233,

237, 240.

W. H. M., i. 222.
,
Dodd, Thomas, i. 182, 424; ii. 271.
Domville, J. R., i. 173.
J. W., i. 221.
,
Donegal Militia, ii. 76.
Douglas, Sir Howard, i. 421.
Robert, i. 223, 225, 338, 354, 380,
405, 406 ii. 144.
, Robert, i. 413.
Robert, C.B., in the Peninsula,
ii. 327, 345, 353, 361,
376, 377.
Vide also, ii. 143, 157.
i. 179.
, R. S.,
,

Douglass, J., ii. 98.

Douro, passages of the, in 1809, ii. 242,
245, 246, 249.
in 1813, ii. 345, 349.
Dovers, John, i. 226, 244.
Downing, J., i. 223.
Downman, F., i. 175, 176, 398.
Sir Thomas, i. 174, 398, 399.
,
,

in Flanders, ii. 57, 63.

at Corunna, ii. 215, 218,
in the Peninsula, ii. 338, 339.
,
Dowse, John, i. 258.
ii. 177.
, Lloyd,
Dragoons, ii. 67, 122, 165.
14th Light, 395.
,
12th, ii. 379.
15th Light, 100, 113.
16th, 379.
20th Light, 169. 21st Light, 169.
,

Drawbridge,
Dress,

ii.

C.,

ii.

232.

178, 399.

of Gunners, &c., in the reign of

William

at the subsequent siege operations,

433, 438, 439, 440, 442.
his opinion of driver officers, ii.
,
385.
Peninsula records, ii. 287.
,

400, 403, 406, 407,

435.
ii.

Dickson, Sir A. (cont), his character, ii.

51, 168, 176, 287, 311, 347, 391, 442.
Vide also, ii. 186.
summary of the services of his
company, ii. 189.
Sir C., ii. 287.
,
Dilkes, General, ii. 282.
Director General of Artillery, ii. 83.
Discharges by purchase, ii. 267.
other modes of, ii. 2, 137.
Discipline, Duke of Wellington on, ii.
250, 251.
personal element in, ii. 389.
Distribution of Royal Artillery (1727),
i.
105.
(1782), 389 ; (1797), ii. 84,
85. (1798), 86.
(1812), 322.
Dixon, F. M., i. 183, 223, 292.
G. W., i. 224, 399 ; ii. 225.
,

Desaguliers, Lieut.-General T.,

134, 152, 185, 228 ; ii. 13.
i. 313.
, Lieut.,
Desborough, J., i. 175.

DRILLS.

III.,

i.

59.

of Royal Artillery (1741), i. 140,

154.
(1768-70), 242.
(1772), 265.
(1799), 412.
of Royal Irish Artillery, i. 167.
Drew, R. R., ii. 157.
Drills,

Artillery, infantry
ii. 76, 77.

taught,

and

militia

Index.

DRILLS.

field day in 1788, ii. 22, 23; in

1795, 76.
Driver Corps, formation and organization,
ii. 30, 32, 58, 136, 267, 342, 385, 415.
establishment and pay of, in 1801,
ii. 136.
1803, 139. 1806, 151. 1807,
185. 1810,265,343. In the Peninsula,
308.
1812, 322.

Drills,

in Flanders, ii. 58.

expedition to the Helder,

91, 92,

expedition to Spain and Portugal,

204, 222.
at Corunna, ii. 217.
,
at Barossa, ii. 283.
,
in second American War, ii. 398.
,

gunners

R.A.,

ii.

at

for,

Waterloo,

ii.

discipline of,
abolition of, ii.

ii.

405

ii.

Percy,

P., at

P., at

P., in
P.,

P.,

i.

Vide also

ii.

Battery,
403.

ii.

I,

of Burgos,

at Barossa,

John,

ii.

lion), i. 261.
Ebro, River, passage of the,
Edwardes, D. J., ii. 430.

350.

B.,

ii.

226

i.

ii.

261

66, 67, 97, 99.

ii. 154,
193, 314,
;

troops, ii. 132.

Elba, escape of Bonaparte from,
Elgee, C. W., i. 414.
J. L.,

Dunkirk, siege of, ii. 60.

Dunlop, F., i. 424.
Dunn, Wm., i. 396, 400, 407

Plat, Chas. T., i. 254.

Dupuis, Sir John E., i. 399

ii.

i.

186,

94.

Elliott,

W.

i.

ii.

127.

144.

257
ii.

412.

G.,

ii.

192, 331, 332.

92, 98, 147, 324.

394, 404, 408

i.

W.

H., i. 259.
Ellis, P., ii. 140.
Ellison, J. T., ii. 186.
,

ii.

416.

244.

D'Urban, General, ii. 329.

Durdero, Joseph, i. 432.
i.

W.,

Elige, J. P.,

Du

Lieut. Richard,

strength of R.A. for the Expeii.

105, 108.
battalions R.A. for, ii. 105.
difficulties of
Artillery transit, ii.

112 to 121, 124 to 126.

ordnance captured in, ii. 127.
"
"
"
"
,
Sphynx and Egypt worn by

316, 319.

Durham,

ii.

dition,

190, 283.
ii. 67, 68.
Admiral Lord, ii. 73, 96.
i.

Dundas, General,
,

Brigade (1st Rocket, afterwards

i. 404.
1st Brigade (8 Company, 4th Batta-

Troop),

at Toulon,

W.

i.

67, 68.
on the staff, ii. 83.
in Egypt, ii. 108, 128, 132.
defence of Cadiz, ii. 280.

Brigade (K Troop),

Edwards, Sam. D., i. 226 ii. 74.

Egan, Chas., i. 177, 222, 414, 416.
Egmont-op-Zee, ii. 99, 100.
Egypt, ii. 104 to 133.

334.

Dumaresq, W. L., i. 410.

Dumouriez, General, ii. 55.
Dunbar, James, i. 181, 220,
Duncan, Alexander, i. 400, 423.

261

345, 361, 364,

ii.

Dubreton, French governor

"E"

143, 146.

314, 315,

Early construction of cannon, i. 35, 36.

Eastaff, Mr., Commissary of Horse, ii. 57
East India detachment, i. 157-8, 411.
East Indies, i. 136.
Vide Indies.

at San Sebastian,
365.
Vide also ii. 146.

ii.

at Salamanca, ii. 330.

at Waterloo, ii. 430.

Earliest records of the use of Artillery,

i. 36, 37.

176, 222.

ii. 35, 38.

Troop, i. 399
Dubourdien, S., in the West Indies,
at Vittoria, ii. 353.

at Ciudad Rodrigo,

316.

207, 221, 244,

i.

Copenhagen, ii. 160.

Corunna, ii. 211, 215.
Walcheren, ii.,225, 230.
at Waterloo, ii. 424, 437.

Vide also ii. 153.

Dysart, R., i. 222.
Dyson, John, i. 421.

83, 137, 187, 394.

i.

261

441.

342, 415.
342, 385.

Drivers, i. 38, 128-9.

Drosier, E. W., i. 223.

Drummond, Duncan,

P.,

i.

with army of occupation,

G.,

415.
,

ii.

256, 413.
ii. 152, 177.
Dutch fleet, captured by cavalry, ii. 67.
retention by the English, ii. 101.
Du Vernet, A., i. 221 ; ii. 74.
Dyas, Richard, i. 415,424; ii. 186.
Dyer, Sir John, i. 175, 183.
at San Sebastian, ii. 361, 368.
at Passage of the Bidassoa, ii. 374,
375.
at Orthes, ii. 383, 384.
,
at Toulouse, ii. 387.
Vide also ii. 141.
Dyneley, Thomas, i. 257, 398, 399.
at Copenhagen, ii. 160.

Durnford,

ii.

267.
ii.

48 7

ELWYK.

Elwyn, Thomas,

i.

256

ii.

152.

ii.

37,

Index.

ENGINEERS.

488

Engineers and Artificers, i. 38, 39.

Royal, relation of Royal Artillery
,

i.

to,

121.

llth Battalion, formation, ii. 185.

No. 8 Company, or 7, 17th Brigade,
,

ii.

relative precedence to R.A.,

Services

of,

ii.

146.

165, 169.

England, Lieut., in South America, ii. 177.

at San Sebastian, ii. 362, 364.
,
Vide also ii. 141.
P. V., i. 422.
,
Vide Horse ArtilEquipment of R.H.A.
of a Field Battery in 1813, ii. 343.
Erie, Lake, actions at, ii. 393, 394.
Erskine, Sir J., ii. 83.
Sir W. E., ii. 61, 285.
Espana, General (Spanish), ii. 329.
Esprit de corps, i. 4, 170, 206.
,

Essen, Count, ii. 99.

Establishment of the Royal Regiment of
Artillery, i. 61, 79-82, 383-391, 436.

supernumeraries to regimental, ii. 1.

Vide Augof R.A. augmentations.
mentations.
reductions.
Vide
Reducof R.A.
,

tions.

llth Regiment,

82nd Regiment,
85th Regiment,

1813, 343; 1819,442.

(afterwards D). Vide
tery, B Brigade.
Evans, C. R. 0., i. 408.
Jas., i. 421 ; ii. 232.
Mark, i. 423.

E Troop

Famars,

"A"

Bat-

142 (note).
No. 4 Company, or
,

7,

12th Brigade,

143.

No. 5 Company,

or G, 1st Brigade,

143.

No. 6 Company, or D, 9th Brigade,

144,

No. 7 Company, or H, 8th Brigade,

144.

No. 8 Company, or I, 7th Brigade,

145.
No. 9 Company, or 7, 17th Brigade,
,
146.
No. 10 Company, ii. 146.
,
Vide also ii. 139.
,
its records, ii. 138.
,
,

ii.

ii.

8th Brigade,
Battery,

244, 378

Charles, i. 133.
H. M., i. 174.
Fauquier, H. T., ii. 105.
"F "
Battery, 1st Brigade (1
5th Battalion), i. 406.

ii.
;

ii.

Battery,
144.

ii.

153,431.

Company,

8th Brigade (7, afterwards 6, Company, 6th Battalion), i. 416.

9th Brigade (1 Company, 1st Bat,
',

R.,

i.

i.

J. F.,

ii.

59, 60.

Farrington, Sir Anthony,

83, 90, 101.

talion),

Robert, i. 414; ii. 105.

Eveleigh, Hen., i.221, 398; ii. 215, 218.
Eyre, Joseph, i. 179, 424.
8th Battalion
No. 1 Company, or H, 1st Brigade,
,
ii. 140.
No. 2 Company, or H, llth Brigade,
ii. 141.
No. 3 Company, or 8, 13th Brigade,

ii.

172.

Fead George,

ii.

207, 282.
396, 405.
66, 282.

Fane, General, ii. 206, 2'08, 348.

Farquharson, John, i. 127.
Farrell, J. S., i. 421.

88.

ii.

ii.

D
ii.

Faddy, Peter, i. 260.

Fage, Edward, i. 224, 372, 411.
Fairlamb, John, i. 181.
Falkirk, battle of (1746), i. 128.

ii.

ii.

ii.

194.

Battery,

ii.

Vide Horse Artillery.

,
in 17831791, ii. 1, 2; 1794, 58.
,
1802, 136; 1803, 139; 1805, 151;
1807, 185 ; 1810, 262, 270 ; 1812, 322 ;
of R.H.A.

ii.

ii.

Battery,
141.

87th Regiment,

lery.

ii.

A Battery,
277, 310.

llth Brigade,

3.

ii.

ii.

182, 261, 411.

ii. 186.
;
57, 61, 131.
i.

182

i.

Fenwick, Benjamin,
T.,

W.

ii.

i.

176, 183

ii.

143.

56, 59.

Y.,

i.

258.

Ferguson, Captain, i. 190, 244.

General, 206, 208, 209.
,

Ferrol, expedition to, ii. 106, 107, 121.

Field, G. T., i. 409.
Field Artillery, i. 37, 38, 166-7.

compared with Horse Artillery,

45-6, 48, 86, 268, 417.

ii.

, progress
of, ii. 47, 244, 248, 249,
268, 309, 341, 412, 417.
Battery, i. 37.
in 1813,ii. 343.
, Battery equipments
Vide Drills.
Field-day in 1788.
Field Officers R. A., duties of, in 1783,

ii. 15, 92.

Field Train department, establishment of,
in 1810, ii. 265.
Fifers, first in the British Army, i. 136.

Finch, M., General,

Firemaster, i. 17.

Fireworker,

i.

ii.

161.

17.

Fisher, E. H., i. 421.

Sir G. B., i. 175, 221, 399, 400.
,
to R.H.A., ii. 36.
, appointed
,

in Portugal,

ii.

269.

14-TH

FISIIEK.

Fisher, Sir G. B. (continued), in

command

of R. A., in the Peninsula, ii. 343.

ii. 346,
resignation of the command,
,

347.

Fitzmayer, C. H., i. 225, 422 ; ii. 143.

Sir James W., i. 225 ; ii. 145.
,
Fitzroy, A. C. L., i. 261 ; ii. 146.
Flanders, campaigns in (1743-4-5),

i.

(1746-7-8), i. 130-136.
ii. 54, 57, 88.
, Expedition to,
Dutch, captured by cavalry,
Fleet,
67.

Danish, capture of, ii. 165.

Fletcher, Sir Richard, R.E., at Badajoz,
ii. 289, 291, 293, 298, 304.
at Albuera, ii. 298.
,
at Ciudad Rodrigo, ii. 309.
,
,

Fleurus, battle

of,

ii.

64.

i.

ii.

142 (note).

396, 408.
Forde, M. B., i. 254.
F<y rl s n Artillery, Royal, ii. 262, 266, 322.
Vide also German Legion.
Forge, carriage of, in the Peninsula, ii.
C.,

ii.

249.
Forster, George, i. 177, 183.
ii. 160, 430, 432.
, H.,
Fort du Quesne, battle of (1755),

Fortescue, J. C. W.,

i.

i.

159.

116.

Sir H., i. 260.

at Talavera, ii. 255.
at Busaco, ii. 269.

Framingham,
,

ii. 280, 298, 305, 318.

at.Ciudad Rodrigo, ii. 309.
at Salamanca, ii. 324.
,
France, expeditions to coast of (1757), i.
,

at Badajoz,

190.

160,

i.

423

422.

i.

i. 180, 258.
, Wm.,
Frazer, Sir Augustus, i. 400.
to the Helder, ii. 92, 99.
, expedition
in S. America, ii. 168, 170, 175, 176
,
to 178, 180, 184.
in command of R. H. A. in the
,
Peninsula, ii. 338, 339.
,

at Vittoria,

ii.

345, 350, 352, 353,

356.
,
,

San Sebastian,

ii. 361, 364, 368.

passage of the Bidassoa, ii. 375.
passage of the Adour, ii. 383.
at Nivelle, ii. 378.
at Toulouse, ii. 388.

at

at Waterloo,
,
425, 427, 435.
,

ii.

414, 416,421, 424,

his diaries, ii. 181, 416.

his character, ii. 51, 176, 178, 184,

353-4, 391,427.
General, ii. 218.
H., ii. 145, 272.
Freeling, S., i. 172.
Freer, J. H., i. 415.
Freeth, R. K., i. 180,
Freire, General, ii. 374.
Frere, J. H., ii. 186.
ii. 253.
, Mr.,
Fritzlar, capture of (1761), i. 215-16.
Frost, James, i. 175.
Fry, Oliver, i. 177.
F Troop (afterwards E). Vide " B " Bat,

tery,

Brigade.

Fuentes d'Onor,

ii.

Fuller, J. T.,

160.

ii.

32, 285.

1st Battalion

or Brigade, R.A., No. 2

or B Battery, 1st Brigade, ii.
57, 58, 63.
"
G. Battery, ii. 143. "
Battery
ii. 140, 309.
Vide also ii. 105, 134, 135.
4th Battalion or Brigade, No. 1 Company,
ii. 61.
No. 4 Company, ii. 58. No. "5

Company

ii.

Fox, C. J., ii. 150.

Foy, Edward, i. 208, 222, 244.
General (French), ii. 328.
Nat., i. 403, 413 ; ii. 36, 57.
Foz d'Arouce, action at, ii. 285.
,

ii.

Furneaux, William, i. 181.

Fyers, Peter, i. 226 ; ii. 160, 230.

424.

"Foudroyant," H. M. Ship,

G. B.,

77.

225

i.

Fraser, Hon. D. M.,

Flude, T. P., i.
Flushing, expedition and siege, ii. 224,
225, 228, 229,241.
rockets first used as a siege weapon
,
at, ii. 164.
Fogo, James, i. 177.
Fontenoy, battle of, i. 127.
officers of Artillery present at, i.
127.
Foot, G., ii. 431.
Forbes, G. H. A., i. 173.
T. J., i. 262 ; ii. 156.
,
W. H., ii. 154.
Ford, A.,

ii.

172, 181;

i.

Thos.,

C. T.,

124, 127.
416, 422.

Thomas,

Flight,

invasion of Ireland,

Francklin,
225.

124-5-6.

ii.

France (continued), war with, ii. 27, 96,

286 to 391; resumed, 412; ended, 438.
of occupation in, ii. 441.
, army
,

appointed commandant of Woolwich, ii. 36.

R. R., i. 413.
,
Fitzgerald, C. L., i. 408.
,

489

BATTALION.

D Battery, ii. 218.

ii. 58.
Vide also ii. 105, 134, 135, 209.
5th Battalion or Brigade, No. 4 Battery,
ii. 58.
No. 5 Battery, ii. 309, 315.
Vide also ii. pp. 59, 74, 105, 132,
135.
134,
14th Battalion or Brigade, formed, ii. 185.
B Battery, ii. 153. C Battery, ii.155.
Company,

Index.

4TH REGIMENT.

49

GORDON.

4th Regiment, ii. 395, 399.

5th Regiment, ii. 312.
40th Regiment, ii. 98.
43rd Regiment, ii. 209, 257, 404, 408.
44th Regiment, ii. 395, 399.
45th Regiment, ii. 256.
47th Regiment, ii. 282.
48th Regiment, ii. 255, 256.
49th Regiment, ii. 88.
50th Regiment, ii. 209.
52nd Regiment, ii. 257, 428, 429.
54th Regiment, ii. 170.

German Legion

179, 183.
Gahan, Daniel,
Gambier, Gloucester, i. 180

Gertruydenberg,

(continued) at Salamanca,
326.
at Nivelle, ii. 377.
at Orthes, ii. 384.
at Toulouse, ii. 387.
at Quatre Bras and Waterloo, ii.
421, 422, 424, 427.

ii.

strength

of,

in 1810,

ii.

203, 266,

269; 1812, 322, 327.

,

the Peninsula,

distribution in

ii.

308, 345.

Germany, campaigns in (1759-62),

206-

i.

217.
i.

415

ii.

142.

Gessenins, Capt.,

i.

ii.

Gibraltar,
,

at Waterloo, ii. 414, 423, 424, 430.

return to England, ii. 442.

Vide also ii. 146, 194, 345.

as a Horse Artillery officer,

his character,

H.

L.,

i.

ii.

ii.

51.

39.

399.

Gardner, Hon. H., i. 406, 408, 409.

Hon. W. H., ii. 36, 186.
Lieut. A. B., i. 6.
,W.B., i. 179.
W. H., i. 181, 257, 404.
Vide Siege Artillery.
Garrison Artillery.
,

Garstin, R. L., ii. 155.

i. 180.
, Robert,

"G"

Battery,

wards
i.

6,

i.

(7,

2nd Battalion),

407.

in Flanders, ii. 57.

in Irish Rebellion, ii. 78.
in expedition to the Helder,
at Roli9a, ii. 207.

Gelmuyden, Peter,
Genoa,

George

ii.

I.,

III.,

i.

ii.

92.

432.

108.

royal warrant
royal warrant

German Legion

269.

i.

67, 105, 124, 178.

of Artificers for,

Company

ii.

3.

defence of (1727), i. 102.

for Egypt, ii. 106, 107.
, Expedition
force of R.A. in 1797, ii. 85. 1810,
,
ii. 271.
,
great siege of (1779-83), i. 271-290.
ii. 72, 73.
, Loyalty Loan,
reliefs of R. A., system of, ii. 134.
,
Gilbert, James, i. 423.
W. R., i. 400.
,
Gillespie, Captain, i. 244.
Gilmore, C., ii. 186.
Gilmour, Charles, i. 416, 421.
Giron, General (Spanish), ii. 374, 377.

and
Givet, bombardment
ii. 440.
Gizeh, ii. 124, 126.
Glanville, F. R., ii. 146.

capture

of,

i. 173, 263 ; ii, 394.

G. M., i. 182, 417.
i. 221.
A.
C.,
Gleig,
Glover, Edward, i. 432.
Glubb, Fredrick, i. 410.
in Portugal, ii. 269.
,
at Ciudad Rodrigo, ii. 309, 310, 315.
,
at Badajoz, ii. 318.
,
at Almaraz, ii. 321.
,
at Salamanca, ii. 330.
,
at Burgos, ii. 331.
,
at San Sebastian, ii. 340.
,
Godby, C. H., i. 176, 181.
i. 222.
, J.,
,
R., ii. 186, 193, 218, 271.
,

after-

182.

Geary, Henry,

ii.

Glasgow, George,

8th Brigade

Company,

Legion,

54.

German

Ghent, Treaty of, ii. 411.

Gibbon, Edward, i. 431.
Gibbs, Major-General, ii. 399, 400, 407.

272.
Gardiner, Sir Robert, i. 399, 423.
at Corunna, ii. 218.
,
in Walcheren, ii. 225.
,
at Badajoz, ii. 318, 319.
,
at Burgos, ii. 332.
,
at Salamanca, ii. 348.
,
at Vittoria, ii. 353.
,
at Orthes, ii. 383, 384.
,
at Toulouse, ii. 386, 387.
,

Gamble, Thomas,

ii.

of,

i.

of,

i.

432.
438.

at Copenhagen,

ii.
161,
165, 167.
ii.
Services
in
the
Peninsula,
203,
,
262, 271, 272.
at Corunna, ii. 211.
,
at passage of the Douro, ii. 244.
,
at Talavera, ii. 255.
,
at Badajoz, ii. 288, 289.
,
at Albuera, ii. 296.
,
at Ciudad Rodrigo, ii. 316 318.

Godfrey, Charles,
ii.

i.

256, 274, 403, 415

36, 88, 89.

i. 222.
, J.,

i. 263, 272.
Gold, Chas., i. 406, 424 ; ii. 236, 424, 434.
Goll,J. D., i. 175.
Goodenough, H. P., i. 260.
Goodyear, Major, i. 136.
Gordon, C., ii. 362.

Godwin, Wm.,

Index.

GORDON.

Gordon, C.

E.,

i.

Fred.,

i.

Gunners,!. 11, 17, 18,38,434.

mounted on limbers, in Egypt,

i.

as drivers, at Waterloo, ii. 415.

Guns, General Lawson's remarks on,
121 to 126.
3 prs. ; with Cavalry in Egypt,
,

at

San Sebastian,

ii.

363, 366,

367, 369.
at Waterloo,

Grantham, Thomas,

i.

ii.

in

376, 379, 382.

R.A. to pay

40

ii.

ii.

399.
248,

for each field-

ii. 175, 176.

howitzers used as mortars, ii. 302.
brass, at siege of Badajoz, ii. 305,
306.
18-pounder brigade, ii. 383.
(British), proportion to men, ii. 412.
Vide Battalion Guns.
Battalion.
Guybon, Robert, i. 431.

piece captured,
,

Gyns, substitute

Hadden,

Walcheren,

140,218,220.

120, 125.

179, 315, 399

256.
Hamilton, A. G. W.,
F. S., ii. 144.

ii.

35,

Wm.,

ii.

392.

i.

i.

182.

226, 262, 292.

i. 177.
ii. 424.
Hanwell, Joseph, i. 408.
Harding, John, i. 405, 407.
at Copenhagen, ii. 160, 166.
,
,

ii.

232.

ii.

156,

186.

Richard,

i.

200, 211, 212, 213.

215, 216, 218, 220.
ii. 353, 362, 430.
, R.,
Hardinge, R., i. 225 ; ii. 362, 364, 430.
ii. 296.
, Colonel,
Hardy, T. P. B., i. 172.
W. N., i. 407.
,
Hare, Thomas, i. 261.
Harison, N. E., i. 416.
Harris, John, i. 415 ; ii. 271.
Harrison, A. R., ii. 145.
T. J., i. 174, 183.
,
Hartman, Sir J., K.G.A., in Portugal,
ii. 211, 269.
at Albuera, ii. 297, 298.
,
at Vittoria, ii. 352.
,
at San Sebastian, ii. 364, 368.
,
at passage of the Bidassoa, ii. 375.
at
Nivelle, ii. 376.
,
,
,

Green Park, review in, i. 157.

Greenwood, Mr., Paymaster R.A.,
ii. 140.
, W.,
Gregory, R., i. 222.
Greville, H. L. F., i. 413.
ii.

ii.

Handcock, Hon. R. F.,

Hanoverian Artillery,

at Burgos, ii. 332.

at San Sebastian, ii. 361.
at Nivelle, ii. 377. Vide also

Griffin, J. H.,

i.

Egypt,

Hall, General (American),

,

ii.

J. M.,

for, in

83.

Greece, ii. 131.

Greene, D. S., i. 180.
W., i. 261.

ii.

&2.

141.

Griffiths, Fred., i. 221,

F. A., i. 222.
,

398

ii.

155, 225.

Grimes, R., ii. 314, 319.

Grosvenor, Major-General, ii. 161, 228.
Grouchy, Marshal, ii. 423.
Groves, George, i. 180, 229, 288.

Grumley, Lieut. J., i. 274.

Vide "C"
Troop (afterwards F).
Battery, B Brigade and ii. 36, 38,

40.

Guadaloupe, i. 165, 179 ; ii. 74.

Guard, Artillery of the, ii. 52.
Guards, Her Majesty's, ii. 50, 59, 60, 78,
88, 98, 148, 165, 246, 255, 282, 428,
441.

2nd American War,

in pursuit of Soult,

183.'

Graydon, George, i. 172.

Greatley, Thomas, i. 408;

in

ii.

414.
Grant, General Colquhoun, ii. 436.
D., i. 417.
E. F., i. 401.
H. P., i. 416.
J., ii. 232.
J. E., i. 180, 422, 425.
Wm., i. 174, 177.
,

ii.

118, 124, 128.

ii.

i.
408; ii. 142.
176.
Gowen, Lieut., i. 229.
Graham, A. H., i. 256.
G. M., ii. 186.
,
Sir Thomas, in Walcheren, ii. 228.
at Barossa, ii. 280, 281, 282,
,
283, 284.
at Salamanca, ii. 345, 346.
,
at passage of the Esla, ii. 349.
,
at passage of the Ebi*o, ii. 350,
,
351.

William,

i.

118, 119.

Gostling, Charles,
,

49

Guildford, battle of, i. 368.

Gun-boats, ii. 78.
Gunner Governor of New York, the,
325 to 347.

175.

182, 222, 414.

H. W., i. 180.
,
i. 220.
, John,
W. A., ii. 186, 261.
,
Gore, John, i. 225.
Gossett, Arthur, i. 222.
,

HASTINGS.

in Portugal,
at Corunna,

ii.

ii.

at Quatre Bras and Waterloo,

421, 424, 435.

Harvey, W. H., ii. 188, 431, 432.

Hastings, F. W., i. 423.

ii.

49 ^

Index.

HAULTAIN.

Haultain,

F.,

421.

i.

Holman, Capt.-Lieut.,

Havannah, expedition to (1762), i. 188.

Havelock, General, ii. 142 (note).
Hawker, E., ii. 300, 302, 305.
James,

254.

i.

in

at Badajoz,

297.
,

at Ciudad Rodrigo,

ii.

313.

440.
Vide also ii. 140, 154.
Hawkins, A. C., i. 261, 425.
Hay, David, i. 174, 244.
ii. 381, 389.
, General,
,

at

Cambray,

ii.

Quartermaster-Sergeant, ii. 179.

R. J., i. 407.
H Battery, 4th Brigade (9 Company,
4th Battalion, afterwards 4 Company,
llth Battalion), i. 262.
,

Office, R.A.,

ii.

4, 5, 92.

Hearsley, Surgeon's mate,

i. 221.

ii.

57.

German

Artillery,

421, 424.
Heitland, W. E., i. 423.
Helder, expedition to the,
,

its object,

Hennis,

W.

Henry, C.

H.,

S.,

i.

ii.

ii.

269,

ii.

78, 89 to 92.

ii.

establishment, 1793,
;
1801,
1794 to 1804, 35-6, 147.
;
establishment in Egypt, ii. 118,
;

pay,

264.

ii.

97.

regimental, functions of
372.
,

a,

ii.

371,

Holcombe, F., ii."153.

H. F., i. 414, 415, 416 ; ii. 155,
,
310, 314, 316, 318-9, 330.
ii. 107.
, W.,
ii. 88, 89,
Holcroft, Wm., i. 222, 263
;

160, 394.
Holland, ii. 54-5, 64-5, 91, 101 to 103,
414.

L,

ii.

Troops raised,

36.
,

429, 430.

raised,

35

119; in 1810, 264; 1812,322; 18151854 to 1856, 39, 40.

16, 38

Hisiop, Major, i. 158, 178.

History of the Royal Artillery, its scope,
ii. 129.

in

130-1

95.

and F Troops
ii.

-,G,H,I,K,

J.,

D E

24, 35.

-,

Heron, B. R., ii. 155, 261, 362, 364.

Heyman, H., i. 424.
Hickman, H., i. 414; ii. 141, 272.
ii. 153.
Higgins, T. G., i. 396
Hill, B. E., ii. 396.
ii. 143.
, J.,
Sir Rowland, in Portugal, ii. 206.
at Vimiera, ii. 208.
,
at Molinos, ii. 313.
at Almaraz, ii. 321.
at Ciudad Rodrigo, ii. 345.
at Salamanca, ii. 348.
passage of the Esla, ii. 349.
at Nivelle, ii. 377.
at the Nive, ii. 380.
Orthes, ii. 383, 385.
Hind, Robert, i. 158, 172, 229.
Hinks,

ii.

179.
396.
ii.

detailed equipment of troop,

at Waterloo, ii. 419.
;

1793, ii. 34
A, B, C,

i.

Herman, General,

178.

Robert, i. 259; ii. 131, 140,-146.

Sir John, ii. 218-19, 230, 376-7,
,
381-2, 389.
Hopeke, J. H., i. 431.
Horndon, W. H., i. 398.
Hornsby, J. R., i. 176, 223.

Heaven, Joseph,
Heise, King's

ii.

F.,

Horse Artillery, Royal, i. 37, 393 to 404

ii. 30 to 53,
76, 78, 268.

"

Head-quarter

104.

"

i.

Hooke, B. D., ii. 57.

Hook, James, i. 261.
Hope, A. W., i. 423 ; ii. 186.
Edward, i. 257, 292.
,

South America, ii. 176, 177.

ii.
291; Albuera, 296,

HOWDELL.

Rocket Troop.
depot,
dress,

ii.
ii.

42 to 44.
ii. 44 to 46, 99,
249,

armament,

340, 418.
, Precedence,
,

ii.

officering of,

for, ii.^42,
,

Vide Rocket Troop.

37.

ii.

41.

50 to 53.

Selection

434.

comparison with Field Artillery,

ii.

45.

comparison with

siege, ii. 51, 268.

foreign service of, ii. 90.
in the Peninsula, ii. 249, 268, 284,
,
301, 307-8, 319, 325, 338, 348.
in Egypt mounted on lim, gunners
,
,

first

bers,

ii.

118, 119.

employed as

siege Artillerymen,
301, 325.
at Waterloo, ii. 416, 417, 421. Reductions, ii. 38.
Horses of Cavalry unsuited to Artillery,
ii.
122, 198.
for Militia guns, ii. 78.
for Artillery on service, ii. 198, 203,
212-13, 267-8, 340, 374,382, 385, 399,
417.
Hosmer, Thomas, i. 173, 174.
,

ii.

Hospital, regulations and stoppages,

17.

110.
of,
Hough, H., ii. 332, 362.
Houghton, William, i. 257.
House of Commons, i. 2, 69, 381.
Houston, General, ii. 228.
Howdell, Thomas, i. 224, 244.

Houat, island

ii.

ii.

16,

Index.

HOWE.

Howe, Lord,

90, 102.

ii.

Howitzers, brigade of, ii. 321, 323, 324

326, 327, 331, 333.
used as mortars, ii. 302.
at Waterloo, ii. 425
Howorth, Sir E., i. 226, 315, 381, 398.
appointed to R.H.A., ii. 35.
in the Peninsula, ii. 244, 267, 269.
passage of the Douro, ii. 246, 247-8.
at Talavera, ii. 255, 259.
at Busaco, ii. 278.
,
of command, ii. 309.
, resignation
H Troop (afterwards G). Vide "D"
Battery, A Brigade, and ii. 36, 435.
,

W.

254, 303
Hughes, Thomas, i. 104, 105.
P. J., ii. 154-5, 269, 283.
,

Huddlestone,

T. S.,

0.,

i.

i. 223.
R. B., i. 408 ; ii. 160.
G.
Hunter,
J., ii. 187.
Hussars, 15th (King's), ii. 100.

ii.

405, 407
Huy, siege of (1694), i. 92.
Hyde, G. H., i. 262, 413.
i.

ii.

ii.

at (1723),

i.

ii. 24, 38, 39, 76, 78 to 81.

incorporated as the 7th Battalion,
134.

218.

Jackson, D.,

186.

ii.

88.

Inconstant,' H.M.S., ii. 110.

India (East Indies), i. 136.
Indies, East, early employment of Artillery in, ii. 2, 32, 74, 108, 130.
,

Mutiny

of,

,West, R.A.

ii. 142, 421.

74, 105, 134, 260,

1857-9,
in,ii.

261.

Infancy of Artillery in England,

i.

35 to

44.

instruction of, in Artillery

76.
services of, in conjunction with
,
R.A.; in the American (2nd) War, ii.

Infantry,
drills,

ii.

395, 402, 407, 410.

in Egypt, ii. 129.

H. G.,

Ingilby, Sir

W.

B.,

i.

353,

223, 398, 406

373,

W.

ii.

G.,

John,

323.
154.
i.

i.

ii.

220, 244, 307, 323, 357.

56.

i.
223, 244.
Jena, battle of, ii. 150.
Jenkinson, George, i. 177, 403
356, 383-4.
Jerusalem, ii. 131.
'John,' Ordnance ship, ii. 110.
Johnson, Lieut. E., i. 127.
G. V., i. 398, 399.
,
, Thos., i. 220.

Jeffreys, Josiah,

ii.

257,

Johnstone, J. W., ii. 314, 332, 362, 364.

B
i. 226, 337.
, jWm.,
Jones, Capt.-Lieut. N., i. 158.
J. E., ii. 155.
,
Richard, i. 175, 399, 409.
Thomas, i. 229, 304, 315.
W. D., i. 224.
,
Jourdan, Marshal, ii. 360.
,

i.

396

ii,

89 to 91, 99

to 101.

Judice, Lieut., Portuguese Artillery,

364.

Junot, Marshal,

314, 430.
Innes, Alex.,

422.

i.

Judgson, Thos.,

at Copenhagen, ii. 161.

in the Peninsula, ii. 208, 246, 282,

295, 312, 317, 336, 349,

383, 426, 429, 441.
at Walcheren, ii. 225.

i.

177, 407 ; ii. 394.

R. E., i. 223, 425.

J'ans, T. R.,

408

75 to 77, 79,

Battery, 1st Brigade (2 Company,

7th Battalion), i. 421.
i.

70, 72,

Jago, D., ii. 431.

James, George, i. 180, 256 ; ii. 191.
Thomas, i. 308, 339, 378.
Jameson, Assistant-Surgeon, ii. 92, 101.

101-2.

"I"

Ilbert, C.,

ii.

Rebellion,

128.

ii.

Hyde Park, camp

Battalion
(Coast
Brigade), i. 40, 167, 268, 349.
Inventors and Inventions, ii. 15, 83.
Ireland, French invasion of, ii. 77.
Irish Artillery, Royal, history of the.
i. 160 to
168, 417.

"D"

Hussey, Wm., i. 127.

Hutchesson, T., i. 223.
Hutchins, H., ii. 362.
Hutchinson, Assistant-Surgeon,

Hutton, Henry,

264, 270.
Invalid Companies

Irwin, Fred., i. 226, 292.

Italy, expedition to, ii. 108.
R.A. in, ii. 147, 244.
,
I Troop
Vide
(afterwards H).
Battery, B Brigade; ii. 36, 44, 45,
425, 435.
Rocket Troop merged into, ii. 39.
,

General,

ii. 83, 137.

Institution, Royal Artillery, i. 7, 270.
Invalid Battalion, ii. 2, 16, 17, 22, 59,

138.

Hunt, A.,

493

Innes, P., i. 178.

Inspector of Artillery,

57.

ii.

88, 89.

ii.

KEANE.

ii.

ii.

206, 207, 208.

ii.

Kaye,
"
"

W.

L.,

ii.

157.

Battery, 4th Brigade (9

7th Battalion), i. 425.
Keane, Charles, i. 177.

Company

'Index.

494
Keane, Major-General,
407-8.

395, 397, 399,

ii.

Keats, Admiral Sir Richard, ii. 283.

Keith, F. M., i. 257.
, Lord,
Admiral, ii. 104, 108, 111,
115.
Kendall, R., i. 260.
Kennedy, G. R. H., i. 425.
Kenny, Assistant-Surgeon, ii. 191.
Kettledrums in the field, i. 14, 59, 126.

Kettlewell, J. W.,

Kilkenny Militia,

177, 225, 417.

76.

i.

ii.

421,

421, 424.

Brigade

ii.

ii.

in

62.

South America,

At Busaco,

269.

ii.

2nd American War,

ii.

383.
395, 396,

398-9, 401, 406.

ii.

ii.

186.

128.

in Flanders,

ii.

57.

in Portugal,

ii.

259, 260, 268, 269.

at Albuera, ii. 296, 297, 298.

at Ribera, ii. 329 (foot-note).

Lefroy, J. H.,

i.

Le Geyt, W.,

ii.

261.
74.
ii.

65.

Alexander (killed at Havannah,

i.

127, 188.

in Sicily,

ii.

272.

William, i. 180, 406;

Lempriere, Henry, i. 414.
W. C., ii. 396, 401.
,
Lennox, A. F. F., i. 176.
Lethbridge, T. A., i. 407.

ii.

431.

Levinge, G. C. R., i. 398; ii. 146.

Lewis, C. H., ii. 261.
George, i. 225, 272 ; ii. 92.
Jonathan, i. 126-7-8, 131, 156.
Thomas, i. 224.
Lexington, battle of, i. 301.
Lieutenants-General of Ordnance, i. 13,
,

Lannoy, engagements at,

La Pena, General (Spanish),

60, 63.
ii.

206, 207.

La Plata, ii. 170.

Latham, W., ii. 300, 301, 319.
Laval, General (French),
J. S., i. 180.

145.
ii.

Law,

ii.

passage of the Adour,

Vide also

Colonel-Commandant,

his character,

277.
,

as

details of ordnance, carriages,

116 to 127.

107.

in Portugal,

commands, ii. 95, 104.

ii. 104 to 108, 128, 132.

Egypt,

Lemoine, Edmund, i. 292, 411, 413.

i.
, John,
176, 256, 303.
at Toulon, ii. 67.
in
,
Egypt, ii. 105, 128, 132.
in Italy. At Maida, ii. 147 to 149.

177.

ii.

ii.

1762),

ii.

in

Leith,

60 to 62.

in Egypt,

144.

Legg, Lieut., in Flanders,

Leghorn. Vide Italy.
Leipsic, ii. 37, 38, 390.

57.

Landrecy, sieges of, in 1793,

in 1815, ii. 438-9.
Lane, H. B., i. 182.
,

ii.

ii. 404, 409-10.

, General,
Landen, battle of (1693), i. 92.

ii.

ii.

Lake, General, ii. 60, 78.

N. T., i. 404, 410.
,
Lambert, Bisby, i. 292-3.

Landmarks,

211, 345.

Laboratory, Royal, ii. 137.

Laborde, General, ii. 206, 207.
Lacy, R. J. J., i. 407, 424.

i.

ii.

Laye, F., i. 257 ii. 57.

Leake, Richard, i. 45.
W. M., i. 175.
,
in Turkey, ii. 131.
Vide also ii. 141, 186.
Leathes, H. M., ii. 429, 430.
Lee, Lieut., i. 188.
Lefebure, George, i. 399.

i.

Kuhlmann, Major, K.G.A.,

ii.

his

MSS.

&c.,

Wm.,

105.

ii.

at Ciudad Rodrigo, ii. 315, 316.

at Vittoria, ii. 353.

188, 189.

ii.

T.,

in Egypt,

in the Peninsula,

Kray, General, ii. 61.

K Troop. Vide " E " Battery,
and ii. 36, 38, 40.

127.
Koehler, G. F., i. 172, 257.
in Flanders, ii. 67, 68.
,
in Egypt, ii. 130, 131.
,
on the Staff, ii. 83.
,
Lieut.

ii.

57.

Vide also

Kirkduin, capture of the, ii. 96.

Klundert, capture of, ii. 54.
Knatchbull, T., i. 222.
Knox, Francis, i. 182; ii. 92, 101.
,

Robert, i. 174, 260, 396.

Robert, Capt., R.A., in Flanders,

Robert, Lieut-Gen., R.A., appointed

to the 1st Troop of R.H.A., ii. 34.

175, 176, 410,

i.

398, 401.

2nd American War,

Kirby, Stephen,
423 ; ii. 105.

ii.

-',

Kindersley, N., i. 229.

King C., ii. 394.
Robert, i. 176.
R. T., i. 179.
at Corunna, ii. 218.
in

T.awlor, P. W., i. 173.

Lawrence, Capt., R.M.A.,
Lawson, Barclay, i. 175.
D., ii. 433.

ii.

282.

15, 16, 17.

Light, Sir Henry, i. 174, 177, 424.

ii.
, H.,
230, 234.
Vide Dragoons.
Dragoons.

Index.

LTGNY.

engagement

at,

at San Sebastian,

60.

ii.

Linieres, General,

ii.

in,

R.,
ii.

206,

242, 273.

Robert,

211, 269.
Lloyd, General, ii. 82, 83, 136.
i. 173.
, James,
i. 180.
, Vaughan,
force of R.A. in,

William,

W.

J.,

ii.

188, 421-2, 424,

431-2, 434, 437.

Locke,

W.

E.,

of,

i.

308.
ii.

Lopez, Lieut. (Portuguese Artillery),

305.
Lord, M., ii. 160.

434, 436.
Louisbourg,
,

of,

Mathew,
i.

i.

ii.

ii.

95.
ii.

154, 430,

128.
i.

194 to 205.
'

314, 319, 324.

Lovell, C. N., i. 422.
i. 309.
, Lieut.,
Low, John, i. 421.
Love,

J.,

280, 415.
in

Walcheren,

ii.

223, 225, 231,

237.
his character, ii. 5 to 7, 92 to 94.
Madeira, ii. 262.
Madrid, ii. 214, 253.
Maestricht, capture of, ii. 65.
Vide ii. Appendix B.
Magnetical Survey.
Mahon, Port, ii. 109.
,

396, 400;

siege of (1758),

in R.H.A., ii. 34, 51.

as Brigade-Major and D.A.G., R.A.,
5, 6, 33, 9-2 to 94, 104, 135-6, 268,

drawing

74.

Loison, General,
206, 277.
Long Island (Brooklyn), battle
Major-General, ii. 329.
Longley, J., i. 422 ; ii. 142.

Louis,

ii.

Sir Joseph, ii. 83, 90, 101.

Macleod, Sir John, i. 183, 364, 368, 380,
398.

ii.

Lots,

R.,

Mackonochie, J., ii. 178, 187, 394.

Maclachlan, J., ii. 143, 186, 187.
Maclean, George, i. 225 ; ii. 145 (McLean
in Records).

186.
143.

ii.

ii.

399.

ii.
407, 408.
Macfarlane, Brigadier, ii. 161.
Mackenzie, Alex., i. 226.

175, 176, 181 ; ii. 154.

in Walcheren, ii. 188.

Vide also

i.

Macdougal, Major,

ii.

i.

at Waterloo

362, 364.

ii. 155.
At Orthes, ii. 385.
at Waterloo, ii. 430, 432, 434.

170-1, 180.

Duke of Wellington

ii.

in South America, ii. 169, 171.

at Waterloo, ii. 434.

Lindsay, George, i. 421.

i. 127.
, John,
Lisbon,

495

Macdonald, A. (Lt.-Gen.\ in the Peninsula, ii. 257 (as J., in Records).

Ligny, battle of, ii. 420.

Limerick City Militia, ii. 76.
Lincelles,

MAKGESSON.

ii.

Maida, battle

147, 150.
190, 362.
B. J., ii. 193, 194, 283.
,
Maitland, C. D., ii. 234.

Mainwaring,

Loyalty Loan, ii. 72.

L Troop, i. 403 ; 36, 38.
Lucknow, ii. 142 (note).

E.,

ii.

of,

ii.

G.,

ii.

142 (note).

General, ii. 421, 441.

-, Richard, i. 127, 187.
Major, regimental, rank of,
brevet of, ii. 356.
,
,

Ludlow, Sir George, ii. 161.

Lundy's Lane, battle of, ii. 394.
Lyon, H., ii. 160, 163.

Malgere, La, Fort (Toulon),

183.
Maberly, E.,
Macartney, A., ii. 234.
ii. 27.
, Viscount,
i.

ii.

3.

F., General,
i. 256.
A. (M.-Gen.), in R.H.A., ii. 36.
expedition to Ferrol, ii. 106 (in Records as McDonald).
in Walcheren, ii. 225.
,
,

Macdonald, Alexander,
,

at

Salamanca,

ii.

325, 327,

(note).
,

25.

ii.

67.

Malines, engagement at, ii. 64.

Maling, W. E., i. 182 ii. 160, 220.
Mallett, J., ii. 186, 193.
Malta, capture of, ii. 73, 109, 138.
for Egypt, ii. 105, 111
, expedition
force of R.A. in, in 1810, ii. 271.
,
Manilla, siege of (1762), i. 188.
Manley, D., i. 221.
;

i. 400, 413
ii. 362.
Archibald, i. 124.
i.
, Forbes,
6, 126, 127, 131, 134,
177, 190, 209 to 217, 242, 378.
Forbes (jun.), i. 177, 225, 407.
ii. 431.
, F., Col.,

Macbean, Alexander,

ii.

at Waterloo, ii. 424, 435, 436.

Vide also ii. 41, 143.

330

Mann, Gother,

i.

410, 425

ii.

57.

Manners, Charles, i. 179.

R., at Walcheren, ii. 188.
,

at Barossa,

at

ii.

283.

San Sebastian,

at Waterloo,

ii.

362.

431, 432.
Marabout Tower (Egypt), effect of Artillery fire on, ii. 129, 130.
Marchaud, General (French), ii. 277, 278.
Marchiennes, attack on, ii. 61.
Mare (Mace), James, i. 127.
Margesson, P. D., i. 408.
,

ii.

49 6

Index.

MAEIENBOURO.

May, Sir John (continued), passage of the

Marienbourg, siege of, ii. 438, 439.

Marine Artillery (Royal), ii. 398,

404,

405.

Markland, George, i. 260.

Marlborough, Chas., Duke

of, i. 33, 169.

John, Duke of, i. 14, 32, 63, 66, 79.
i. 263.
Marlow, B.,
J., ii. 186, 188.
,

Marmont, Marshal,
326 to 329.

ii.

245, 304, 307, 312,

Marmorice, ii. 113.

Marquois, Lieut., i. 367.
i.
221, 263.
226.
Nat., i. 124, 127.
Marston, M. C., i. 408.
Martin, D. N., ii. 285.
P., i. 179, 411.
i. 244.
, Wm.,

Marriott, T. B.

Marsh, Henry,

Bidassoa, ii. 375.

at Toulouse, ii. 388.
,
at Quatre Bras, ii. 421.
,
at Waterloo, ii. 434, 435.
,
Vide also ii. 154.
Mayo, North, Militia, ii. 76.
McCulloch, Lieut., i. 133.

McDowell, General, i. 6.
McKenzie, Alex., i. 182, 22S.
McLachlan, Alex., i. 181.
McLean, G., ii. 145.

F.,

72, 73.

Mason, R., i. 127.

Massena, Marshal, ii. 270, 276, 278, 284.
Massey, George, i. 414 ii. 155.
Masson, Thos., i. 423 ; ii. 106.
Master of the Ordnance, duties of the, i.
;

41.

Master-Gunner of England,

ii.

i.

i.

9, 11,

225, 356.

40, 45, 60.

i. 40, 41, 106, 434.

186, 261.
Matthews, J., i. 224.
Mauberge, siege of, ii. 438, 439.
Maude, F. C. (V.C.), ii. 142 (note).
G. A., i. 404 ii. 44.
Maunsell, J. E., ii. 431.
Maxwell, A. M., i. 220.
Stewart, i. 254.
in Egypt, ii. 107.
, S.,
in the Peninsula, ii. 345.
,
at Orthes, ii. 383.
,
at Toulouse, ii. 388.
,
Vide also ii. 154.
Sir John, i. 173, 398.

Master-Gunners,

Mathias, G.,

with Portuguese Artillery,

ii.

ii.

105,

148.

Messing on board ship, ii. 26.

Mess-room, establishment of Royal Artili.

391.

92.

,
,
,
,

expedition to Egypt, ii. 105, 108.

passage of the Bidassoa, ii. 375.
at Nivelle, ii. 377.
at Orthes, ii. 383.
in

2nd American War,

ii.

395, 396,

398-9, 401, 404, 406, 409.

in the Netherlands, ii. 439.
,

Vide also ii. 154.

Michelson, Borgard, i. 126, 127, 130, 133.
George, i. 124.
Middleton, W. A., i. 6, 400.
Military Society, formation of, at Woolwich (1772), i. 268-9.
Militia, Volunteers to R.A., 1799, ii. 74.
discharges of ditto, ii. 136 (note).
battalion guns with, ii. 76, 94.
horsing of ditto, ii. 77-8.
,

252,

ii.

310, 314,

Millar, William,

316.

411, 414;

at Busaco, ii. 278.

at Ciudad Rodrigo,

at

319.
Badajoz,
Salamanca, ii. 324.
Burgos, ii. 350.
Vittoria, ii. 353, 354.

at

San Sebastian,

at

ii.

Messina,

269.

i.

108.

ii.

in R.H.A., ii. 51.

at Copenhagen, ii. 160, 162.
at Corunna, ii. 244.

at

15-17,

ii. 82.
Michell, E. T., i. 257, 398 ; ii. 283.
Sir John, expedition to the Helder,
,

May,

at

ii.

Mediterranean, R. A. in, 1810, ii. 270,

271.
Mee, C. H., ii. 143.
Meek, Mr., Clerk of Stores, ii. 57.
Meelman, Lieut,, ii. 435.
Menou, General, ii. 130.
Mercer, A. C., i. 399, 408.
at Waterloo, ii. 422, 424, 428, 430,
434, and Appendix A.
return to England, ii. 442.
,

lery,

127, 133, 226.

i.

Meyrick, Mr., Paymaster, R.A.,

ii.

Wm.,

Meredith, David,

Masters-General of the Ordnance,

13, 14, 15, 19, 28 to 34;
in Ireland, i. 160, 162.

224.

79.

Martinique, i. 165, 178,419.

ii. 74, 260 (note).
, capture of,
contributions to the Loyalty Loan,
,

i.

Meadows, P., ii. 146, 160.

Medical Department, Ordnance,

Sir Joseph,

McLeod, Sir John. Vide Macleod, Sir John.

i.

ii.

MILLER.

ii.

ii.

361, 364, 366.

415

ii.

182, 222,

i.

259, 411,

36, 105 (Miller in Records),

146, 186.
,

James,

i.

405, 406

Miller, Colonel F.,

,

William,

i.

i.

3,

221.

41.

ii.

105.

Index.

MILMAN.

Milman, G. H. L., i. 259.

Minden, battle of (1759),

company of

Miners,
159.

i.

1756),

Minnies, George, i. 107.

Minorca, i. 69, 94, 124.
defence of (1782),
,

siege of (1695), i. 92.

Napier, C. F., i. 417, 423.
C. G., i. 182.
,

Namur,
i.

291 to 296.

capture of, ii. 73.

as head-quarters of R.A. in the
Mediterranean, ii. 109.
for Egypt, ii. 105, 108,
, expedition
109.

Hpira, Lord,
58, 64.
Molesworth, A. 0., ii. 160, 433.
R. C., i. 414.
,
ii.

Money, Captain, R.N.,

battle of,

401.
322.

Monveaux, engagement

i.

at,

63.

ii.

45.
ii.

J.,

218-20.
Morales (Spain),

Morgan,

E.,

i.

211,

213-14,
ii.

216,

45.

406.
;

220, 422.
i. 182, 417.
, H. J.,
Morrison, William, i. 260.
, expedition to the Helder, ii. 92.
, at Gibraltar, ii. 271.
in the Peninsula, ii. 205, 340.
at San Sebastian, ii. 361, 367.
of the Bidassoa, ii. 375.
, passage
at Nivelle, ii. 377.
,
Vide also ii. 141.
Mortars, howitzers used as, ii. 302.
General Lawson's remarks on,
125.
Mosse, C., ii. 156, 375, 377, 380.
Moubray, E., i. 413.
Mountain batteries, ii. 376, 379, 382.
Morris, C. H.,

Troop, i. 404 ; ii. 36, 38.

Muckell, Captain-Lieut., i. 203, 229.
Mudge, Wm., i. 175 ; ii, 92, 132.

Mules, for artillery draught ; in Egypt,

ii. 126.
in the Peninsula, ii. 343.
,
Mulgrave, Fort (Toulon), ii. 68.
Mundy, P. H., i. 223, 401, 415.
Munro, A., in Walcheren, ii. 232.

2nd American War,

ii.

396, 407,

410.
Vide also
,

W.,

VOL.

ii.

II.

pages 140,
105, 332.
ii.

401.

discontent and mutiny, ii. 70, 71.

strength in 1799, ii. 73-4.
Nedham, W. R., i. 263.
Negroes, employment of, in the Field,
ii. 408.
Neill, General, ii. 142.
Nelson, Admiral, Lord, ii. 68, 73.
Netherlands (1794), i. 165.
Nevett, C. H., i. 179.

,">!'>

i.

182, 424.

Newfoundland, i. 124, 128, 190.

Newhouse, Chas., i. 225.
in Flanders, ii. 67.
Exped. to
Egypt, ii. 105. Siege of Copenhagen,
,

160, 162, 163.

Orleans, expedition to, ii. 392, 410.
Newton, H. P., i. 173, 177, 401.
ii. 74.
, L.,
L. H., i. 177, 220.
,
New York, the Gunner Governor of, i. 325
to 347.
Ney, Marshal, ii. 275, 278, 420.
Niagara, i. 420.
ii. 393.
, Fort, capture of,
Nicholls, 0., ii. 92, 101.
ii.

Nicolls,
ii.

in

ii.

85.

New

i.

ii.

vessels,

Neville, Chas.,
affair at,

173 ii. 362.

Morocco, adventures of Bombardier Turner in, i. 244 to 250.
i.

H.,

2nd American War,

bomb

In South

Moor, H. R., i. 176, 223.

Moore, G. A., ii. 188.
Jonas,
Sir

in

162.

ii.

Monte Video, ii. 168, 170.

Montressor, H. W., i. 413.

at Copenhagen,
,
America, ii. 169.

Monro, F., ii. 362.

Montague, W., ii. 433.

at Waterloo, ii. 420, 428,

,
,
431, 432.
Vide Bonaparte.
Napoleon Bonaparte.
Navy, Royal, in connection with R.A.
to
the
exped.
Helder, ii. 88. To Egypt,
ii. 104, 107,
115, 121.

ii.
i.

16, 31.

i.

i.

Monmouth,

497

Murray, Colonel, ii. 164.

Musgrave, Sir Christopher,

206 to 217.

(raised

NUTT.

,
,

W.

D.,

i.

414.

attempt on Ferrol, ii. 107.

in South America, ii. 175, 177.
Vide also

ii.

Nicopolis, action at,

152.
ii. 127.

206, 208.

Nightingale, General,

ii.

Nile, battle of the,

73.

ii.

operations on the,

ii.

124, 126, 128.

siege of, ii. 65.

Ninety-Six, battle of, i. 368.

Nimeguen,

Nive, river, passage of the, ii. 380.

Nivelle, battle of, ii. 192, 377.
Proportion of guns to troops in, ii. 412,
Nivion, Captain, ii. 271.
Nixon, M. D., i. 183.

Non-commissioned

officers, proportion to
gunners, ii. 136. Chevrons for. ii. 137.
i.
124, 127.
Northall, John,
Nutt, G. F., ii. 1055 108.

2 K

Index.

9TH BATTALION.

498

9th Battalion: formation,

records,

ii.

151.

Its

140, 152.

ii.

10 Companies, with their

present designations and the succession of Captains, ii. 151 to 157.
"
"D"
ii. 58.
9th Brigade " B
Battery,
"E "
ii. 157.
ii. 144.
Battery,
Battery,
"G"
ii. 152.
Nos.

1 to

Battery,

9th Regiment, ii. 207, 282.

93rd Regiment, ii. 395, 408, 409.
95th Regiment, ii. 257, 396, 408.

O'Brien, H. H. D.,
L.,

423.

i.

Assistant
(note), 259.
O'Connell, R., i. 224.
N.,

Officers, Artillery,

of Versailles,

conduct

257

ii.

Surgeon,

employment on Army

Staff

of,

82, 83.

ii.

interchange between Horse, Field,

and Siege Artillery, ii. 50 to 53.
for command of an army in the
Vide Artillery.
Field.
for ditto of Artillery. Vide Artillery.
,

Orlebar, J. R.,

pensions to widows, ii. 83, 84.

Ogilvie, J. F., ii. 156, 168, 169, 170.
O'Hara, Augustus, i. 368.
Oldfield, Anthony, i. 262.

Richard, i. 3.
Olivenca, investment of, ii. 288.
Oliver, N. W., i. 181, 261, 398
232.
ii.

Pakenham, Sir E., at Salamanca, ii. 327.

in 2nd American War, ii. 397, 399,
,

400-1, 403, 405.

ii.

408

154,

W.,

407.

ii.

Henry,

ii.

191-2, 355,

Sir J. E. G.,

J. B., in

ii.

155, 430, 433.

Walcheren, ii. 232.

Vittoria and San Sebastian,

at
345, 353, 361, 364.

at Waterloo, ii. 432.

Parliamentary Returns, ii. 87.
Parry, Simon, i. 174, 181.
Pascoe, J., at Burgos, ii. 332.
,

ii.

430.

at Toulouse,

ii.

ii.

388.

Thomas, i. 127, 158, 194.

Orders, Regimental (1743 to 1756),
141 to 150. (1758-9), i. 191-3.
Ordnance, Clerk of the,
of,

ii.

435.

Hon Board

ii.

362, 396.
i. 259.
Palmer, G. G., i. 259.
i. 224
ii. 154.
, R.,
Pampeluna, blockade of,
360, 373.
Paris, R.A. in, ii. 438.
Peace of, ii. 441.
Parker, Sir E. G., i. 224.

ii.

375.

i.

i.

i.

17.

volvi uy.on the Artillery alone,

Select Committee, ii. 83.

San Sebastian, ii. 361.

at Vittoria, ii. 353.
passage of the Bidassoa, ii. 375.
Vide also ii. 142.

at

Paterson, Thomas,
162.

i.

181, 183;

ii.

160,

General: i. 6, 117, 124, 134,

152, 301, 320, 325 to 347; disputes
the
with
Board, ii. 9.

Pattison,

1, 9, 10, 19,

23 to

28, 137 ; ii. 8 to 11, 74, 82, 109, 176,

196.
Lieuts. -General of, i. 13, 15, 16, 17.
,
Masters-General of, i. 9, 11, 13, 14,
1
15, 19,28 to 34; ii. 137, 356.
materiel and transport should de,

his death,

245, 246, 247.

ii.

R. H., at Vittoria, ii. 353.

at San Sebastian, ii. 362.
,
,
passage of the Bidassoa,

Palliser, H.,

(note).
ii.

Pack, General, ii. 171-2, 191.

Paget, Lord, ii. 100, 219, 228.
i.
, L. G.,
398, 399.

74.

Oporto, operations at,

Ord, F. W. C., i. 407.
i.

in,

141, 269.
Oxen, for Artillery draught, ii. 126, 203,
342.
100th Regiment, ii. 78.

Onslow, P. V., ii. 430.

Sir Henry, i. 172.

G.,

19.

H.

i.

160.

J. W., i. 223, 225, 415.

Orthes, battle of, ii. 383 to 385.
,
proportion of guns to troops
ii. 412.
Ostend, expedition to, ii.. 88, 188.
Otway, Charles, i. 224 ; ii. 154.

Pallisser,

R.,

ii.

Ormsby,

Ommaney, M.

46.

1.

between 1783 and 1792,

13.

ii.

i.

Treasurer of the,

reduced through Peace

ii.

of,

II.,

Outram, Sir James, ii. 142

Owen, H., i. 409.
Owen, W. (H. in Records),

421.

i.

Ordnance, Storekeeper of, i. 17.

Surveyor-General of, i. 17.
Tables of, in the reign of Charles

ii.

121.

command in America, ii. 89.

Leonard, i. 126, 127.
M., ii. 74.
Thomas, i. 124, 127, 128, 131, 156.
his

Patullo, D., ii. 186.

Paul, A., i. 182.
Pay of the R.A. in 1810,

ii.

262.

Index.

PAY.

Pay of the Army,

ii.
71, 79.
40, 42, 48, 53, 58, 60, 62,

i.

Lists,

64, 116.
1-

Paymasters, R.A., Regimental,

Payne, William, i. 182, 259.

W.

i.

Peirce, H.,

ii.

133.

267-

Peronne, capture of,

Pester, Hen., i. 399 ;
Petitt, James, i. 82.
J. F., i. 432.

144, 283.

,
,

,
,

ii.

ii.

Pichegru, General, ii. 62 to 65.

Pickard, H. W., ii. 188, 189.
Pickering, W. H., i. 220.
Picton, Sir Thomas, ii. 312, 384, 421.
Piegri, General, ii. 148.
Pigou, A. C., i. 182.
i. 127.
Pilkington, R., ii. 236.
or
Prize, ancient law
Pillage,
Pitt, William, ii. 150.
Pombal, action at, ii. 284.
Pondicherry, siege of (1748),

Pike, Thomas,

ii.

240.

i.

136.

Popham, Admiral

Sir Home, ii. 88, 164,

168, 169, 335.
i.
190, 242.
Portugal, R.A. in,
(Artillery Services), Expedition to,

1808

its object,

its

ii.
ii.

195-6.
202-3.

composition,
ii. 196.
, Artillery equipment,
attitude of the Board of
,
nance, ii. 196 to 202.
,

,
,

horses,
"
"

Car

198, 203, 212-3.

Brigade, ii. 205.

ii.

ii.

Home

combat of the Coa,

suit,

260,

ii.

Policy,

ii.

28*5.

Fuentes d'Onor,

ii. 285.
Badajoz, First Siege, ii. 289 to 293.
Second Siege, ii. 299 to 304.
Third Siege, ii. 316 to 320.
Albuera, ii. 294.

Campaign of 1811

force of R.A.,

command

ii.

307.

ii.

308.

of R.A.,

309.

ii.

Ciudad Rodrigo, ii. 309 to 316.

Siege Train, ii. 309 to 311.
Almaraz, ii. 321.

pursuit into Spain,

Campaign of 1812

,
,

tugal,

Ord-

ii.

273, 286.
ii. 275.
ii. 276.
, Artillery fire,
Torres Vedras,
,
Busaco, ii. 277.
279.
French evacuation of Portugal,
,
284.
conduct
of the R.A. in the pur,

248.

ii.

Campaign of 1810.
retreat to Portugal, ii. 257.
,
, Artillery materiel, ii. 259.
casualties, ii. 259.
,
plan of Campaign of 1810,
270.
force of Artillery, ii. 269.
,
,

339, 343, 344, 345, 349,

382, 385, 386, 387.
Poole, Henry, i. 180, 258.
W. S. ii. 431, 432.

in

Artillery,

ii.

Salamonde, ii. 248.

mobility and equipment of Field

ii.

of,

ii. 243.
of the Troops, ii. 244.
of R.A., ii. 244.

247-8.
,

William, i. 134, 185, 207 to 217,

,
244, 315, 369 to 373, 378 ii. 89.
ii.
57, 261,
Phillott, Henry, i. 406 ;
394.
ii. 156.
A.
i. 396 ;
T.,
Phillpotts,

196,

Artillery equipment, ii. 244.

draught, ii. 244.
plan of the Campaign, ii. 245.
plan of Algabaria Nova, ii. 245.
passage of the Douro, ii. 246-7.
French retreat out of Portugal,

438, 439.
Philippon, Governor of Badajoz, ii. 307,
308.
Phillips, R. F., ii. 362.

ii.

to Salamanca, ii. 211.

ii. 214 to 221.

command
command

356.

ii.

of the Artillery,

Campaign of 1809

83, 84.

Petley, J. C., i. 173; ii. 156.

Phelps, S., ii. 188, 431.
Philadelphia, retreat from, i. 322.

210, 211.
195, 208,

ii.

Corunna,

Philippeville, siege of,

march

441.

ii.

ii.

211.

ii.

to officers,
ii.

command

ii.

Pennycuick, J. F., i. 172.

Pensions to widows of officers,

Pontoon Train,

command of the Army,

211.

143, 153.

Good Service,

Pendlebury, James, i. 431.

Peninsular War, force of R.A.,
8-9, 307, 342, 345.
nature of Sieges, ii. 306.
,
conclusion of, ii. 389, 390.

Zambugeira, ii. 207.

Vimiera, ii. 208.
Convention of Cintra,

Paynter, D. W., ii. 141.

Pearse, A. T. G., ii. 83.
Pedley, H.,

499

Portugal (cont.\ force of R.A. in, ii. 204.

shortcomings of the Store Department, ii. 197, 205.
plan of the Campaign of 1808, ii. 206.
Roluja, ii. 206.

263.

i.

S.,

79, 82.

ii.

PORTUGAL.

its

ii.

ii.
:

321.

retreat to Por-

338.

plan,

ii.

339, 345.
338.

ii.

Artillery,

Pontoon equipment,

ii.

re-entry into Spain,

ii.

339.
339.

2 K 2

Portuguese Troops, command,

ii.

243,

Fuentes d'Onor,

incapacity of Beresford, ii. 293.

Artillery, command, ii. 243, 244,
251, 287, 310.
ii. 252.
, equipment,
ii. 269, 310.
, strength,
re-organisation,

279, 339, 345-6.

ii.

operations, ii. 2878.

at Badajoz, ii. 289, 305.
at Albuera, ii. 297.

Wm.

Ciudad Rodrigo,

at

314, 315, 316.

at Badajoz, ii. 319.
at Burgos, ii. 330, 331, 332.
,
at San Sebastian, ii. 361.
W. G., i. 410, 421.
,
Poynter, B. L., ii. 396.
Precedence of Royal Artillery.
ii.

Vide

Press-gang, ii. 137.

Prevost, Sir Geo., ii. 189, 260, 395.
Price, Assistant-Surgeon, ii. 218.
i. 400, 423.
, E.,
R. Blackvvood, i. 175.
Princetown, action at, i. 313.
ii. 232, 431.
Pringle, George, i. 410

J.,

92.

94.
Ramsgate,
Rank, local, to R.A. officers

with foreign

troops, ii. 252, 253.

Rashell, Thomas, i. 432.
Rations, in connection with the soldier's
pay, in 1796 to 1799, ii. 71, 82.

disputes with the Board,

234.
S. J., i. 409.
,
R.
B., i. 261.
Rawnsley,
R. *B., ii. 152, 157.
,
Records.)
Vide Raynes.
Rayner.
Raynes, W. A., i. 182.
at

S.,

ii.

107.

ii.

Copenhagen,

(*A. B.

160.

ii.

in the Records.)
expedition to Cadiz,

428-9.
439.
107,

121.
143, 148, 272.
Pym,
Pyne, R., ii. 146.
Pyrenees, battle of the, ii. 192.
R.,

ii.

ii.

in

ii.

ii.

(Spelt

190.

at Vittoria, ii. 191.

at River Adour, ii. 192.

ii.

of

ii.

Pritchard, W., ii. 74.

Proctor, Colonel, ii. 393.
Promotion in R.A. of officers, ii. 25, 27.
of non-commissioned officers, ii.
,
342.
Prussians at Waterloo, ii. 420, 422, 423,
in the Netherlands,

32, 33.

Duke

Rayner

Pufflech, action at, ii. 64.

Pulteney, Sir Jas., ii. 96 to 99,

ii,

359, 360.
his character, ii. 357, 360, 415, 427.
his death, ii. 427.
Ramsey, George, i. 222 ii. 205.

Rawlinson,

Artillery.

380, 382.

ii.

as a Horse Artillery officer,

placed in arrest by the

at

at Waterloo, ii. 415, 424, 426, 427,

,
430, 432, 434, 436.

Wellington,

ii. 316.
character of the officers, ii. 252.
of the troops, ii. 251, 274, 277.
,
Poulden, R. M., ii. 152.
Power, Francis, i. 410, 416.
i. 425.
, James,

Sir

passage of the Nive,

at Bayonne, ii. 381.

at Ciudad Rodrigo,

'

(continued),
32, 285.

ii.

at Vittoria, ii. 338, 353, 358.

at Nivelle, ii. 377, 379.

Wm. Norman

Ramsay,

293.

REOIMENT.

Index.

PORTUGUESE.

500

at Tarifa, ii. 193.

at Seville, ii. 194.
Raynsford, E., ii. 105.
R. T., in Portugal,
at Corunna, ii. 215.

ii.

203, 211.

at Badajoz, ii. 300-1.

Records, regimental, centralisation, desirability of, ii. 140, 152.
ii. 287, 325, 351.
, Peninsular,
Recruiting in 1803, ii. 139 ; 1805-6, ii.

150, 151
1809, ii. 267 ; 1812, ii. 322.
Redinha, action at, ii. 284.
Reductions, after Peace of Versailles, ii. 1,
;

2, 38.

Quarter-masters,

ii.

12, 25, 136.

45, 420, 421.

Quayle, John, i. 174.
Queen's County Militia, ii. 76.
QuieVrain, action at, ii. 59.

Quatre Bras,

ii.

after Treaty of Amiens, ii. 135 to

,
137.
after Waterloo, ii. 442.
,
Reeves, John, i. 274.
Regiment of Royal Artillery, first estab-

lishment
Raglan, Lord,

i.

11, 16.

396, 402.
John, i. 181.
P., ii. 58.

Wm. Norman,

passage

Ramsay, A.,
,

in Egypt,

ii.

ii

177, 401, 403.

of the Bidassoa, ii. 375 ;
107 ; in Portugal, ii. 259.
i.

of,

i.

61.

of.

Vide History.

history

permanent establishment

of,

i.

79

to 82.
,

growth

of,

157.
establishment
,
391,

i.

104,

of, in

106,

1782,

i.

131-2,

383

to

Index.

REGIMENT.

ROSS.

408.

Regiment of Royal Artillery, strength

Roberts,

Vide Establishment.
Regimental esprit, i. 170, 206.

at Barossa, ii. 190, 193.

at Cadiz, ii. 269.
,
at Seville, ii. 194. Vide also
,
Robertson, L. B., ii. 145.

of.

Orders (1743 to 1756),

i. 191-2-3.

i.

141 to 150.

(1758-9),

Regnier, General, ii. 148.

Reid, F. (Read in Records),

ii. 218.
John,
221, 315.
Reille, General (French), ii. 351.
Reilly, W. E. M., i. 421.
Reliefs of R.A., system of, in 1803, ii. 134,
135.
Renuy, Colonel, ii. 408, 409.
Repository, Royal Military, foundation of,
i. 351.
Reserve, Army of, ii. 139.
Restoration and Revolution of 1688, i. 45
i.

Robinson,

S.,

W.,

ii.

Rockets at

ii.

Riddell, C. J. B.,

i.

ii.

ii.

Duke of Wellington on employmeut of, ii. 376, 416, 417.

ii.

36-7, 382.

383.

ii.

406, 410.
at Waterloo, ii. 37, 416, 438.
reduced, ii. 37-8.

became I Troop, ii. 39.

Rocket troops, i. 393-4, 404.
Rocroy, siege of, in 1815,
Roe, Marcus, i. 180.
Rogers, David, i. 243.
Henry, i. 372, 406.

439, 440.

ii.

R.A. Regimental School, ii. 82.

Helder expedition, ii. 90, 101.
at Copenhagen, ii. 160, 162, 166.
in Portugal, ii. 196.
,
at Roli9a, ii. 207.
at Vimiera, ii. 208 to 210.
succeeded in the command, ii. 211.
in Lisbon, ii. 244, 269.
of Soult, ii. 248.
, pursuit
in command of Driver Corps, ii.
267.
Badajoz, ii. 319.
ii. 332.
, Salamanca,
Burgos, ii. 336.
rewards, ii. 340.
W. L. (son of the above), at Burgcs,
ii. 332.
Mountain Battery, ii. 376, 379, 382.
,
at Nivelle, ii. 378, 379.
ii. 382.
, Adour,
at Waterloo, ii. 376, 430, 432.
,
,

421, 422.

R. F.,

i.

222.

Roncoux, battle of, i. 131.

Rooke (Rook in Record), C.,
William, i. 108.

ii.

105.

Rosetta (Egypt), bombardment

Ross, battle

57, 68.

ii.

Rollo, J., ii. 107.

Romer, R. C., i. 422.

Thomas, i. 221.
at Quatre Bras,

at Waterloo, ii. 424, 426, 431, 437.

Rolia, battle of, ii. 195, 201, 206.

John,' i. 172 ; ii. 74.

R. E. H., i. 417.

ii.

409.

ii.

56.

2nd American War,

at Orthes,

185, 265.

Roberton, Archibald, i. 174

Roberts, G. F., ii. 186.
John, i. S53.

190.

at Leipsic, ii. 37-8, 390.

in 2nd American War, ii. 395,
399,

i.

in Flanders,

i.

Copenhagen, popular error,

Robe, Thos. Congreve, i. 183.

Sir William, i. 183, 262.
,
,

183.

first use of, as a

siege weapon,
164, 225.
at Flushing, ii. 229.
in the Peninsula, ii. 376.

7, 33.

ii.

i.

261

Rocket Troop, 1st formed,

2nd formed, ii. 37.

261.
ii. 92.
;
140, 152.

Rimmington, S.,
Riou, P., i. 409

i.

416.

Riding Establishment,

74.

at Waterloo, ii. 416-17, 438.

at Leipsic, ii. 390.

ii.

186.

164.

ii.

Artil-

Returns, Parliamentary, ii. 87.

Revolution, ii. 28, 54.
Rey, F., i. 176.
ii. 271.
Reynell, Samuel, i. 409
Rhodes, Isle of, ii. 113, 121.
Riall, General, ii. 187.
Richards, James, i. 105.

Ritchie, J.,

J. S.,

ii.

261.

i.

ii. 152.
;
Rochfort, George, i. 374.
to (1757),
, Expedition
,

in

of,

i.

Robison, Chas.,

to 59.

Retirement, ii. 26.

Rettberg, Capt., King's German
Vide De Rettberg.
lery.

Richmond, Duke

Wm.,

of,

ii.

Major-General,
Patrick, i. 261.
Sir

Hew

retreat

D.,

of,

ii.

i.

from

ii.

395.

16, 396.

Talavera,

ii.

259-60.
,

in Portugal,

ii.

269.

combat of the Coa, ii. 276.

at Busaco, ii. 277.
pursuit of Massena, ii. 284-5.
Badajoz, ii. 319.

Salamanca,

-,

128.

76.

ii.

325, 335.

257,

Index.

502
Ross, Sir
ii.

Hew

San Sebastian, R.H.A. employed

D. (continued), at Vittoria,

at Nivelle, ii. 377-8.

at Nive, ii. 381.

Saratoga, Convention

return to England, ii. 383.

at Orthes, ii. 383-4.

Royal Arsenal,

i.

Military Academy,
121.

i.

13, 19,

108 to

Jacob,

J. A.,

i.

i.

Scott, Alex. J., i. 175, 323.

C. F., i. 176.
,

David, i. 172, 176.

George, i. 175, 176, 399.
H. A., ii. 153, 186 (in Record as

ii.

282.

H. Scott).

415.

;
expedition to the Helder, ii. 96,
97, 98, 99.
French invasion of, ii. 323, 339.
,

Royal Artillery. Vide articles "Artillery,"

" Irish
" Horse
Artillery,"
Artillery,"
"
Foreign Artillery," "Siege Artillery."
"
"
Establishment," and
History."

P. F. G.,

Thomas,

William,

ii.

321 to 330, 341 and

347.

proportion of guns to troops

in,

ii.

412.

Salamonde, affair at, ii. 248.

Salmon, G., i. 411, 416 ii. 106.
Sandham, Chas. F., i. 226, 261.
,
,

at Copenhagen,
at Quatre Bras,

at Waterloo,
,
also ii. 146.
Geo. i. 175.
,

ii.

ii.

160.
421.

424, 426, 431.

i.

223, 408.
ii. 257.

182 ;
257 ;

Senegal,

i.

ii.

140, 143, 231.

War,

i.

2, 6,

105,

186.

War

(1756-1763),

i.

184

to

193.
Seville, capture of,

ii.

194, 330.

Seward, E., ii. 186.

Thomas, i. 261, 274 ii. 107.
Shafts, General Lawson's observations on,
,

ii.

124.

Shakspear, G. B., i. 222.

Shand, Alex., i. 180, 319.
Sharpin, W., ii. 431.
Shaw, C., ii. 362.
Sheaffe, General, ii. 393.
Sheldrake, John, i. 177, 220.
Colonel, ii. 212.
Shenley, W., ii. 186, 193, 269.
Shepherd, R., i. 422.
,

ii.

i.
i.

Scriven, S., ii. 261.

Secretary of State for
381.

Seven Years'
Sabine, Sir Edward, i. 244, 413.
Vide ii., ApMagnetic Survey.
pendix B.
Peninsular Records, ii. 339.
,
in 2nd American War, ii. 395.
,
Salamanca, Sir Jno. Moore's march to, ii.
211.
battles at,

300, 305,

de, i. 31, 55, 56, 59.

School, R. A. Regimental, ii. 82.
Scotland, march of Artillery in, i. 956.
Rebellion in, i. 128.
,

Russia

ii.

57.

i.

182, 400;

i.

i.

Schomberg, Duke

Ruffin, General (French),

Russell, H. C.,

W.

181, 292, 296; ii. 186.

223.
Scheldt, expedition to the, ii. 226, 227.
Schlundt, J. L., i. 431.
J. S., i. 431.

7,

Military Repository, i. 351.

warrants, i. 426 to 438.
Roza, General (Portuguese), ii. 346.
Rozieres, Capt. (Portuguese Artillery),
ii. 364.
Rudyerd, S., i. 424; ii. 188, 431.
ii.

ii.

16.

to 168.

C.,

316-17;

B.,
398, 406.
Savage, J. M., i. 177.
Schalch, Andrew, i. 176, 411, 416.
A. 0., ii. 57, 157, 170.
A. 0. W., i. 261.
,

270.
Artillery Institution,
Horse Artillery, i. 37, 393.
Irish Artillery, History of the, i 160

W.

Wm.,

Saunders,
433.
,

i.

i.

Sardinia, Royal Artillery engaged by the

king of (1744), i. 242.

63.

ii.

of,

20.

at Waterloo, ii. 418, 424, 426, 430.

Vide ii., Appendix A.
Peace, ii. 442.
Rosslyn, the Earl of, ii. 162.

Rotton, Guy, i. 414.

Roubaix, engagement at,
Rowan, H. S., i. 263.
Rowland, G. T., ii. 154.

as siege

artillerymen, ii. 325.

Miners, ii. 292.
Sappers and
'
1
Sappho frigate, ii. 192.

345, 353, 355-6.

at Bidassoa, ii. 375.

SHRAPNEL.

Sheppard, Edmund,
Vide

Sandilands, P., i. 222, 400, 406, 425 ; ii.

430, 434.
San Sebastian, sieges of, ii. 338, 355, 360
to 372.

i.

180, 259, 406

ii.

186, 187.

Sherbrooke, General, ii. 246.

Sherrard, Daniel, i. 432.
Shone, T. A., i. 180, 408.
Shrapnel, Henry, i. 173; ii. 57.'
Shrapnel's spherical case (and shell) in
the Peninsula, ii. 210, 277, 278, 327.

Index.

8HUTTLEWOBTH.

Shuttleworth, A., i. 183, 259, 303.

Sicily, Garrison of R.A. in, ii. 147, 205,
271-2, 330.
Siege Artillery

301, 325.
Sillery, C. D.,

as,

ii.

423.
ii. 364.
General
Silveira,
(Portuguese), ii. 345.
i.

Simmons,

T. F.,

Simpson,

J.,

ii.

rp

Sinclair,' J.,
, J.
S.,

i.

140, 160, 218.

262, 414 ; ii. 156, 424,

Singleton, J., i. 413.

Skerrett, Colonel, ii. 190, 194.
Skinner, W. T., i. 416, 421.
Skyring, George, i. 260.

i.

93-5.

Wellington's difficulties, ii. 254.

passage of the Douro, ii. 245.
Alcabon, ii. 254.
Talavera, ii. 254.

his retreat

i.

from Spain,

ii.

257, 321,

330.

battle of Albuera,

ii.

295.

Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz,

307

327.
Salamanca,
entry into Madrid, ii. 329.
of
Cadiz
siege
raised, ii. 330.

Burgos,

at San Sebastian,

ii.

361, 364, 366,

368.
,

passage of the Bidassoa,

at Nivelle, ii. 377.
at Waterloo,

ii.

424,

ii.

374.

425, 430,

Cambray, ii. 440.

return to England, ii. 442.

at

Vide also
-,

ii.

ii.

Sir John,
, Major-Gen.
In the West Indies, ii. 74.

176, 380.
Gibraltar,

,
,

i.

127.

Thomas,

character
341.

i.

of,

command-in-chief of,

211, 242.
341.

ii.

ii.

at Corunna, ii. 217.

at Talavera, ii. 255.
at Albuera, ii. 295.
at Bidassoa, ii. 341, 371, 374.
at Nivelle, ii. 377.
at Toulouse, ii. 387.

430.

127, 244.
W. P., i. 181.
,
Smyth, E., ii. 271.
H. A., i. 262.
,

ii. 338.
passage of the Douro, ii. 345 ; of
the Esla/ii. 349; of the Ebro, ii. 351.
Vittoria and San Sebastian, ii. 352
to 371.
passage of the Bidassoa, and entry
into France, ii. 374.
,

271.
,R.,

335.

Spanish troops, equipment

154, 156.

Lieut., at Waterloo,

ii.

retreat from,

436.
,

ii.

of,

Spearman, A. Y.,

ii.

i.

250, 254, 257, 295,

181, 408-9;

ii.

83.

W., ii. 57.

Smythe, W. J., i. 413.
Solignac, General,

160.

C.,

ii. 209.
Somerset, Lord Edward, ii. 383.
Mark
Somerville,
(afterwards Lord),

ii.

to 320.

ii.

386-7.

expedition to Ferrol, ii. 107.

insurrection against Joseph Bonaparte, ii. 195.
,
expedition of 1808, force of R.A.
in, ii. 204.
Home policy, ii. 242.
,
,

411, 413.
ii. 362.
Slade, H., i. 408
Smith, Charles, i. 220.
F., i. 223, 257.
G. (R.A. Drivers), ii. 272, 314.
ii. 90, 101.
F. S., i. 409
, J.
J. L., i. 407.
J. W., i. 400.
in the Peninsula, ii. 340, 345.
passage of the Esla, ii. 348.
at Vittoria, ii. 353.

William,

ii.

in Portugal, ii. 205, 211, 215.

Vide also ii. 141.

at Toulouse,

Sowerby, James, i. 226.

Spain, War in (1704-10),

92, 97.

173
ii.

ii.

his loyalty, ii. 389.

at Bayonne, ii. 389.

,
,

ii.

431.

ii. 253, 257.

298.
retreat, ii. 298, 304.
at Badajoz, ii. 291, 307.
raises the siege of Cadiz, ii. 330.

Helder,

to Portugal,

at Albuera,

expedition to the

88, 89.
action of Zyp,

ii.

march

261.

ii.

247.
,

Silva, Lieut. (Portuguese),

1809,

in Spain;

ii.

Horse Artillery employed

at the Douro, ii. 247.

retreat from Portugal,

51.

ii.

Artillery,

Portugal

at Corunna, ii. 219.

at Algabaria, ii. 245.

compared with Horse and Field

503

216.

415.

ii.

Waterloo,

Marshal, in

Soult,

gunners as drivers at

8PENCKK.

ii.

ii.

431, 432.

Speer, R. A., ii. 396, 400, 404.

Spellen, J. W., i. 173, 175; ii. 261.
Spencer, George, i. 432.
Hon. R. C. H., i. 399.
,
,

Major-General,

ii.

161-2, 206.

58

54

Index.

SPHYNX.'

Sphynx.'

Vide Egypt.

Strangways, T.

Spicer, William, i. 221 ; ii. 168.

Spiller, G., ii. 145.
Sproule, F. M., i. 405, 408;
132.
St. Amand, battle of, ii. 59.
St. Clair, J.,

ii.

ii.

108,

261.

Sub-

scriptions of R.A. to the loyalty loan,

ii. 72.
St. Helena, local Artillery, ii. 169.
St. John, J. H., i. 262, 413.
St. Julian (Egypt), Fort, ii. 126, 128.
St. Lucia, i. 165.
ii. 74.
, capture of,
Malo, i, 190.
Stace, H. C., i. 421.

Stackpoole, G.,
Staff;

ii.

416.

ii.

74."

employment

on, of R.A. officers,

82, 83, 353.

Standish, D., i. 176.
Stanway, Henry, i. 176, 223 ; ii. 362.
Steenkirk, battle of (1692), i. 91.
ii.

Stehelim, Brigadier-General, ii. 260, 261.

Stehelin, Benjamin, i. 221, 410.
i. 180, 182, 244.
, Edward,
Stephens, Edward, i. 179.
i. 133.
James,
J. M., i. 180, 259.
Sterling, Admiral, ii. 169.
Stewart, P. D., i. 179 ; ii. 160.
W., i. 225, 424.
ii. 294, 295.
, General,
Stillwater, battle of, i. 315.
Stocks, the (Government), ii. 70.
Stokes, W. J., i. 413.
Stone, H., ii. 251.
Stoney Point, attack on, i. 353.
Stopford-Blair (in Records as Stopford),
,

ii. 177, 431.

Stopford, W. H., i. 221.
Vide Hospital.
Stoppages, hospital.
Vide Messing.
on board ship.
Store and Supply Department. Expedition
to Egypt, ii. 110. To Portugal, ii 199,
To Walcheren, ii. 237. Siege
ii. 243.
equipment for the Peninsula, ii. 205,
In
In Spain, ii. 248, 343.
249, 367.
Portugal, ii. 260, 310. In South America, ii. 403.
Stores for an expeditionary force, ii. 199.

proportion of, for battery in 1813,

343.
General Lawson on, ii. 121.
Story, R. W., i. 177, 183 ii. 261, 362.
Stow, Harry, i. 416, 422.
,

ii.

Strachey, S. (killed at
127, 128.
Strange, H. F.,
i.

404.
390.

At Waterloo,
430, 432.
Stranover, Lieut. Chas., i. 124, 127, 131.
Straps, foot, use of, at Monte Video, ii.
178.
Straton, Lieut.-General, i. 163.
Straubenzee, Thomas V., i. 175, 226.
Vide EstaStrength of Regiment, R.A.
blishment.
Stuart, Sir John, ii. 147, 148.
Sturgeon, H., ii. 108, 128.
Suchet, Marshal, ii. 386.
Suckling, R. G., ii. 58, 74.
Summerville, John, i. 221.
i. 124,
Surat, capture of (1763), i. 187.
Surveyor-General of the Ordnance,
45.
Swabey, W., ii. 160, 431.
Sweden, expedition to, ii. 203.
Sweeting, H. L., i. 416.
Symons, T. B., i. 172.

Sumpter, W.,

St.

Mr. Commissary,

i.

ii.

ii.

James P., i. 174, 407, 424.

Domingo, capture of, ii. 74.

F.,

at Leipsic,

St.

TENTAGE.

Havannah, 1762),

146.

17,

Sympher, Major, King's German Artillery,

At Ciudad
at Albuera, ii. 296, 297.
Rodrigo.
,

ii.

315-16.

at Salamanca,

327.

ii.

Vittoria,

ii.

353.

San Sebastian,
368. Nivelle,
376, 377.
Orthes, ii. 383-4.
ii. 424.
, Waterloo,
Sympson, James, i. 221.
2nd Battalion (or Brigade), ii. 105, 132,
134, 135. No. 4 Battery, ii. 310, 316.
ii.

ii.

No. 7. Battery, ii. 58.

6th Battalion (or Brigade),

ii.
74, 105,
110.
7th Battalion (or Brigade), Royal Irish
Artillery incorporated as, ii. 134.
No. 1 Battery, ii. 145. No. 3 Battery, ii. 440. No. 4 Battery, ii. 58, 61,
,

296,388.
17th Brigade, 7th Battery,

ii.

146, 300,

301, 318.

7th Regiment, ii. 282, 404, 408.

17th Regiment, ii. 98.
60th Regiment, ii. 256.
67th Regiment, ii. 282.
71st Regiment,

ii.

169, 180.

Talavera, battle of, ii. 254 to 260.

,
proportion of guns to troops in,
ii. 412.
Talbot, ii. 190, 191, 193.
Tarifa, siege of, ii. 193.
Tarragona, siege of, ii. 361.
Taylor, A. J., i. 256, 396 ; ii. 152.
i. 172, 222
ii. 140, 186.
, J.,
with the French, ii. 216.
, prisoner
ii. 152.
Teesdale, H. G., i. 396
Tentage, proportion of, in 1813, ii. 343.
;

ii.

i.

Index.

TERROR.'

74,

Terror,' bomb-vessel, ii. 58.

Terrott, Charles, i. 174.
,
expedition to the Helder, ii. 92,
101. In Walcheren, ii. 225. Claim to

Trinidad, capture

church bells, ii. 140.

Thomas, H. J., i. 220, 398.
Thompson, H. T., in Egypt,

South America, ii. 177.

Troughton, F., ii. 394.
Truscott, R., i. 223 ii. 218, 220.

ii.

105, 132.

At

G., at

name

spelt

Thomson, Alfred,

Thomson
i.

in Records.

G.,

Torriano, C., i. 225, 244.

Toulon, siege of, ii. 67.
Toulouse, battle of, ii. 386 to 388.
,
proportion of guns to troops

in,

412.J

207, 229, 272.

Tovey, Abram,
i. 127.
, Jacob,
Tower of London, i. 1, 12, 17, 60
Townsend, J., ii. 430.
S. P., i. 257.
,
i.

Trafalgar,

ii.

ii.

94.

i.
223, 337, 364.
Trains of Artillery in 1544-48, and 1618-

i.

42, 43, 44.

in June, 1685 (Sedgemoor), i. 48.

to resist the invasion of 1688, i. 52.

for

Marlborough's campaigns,

i.

63

to 70.

Vide
Transport of Artillery in] Egypt.
Egypt.
Vide America.
in South America.
and materiel should be under sole

Artillery control, ii. 121.

Trant, Colonel (Portuguese), ii. 207.
Travers, J. F. E., i. 258.
Trelawney, Edward, i. 261, 398, 399.
i. 183, 410, 423.
, H.,
Trelawny, H., ii. 105.
Trevor, E., i. 182 ; ii. 431.

Trichinopoly, battle of,

ii.

Trigonometrical Survey,

132.

57, 63, 90, 101.

at Badajoz,

i.

ii.

175, 423.
319. In

command

of the Portuguese Artillery, ii. 346.

at Vittoria, ii. 353.
At Nivelle,
,
ii. 377.
At the Nive, ii. 381.
Tupper, G. le M., i. 396.

Turkey, professional and scientific expedition to, ii. 130-1.

Turkish Artillery, ii. 130.
Turks, in Egypt, i. 104, 111, 121, 128.
Turner, Bombardier (in Morocco), i. 244
to 250.

George (afterwards Sir George),

225, 261, 400. ii. 157, 160. South
America, ii. 168. At Orthes, ii. 383-4.
At Toulouse, ii. 388.
George E., i. 416.
James, i. 413.
John, i. 263, 401.
N., ii. 269.
W. A., ii. 261.
Tylden, J., ii. 153.
Tylee, A., i. 224.
Tyler, Charles, i. 421.
3rd Battalion (or Brigade), ii. 105, 132,
135,417. No. 2 Battery, ii. 154. No.
4 Battery, ii. 431.
10th Battalion, old, formed, ii. 185.
Services of each Company to 194 and
280.
reduced, ii. 185.
ii. 185.
, present, formed,
12th Battalion, or Brigade, ii. 154, 185.
No. 7 Battery (formerly 4-8 Battalion), ii. 143.
13th Battalion, or Brigade, ii. 185. No. 7
8th Battery, forBattery, ii. 431.
,

i.

A pp.

merly 3rd Company, 8th Battalion,

ii. 42 (note).
3rd Regiment, ii. 246.
21st Regiment, ii. 395, 399.
23rd Regiment, ii. 88.
28th Regiment, ii. 282.
29th Regiment, ii. 78, 207, 246.
33rd Regiment, ii. 66.
37th Regiment, ii. 187.
38th Regiment, ii. 169.
Unett, G. W.,
at
,
162.

32.

ii.

62.

68.

Traile, P.,

28-39.

ii.

ii.

Tucker, J., ii. 261.

Tuite, H. M., i. 254.
,

i.

ii.

in

Tulloh, Alexander,

Thornhill, Robert, i. 421 ; ii. 186, 211,

215, 219.
Thornton, C. W., in Flanders, ii. 56, 60.
,
Colonel, in 2nd American War,
ii. 405, 408.
Sir C. W., i. 261.
,
Thring, J. E., i. 183.
Tiffin, William, i. 226.
Tilsit, treaty of, ii. 158.
Tipperary Militia, ii. 77.
Tireman, H. S., i. 257.
Tobago, capture of, ii. 74.
Tobin, J. W., i. 173 ; ii. 153, 154.
Tomkyns, R., i. 408 ; ii. 187.
Tone, Wolfe, ii. 77.
Torres Vedras, ii. 207, 260, 262 to 279.

ii.

in Flanders,

175, 415.

423.
H. T., i. 180.
Thorndike, D., i. 261.
,

of,

engagement at,
Trotter, Thomas, i. 254.
Troisvilles,

Busaco, ii. 277, 285.

Ciudad Rodrigo, ii. 310, 314.
,

\\

55

UNETT.

B.

siege

in the

i.

224, 425.
of Copenhagen,

West

Indies,

ii.

261.

ii.

160,

Index.

UNETT.

WATERLOO.

W, (conf.), at Cambray, ii. 440.

R. W., i. 425.
Uniform of Artillerymen, i. 59, 140-1,

Walcot, E. Y.,

154, 265, 412.

Unit of Artillery
342.

425.
Walker, C.,
E., i. 224.

Unett, G.
,

the

ii.

Battery,

135,

ii.

61.

Venloo, capture of, ii. 65.

Vernon, H. A., i. 224.
Verplanks, action at, i. 354.
Versailles, Peace of, reduction of

consequent on,

ii.

P.,

W.

P.

Viney, James (afterwards Sir James),

i.
424; ii. 211, 217.
Vinicombe, E. C., ii. 186.
Vittoria, French retreat to, ii. 350.
battle of, ii. 352 to 356.
official R.A. report of, ii. 351.
distribution of Artillery in, ii.
352-3.
arrest of Ramsay, ii. 358 to 360.
proportion of Guns to Troops at,
412.
Vivian, Colonel, ii. 383.
Vivion, J., ii. 146 ; 180.
Volunteer Forces (British), necessity for
discipline, ii. 250.
ii.

i.

Waal, the, operations on,

65.

ii.

124.

Walcheren, expedition to, ii. 223 to 241.

description of Walcheren, ii. 223-4.
,

object of the expedition, ii. 224.

its place in R.A. history, ii. 195,
223.
R.A. in, ii. 187, 188, 225 to 227.
,
distribution of R.A., ii. 228.
,
,
,

229.

rockets,

ammunition expended,

W.

229.

ordnance captured, ii. 235.

Supply Department, ii. 237.
ii.

237.

results,

claim to bells,

ii.

237

to 241.

65.

i. 222 ; ii. 88, 89.

(P. H. in Records),

command,

Walsh, B. T.,
172.

ii.

153.

i.

346-7

ii.
ii.

superseded

346.

416, 421, 422

ii.

170,

406.
Edward,
L. E., i. 172.
i.

Walton, Joseph, i. 181, 244, 292.

Warberg, battle of (1760), i. 214-15.

Warburton, G. D.,
Ward, A., ii. 430.
H.

J.

F. B.,

Warde,

i.

i.

414.

Vide Wood, J. H.
223, 396.

Brigadier,

at

Copenhagen,

ii.

161.
F.,

ii.

156, 430.

Sir E. C., i. 7, 398.

Sif Francis, i. 401.

Warrants, Royal, i. 426.

Warren, the (afterwards the Royal Arsenal),

i.

16, 118, 145, 147.

of, ii. 395.

George, i. 159, 299, 365.
Waterloo, ii. 412 to 442.
circumstances preceding,

Washington, capture
,

ii.

412-

13.

strength of the French Army,

423.
,

command of R.A.,
force of Artillery,
424, 430 to 433.
,

drivers,

ii.

ii.
ii.

ii.

414-15.
414-15, 417,

415, 417.

Store Department, ii. 416.

Rocket Troop, ii. 37-8,416-17,436,
438.
equipment and armament of Field
Artillery, ii. 245, 417.
equipment and armament of Horse
Artillery, ii. 417, 418-19, 423.
,

tactics,

ii.

420, 422, 423, 425, 426,

428.

Quatre Bras, ii. 421.

the battle, ii. 425 to 429.
reserve Artillery, ii. 424, 426.
Norman Ramsay, ii. 427, 434.
proportion of guns to troops, ii.
412.
ammunition expended, ii, 426, 438.
,
,

ii.

ii.

261.

in Portugal,

Wadsworth, General (American), ii. 393.

Waggons, Gen. Lawson's remarks on,

H.,

430,

1.

Vesuvius,' bomb-vessel, ii. 58.

Victor, Marshal, ii. 245,249, 281-2, 284.
'
Victory,' H.M.S., ii. 67, 68.
Vigo, bombardment of (1719), i. 96
Vimiera, battle of, ii. 208 to 210.
conduct of R.A. in, ibid.
,
ii. 205.
, Captain Skyring's Company,
Vinegar Hill, battle of, ii. 76.

ii.

ii.

Wall, Adam, i. 422; ii. 215, 440.

Wallace, P. M., i. 256 ii. 232.
Waller, C., in Flanders, ii. 57.
in Walcheren, ii. 225.
,
,

officers

423

F., i. 403, 420,

J. G., i. 409.

in the

ii.

in Records),

Val, battle of (1747), i. 133.

Valenciennes, siege of, ii. 55, 60.
Van Straubenzee, Thomas, i. 175, 226.
Vans, David, i. 226.
Vaudamme, General, ii. 100.
Vaughan, T. L., i. 322.
of,

400.

i.

Vaux, capture

i.

E. T. (E. Y.

436.

Index.

WATERLOO.

Waterloo

(continued), boon service, ii.

Vide Appendix A.
conduct of the Artillery, ii. 434 to
438.
Vide also Appendix A.
No. 2 Company, 10th Battalion,

433.
,

188.
No. 9
417.
ii.

Company, 3rd Battalion,

428, 435.
ii. 429.
reductions of Artillery after.
Reductions.
Waters, Colonel, ii. 246.
,

Troop,

ii.

ii.

407

in

Flanders,

Vide

ii.

56,

59.

Wellington, Duke of (con*.), 1812. Siege

of Ciudad Rodrigo, ii. 312 to 316.
3rd siege of Badajoz, ii. 316 to 318.
at Salamanca, ii. 323.
the battle of Salamanca, ii. 326 to
329.
enters Madrid, ii. 329, 330.
,
of Burgos, ii. 330 to 335.
, siege
retreats to Portugal, ii. 338.
1813.
Preparation, ii. 339, 341.
as Commander-in-Chief, ii. 341.
re-enters Spain, ii. 345.
at Salamanca, ii. 347-8.
passage of the Esla, ii. 349.
pursuit of Soult, ii. 349.
crossing the Ebro, ii. 351-2.
,

i.

South America, ii. 169, 170.

Jonas (killed at Carthagena, 1741),
in

61, 82, 103, 104, 123, 431.

Webber, W., ii. 431, 432.
Webdell, Phillip, i. 244.
Weetman, Agar, i. 173.
Weller, F., i. 410 ; ii. 145.

Wellington, Arthur,
first

under

Duke

fire, ii.

of,

i.

ii.

66.

passage of the Bidassoa, ii. 374 to

375.
enters France, ii. 376.
Nivelle, ii. 377 to 379.
ii. 380.
, Nive,
1814. Passage of the Adour, ii. 382.
Orthes, ii. 383 to 385.
,

ii.

206.

202, 208.
superseded,
Vimiera, ii. 208.
recall to England, ii. 211.
ii.

1809.

his opinion of the troops,

ii.

242.
243.

ii.

invades Spain, ii. 245.

passage of the Douro, ii. 246-7.
at Abrantes, ii. 249.
remarks on the Spanish Government and Army, ii. 250.
remarks on the Portuguese, ii. 251.
remarks on discipline, ii. 251.
Home policy, ii. 253, 270, 286.
his difficulties, ii. 254.
Talavera, ii. 254-5, 260.
retreat to Portugal, ii. 257.
at Badajoz, ii. 260.
occupies Torres Vedras, ii. 260,
274.
At Celorico, ii. 275.
1810.
retreats to Coimbra, ii. 276, 278.
Busaco, ii. 274, 276 to 278.
retreats to Torres Vedras, ii. 278-9.
,
defeats Massena, ii. 284.
,
Fuentes d'Onor, ii. 285.
,
1811. Advances into Spain, ii. 289.
on the battle of Albuera, ii. 298.
,
Badajoz, 1st siege, ii. 289.
2nd siege, ii. 301, 304.
, Badajoz,
at Elvas, ii. 307.
,
at Pontalagree, ii. 307.
,
Ciudad Rodrigo, ii. 312.
,

Toulouse,
peace,

ii.

386-7.

389.

ii.

1815.

Events of the

100 days,

412 to end.
,

the
the

Quatre Bras,

ii.

Resumes command,

360 to

ii.

10.

195-6, 205.
,

San Sebastian,

siege of

in arrest,

Ramsay

371.

at siege of Copenhagen, ii. 161, 162,

163, 164.
1808.
,
Expedition to Portugal,
at Roliya,

351 to 355

places Norman
357 to 360.

ii.

ii.

Vittoria,

i.

507

52nd Regiment,

Watson, A.,

\VI1INYATKS.

Army
Army

Belgium,

ii.

414-15.

at Brussels,

ii.

416, 420.

in

ii.

420-1.

Waterloo, ii. 422 to 429.

into Paris, ii. 438.
, entry
of Occupation, ii. 441
, Army
command of the Artillery, ii. 298,
346.
309,
,

his handling of Artillery, ii. 276,

335, 354.
his general tactics, ii. 306, 336, 354,
,
423.
contrasted with Napoleon, ii. 336.
of his letters, ii. 270.
, publication
on the conduct of R.A., ii. 357 and
Appendix A.
,

his character, ii. 66, 69, 202, 209,

,
245, 249-50, 254, 270, 286, 335.
Wells, F., ii. 186, 188, 434.
Weluvve (expedition to Flanders), ii. 66.
West India Regiments in 2nd American
war, ii. 395, 396, 399.

West

Indies.

Vide Indies.

123.
(1793-6), i. 165.
Weston, F., ii. 188, 319, 396.
Wexford, battle of, ii. 76, 78.
Wheatley, Colonel, ii. 282.
Whinyates, Sir E. C., i. 177, 39-i, 40 1

(1741),

404.

i.

5 o8

Index.

WHIN VAXES.

Whinyates, Sir E. C. (con.) appointed to

Rocket Troop, ii. 390.
in 8th Battalion, ii. 145.
}

expedition to the Helder,

WYNNE.

Wilson, General, ii. 374.

George, i. 171; ii. 57.
James, i. 260.

92.

ii.

J. A.,

siege of Copenhagen, ii. 160.

at Ribera, ii. 329 (note).
at Waterloo, ii. 390, 416-17, 422,

424, 426, 430, 432.

return to England, ii. 442.
as a Horse Artillery officer, ii. 51.
as Commandant of Woolwich, ii. 37.
his character, ii. 37, 51, 390.
,
White Plains, battle of, i. 310.

Whitelock, General, in South America,

170 to 182.

ii.

Sir Wiltshire, i. 172, 257, 259.

expedition to the Helder, ii. 88, 89.
in Flanders, ii. 57.

Winter, James,

Wolfe, General James,

Wood, Charles, i. 259.

Widows

of

ii.

in

pensions to,
i. 155.
Wilford, E. C., i. 257, 413.
E. M., i. 222.
Wilgress, Edward, i. 407.
E. P., ii. 170, 172.
,
officers,

83, 84.

ii.

409

132

416;

in

Walcheren, ii.
at
Peninsula, ii. 211
215 in command of Ar-

ii,

ii.

412, 414 to 417,

422, 424, 432, 434, 435, 437-8 with
the Army of Occupation, ii. 441 in
tillery at Waterloo,

ii.

old 10th Battalion,

ii.

(As E. A.

186.

in Record.)

i.

ii. 131.
197-8, 200, 205.

the

in

Corunna,

Widows' Pension Fund,

Wilkinson, Christopher,
269.
Wilks, John, i. 226.

Egypt,

225

90, 101.

i.

Sir David E., i. 224, 400.

Sir George A., i. 396, 398,

Sir Francis,

173, 175, 244, 262.

i.

Witham, Abraham, i. 182.

Wittman, W. (assistant surgeon),

dual government, ii. 175.

Whitty, J., i. 413.
Whitworth, Lord, ii. 138.
i. 220.
, F.,

181, 323.

i.

R. G. B., i. 177, 414.

Sir Robert, ii. 244, 344.

his incapacity, ibid.

181.

i.

Ralph,

ii.

153,

i.

222, 408.

J.,

J. H., at Vittoria,

ii.

362.

8th Battalion (as Ward),

Ralph, i. 432.
in

Woodward, Edward,

i.

ii.

145.

292.

royal warrant of, i. 429.

Williams, Edward, i. 315, 405.
Griffith, i. 175, 244.
Henry, i. 414.
Sir William F., i. 406.
W., ii. 144, 396.
T. G. T. (in Record as T. G.), at
,
Vittoria, ii. 362.
at San Sebastian, ii. 364.
in 2nd American war, ii. 396.
,

Woodyear, L., ii. 353, 354.

Woolcombe, P. J., at Barossa,

Williamson, Commissary and Paymaster,

13, 16, 47, 105, 140, 264.

Battalion or Brigade Headquarters
concentrated at, ii. 135.
Worsley, E. V., i. 261.

William

III.,

ii.

57.
,
,
,

,
,

i. 431.
George, i. 188, 194, 200, 243.
John, i. 174.
J. S., i. 408.
at Waterloo, ii. 424.
in Sicily, ii. 272.
Vide also ii. 144.

Edmund,

Williamstadt, siege of, ii. 54.

Willington, Bailey, i. 274, 411.
Willis, Browne, i. 409.
ii. 300.
, Lieut.,
Wills, B., ii. 244.
Wilmot, Edward, i. 225, 398, 410.
in Walcheren, ii. 230, 231.
in Portugal, ii. 211, 215.
at Corunna, ii. 218.
F. Eardley, i. 416.
H. R. Eardley, i. 407.
Wilson, A. R., ii. 160.
,

R., at Fuentes d'Onor,

ii.

190,

283.

Woolsey, O'B. B., i. 407.

Woolwich, Commandant
mandant.

of.

ii.

285.
Vide

Com-

Garrison Adjutant, or Brigade,

Major, or Assistant Adjutant-General,
83.

ii.
,

i.

Worth,

F.,

ii.

74.

i. 127.
181, 414.
Wright, A., siege of Copenhagen,
C. J., i. 179.
,
F., i. 408.
,
H. R., i. 425.
,
i. 173-4-5.
, Jesse,
,

Lieut. John,

Wragge, A. R.,

i.

160.

Flanders, ii. 56, 59, 60, 63.

at Corunna, ii. 220.
at Waterloo, ii. 430.
J., in

Robert, i. 179, 182, 262;

Wulff, George, i. 181, 261, 292.
Wyatt, H., ii. 186.
S., ii. 186.
Wylde, W., ii. 143, 186.
Wynne, C. R., ii. 155.
,

ii.

ii.

271.

4 COMPANY, 4TII 1UTTN.

YORKE.

Yorke, Capt.-Lieut., i. 242.

York, the Duchess of, ii. 82.
H.R.H. the Duke of, in Flanders,
,
ii. 55 to 65.
,

as

Commander-in-Chief,

ii.

Town, capitulation of,

Young, Brooke, i. 257, 409
C. C., i. 400
ii. 143.
,

71,

78.

(Upper Canada), capture

York, Lieut.,

i.

315.

ii.

of,

G. R. C.,

W.

B.,

i.

393.

Zuyder Zee,

ii.

Zyp, action

of,

97.
ii.

History, &c., i. 169.

i. 408.
i. 260, 303-4.
,
'
Vide " F
1st
Battalion.
1 Company,
Battery, 9th Brigade.
Vide 7 Battery, 21st Brigade.
2nd Battalion.
,
Vide "A" Battery, 4th Brigade.
3rd Battalion.
Vide 4 Battery, 7th Brigade.
4th Battalion.
"
Vide " F
5th Battalion.
Battery, 1st Brigade.
Vide "C" Battery, llth Brigade.
6th Battalion.
"
"
Vide
C Battery, 1st Brigade.
7th Battalion.
2nd Battalion, i. 169, 178.
2 Battery, 2nd Brigade, i. 407.
5th Brigade, i. 418, 424.
12th Brigade, i. 179.
,
13th Brigade, i. 221.
"
Vide " B Battery, 1st Brigade.
2 Company, 1st Battalion.
Vide 2 Battery, 12th Brigade.
2nd Battalion.
Vide 7 Battery, 13th Brigade.
3rd Battalion.
Vide 6 Battery, 3rd Brigade.
4th Battalion.
Vide "D" Battery, 8th Brigade.
5th Battalion.
Vide 6 Battery, 5th Brigade.
6th Battalion.
,
"
Vide " I Battery, 1st Brigade.
7th Battalion.
3rd Battalion, i. 218.
3 Battery 2nd Brigade, i. 407.
3rd Brigade, i. 408.
5th Brigade, i. 174, 207.
6th Brigade, i. 423.
7th Brigade, i. 224.
12th Brigade, i. 422.
Vide 7 Battery, 2nd Brigade.
3 Company, 1st Battalion.
Vide 7 Battery, 10th Brigade.
2nd Battalion.
Vide 2 Battery, 13th Brigade.
3rd Battalion.
Vide 8 Battery, 2nd Brigade.
4th Battalion.
Vide 2 Battery, 2nd Brigade.
5th Battalion.
Vide 4 Battery, 2nd Brigade.
6th Battalion.
Vide 3 Battery, 12th Brigade.
7th Battalion.
4th Battalion, i. 251, 301.
4 Battery, 2nd Brigade, i. 414.
3rd Brigade, i. 222.
,
5th Brigade, i. 176.
7th Brigade, i. 252-254.
13th
,
Brigade, i. 175-207.
Vide 3 Battery, 5th Brigade.
4 Company, 1st Battalion.
"
Vide " D
2nd Battalion.
Battery, 1st Brigade.
Vide 4 Battery, 3rd Brigade.
3rd Battalion.
4th Battalion, i. 257.
1st Battalion.

5th Brigade,
6th Brigade,

1 Battery,

74.

i. 423.
423.

90, 95

ii.

375.

ii.

Younghusband, Charles,

expedition to the Helder,

to, 101.
,

i.
;

97.

i.

222, 259.

4 COMPANY,

5TII

BATTN.

4 Company, 5th Battalion.

6th Battalion.
7th Battalion.
llth Battalion.
5th Battalion, i. 405.
,

2nd Brigade,

5 Battery,

3rd Brigade,
5th Brigade,

i.
i.
i.

1st Battalion.

5 Company,

2nd Battalion.

3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th

Battalion.
Battalion.
Battalion.
Battalion.
Battalion.

COMPANY, 5TH BATTN.

Vide 3 Battery, 2nd Brigade.

"
Vide " B
Battery, 8th Brigade.
"
Vide " A
1st Brigade.
" Battery,
Vide "
Battery, 4th Brigade.

182.
417.
410.
Vide
Vide
Vide
Vide
Vide
Vide
Vide

4 Battery, 13th Brigade.

8 Battery, 3rd Brigade.
Battery, llth Brigade.
"B "
Battery, 9th Brigade.
1 Battery, 5th Brigade.
"C" Battery, 8th Brigade; also
3 Battery, 6th Brigade.

"B"

i.

415.

6th Battalion, i. 410.

6 Battery, 2nd Brigade, i. 176.
3rd Brigade, i. 256.
5th Brigade, i. 413.
,
10th Brigade, i. 261.
,
Vide 6 Battery, 2nd Brigade.
6 Company, 1st Battalion.
Vide "G" Battery, 8th Brigade; also i. 181.
2nd Battalion.
,
Vide 7 Battery, 3rd Brigade.
3rd Battalion.
,
Vide 1 Battery, 6th Brigade.
4th Battalion.
Vide 3 Battery, 3rd Brigade.
5th Battalion.
,
"
Vide " F
6th Battalion (formerly 7 Company).
Battery, 8th Brigade.
,
Vide "D" Battery, llth Brigade.
7th Battalion.
,
7 Battalion (formerly Royal Irish Artillery), i. 163-168, 417.
2nd Brigade, i. 174.
7 Battery
3rd Brigade, i. 223.
10th Brigade, i. 180.
13th Brigade, i. 221.
21st Brigade, i. 179.
Vide 4 Battery, 5th Brigade.
7 Company, 1st Battalion.
Vide 5 Battery, 2nd Brigade.
2nd Battalion (formerly 8 Company).
Vide 3 Battery, 7th Brigade.
3rd Battalion.
Vide 6 Battery, 10th Brigade.
4th Battalion.
"
Vide " A
5th Battalion (formerly 9 Company).
Battery, 9th Brigade.
See also i. 409.
"
"
C Battery, 9th Brigade.
Vide
6th Battalion (formerly 9 Company).
See also i. 416.
Vide 2 Battery, 5th Brigade. See
7th Battalion (formerly 8 Company).
,
also i. 424.
303-4.
i.
2nd Brigade,
8 Battery,
257,
3rd Brigade, i. 181.
12th Brigade, i. 252, 263.
Vide "A" Battery, llth Brigade.
Company, 1st Battalion.
"
2nd Battalion (formerly 10 Company). Vide " A Battery, 14th Brigade.
See also i. 182.
"
3rd Battalion. Vide " D Battery, 4th Brigade.
"
Vide " E Battery, 1st Brigade.
4th Battalion.
,
Vide 5 Battery, 5th Brigade.
5th Battalion (formerly 10 Company).
See also i. 409.
Vide 5 Battery, 3rd Brigade.
6th Battalion (formerly 10 Company).
See also i. 416.
"
Vide " K
7th Battalion (formerly 9 Company.)
,
Battery, 4th Brigade.
See also i. 424.
i.
183.
9 Company, 2nd Battalion,
3rd Battalion, i. 226.
"
Vide " H
4th Battalion.
Battery, 4th Brigade.
Vide "A" Battery, 9th Brigade.
5th Battalion.
,

COMPANY, GTH BATTN.

9 Company, 6th Battalion.

7th Battalion.
10 Company, 2nd Battalion.
3rd Battalion, i.
,

,
,

4th
5th
6th
7th

Battalion.

Battalion.
Battalion.

Battalion,

i.

Vide
Vide
Vide
226.
Vide
Vide

neX.

10 COMPANY, ?TH BATTX.

I I

"C"
Battery, 9th Brigade.
"K"
Battery, 4th Brigade.
"A" Battery, 14th Brigade.

8 Battery, 12th Brigade.

5 Battery, 5th Brigade.
Vide 5 Battery, 3rd Brigade.
425.

LONDON

PRINTED BY W1LLJAM CLOWES AND SONS,

STAJIl-ORD STREET A*n CHARING CROSS.

REORGANISATION OF THE ROYAL

transformation of the Royal

by a regimental order, which was
yesterday received at Woolwich aud the other home
stations, under the hand of Field Marshal the Duke of
Cambridge, and by authority of the Secretary of .State
for War. The regiment will consist, as at present, of
Horse Artillery, Field Artillery, Mountain Artillery,
:iml Carrison Artillery, and have attached, as hereto-

complete

Artillery

is

fore, the Hiding

trict Staff, and

LIFE

of
LO

WITH

Canon

1879.

-.tober,

effected

Establishment, Coast Brigade, Dis-

Shoeburyness detachment; but the

whole of the brigade designations will be abolished, and
the batteries of each branch lettered and numbered in
consecutive order. Woolwich, the home and birthplace of the lloyal Artillery, will remain the headquarters, and there will be placed the depot batteries
two of Koyal Horse and four of Field Artillery. The
Service batteries will be lettered from A to T, according
to formation and service, the seniority of each battery
having, through all vicissitudes, been carefully preserved.
In like manner, the Field Artillery batteries will be
numbered from one to 80, the 1st Field Battery being
tbat recently designated IS" of the 1st Brigade, but which
has always cherished the name of "Belsou's Bla/ers,"
by which it was known at Waterloo. The Mountain
Artillery wiJl consist

of

IKS.

D.D.

ten

batteries, consecutively
will be divided
into three groups, to be designated respectively (1) tho
Eastern Division (2) the Southern Division, and (3) tho
Western Division, the present territorial and other distinctions being abolished. The head-quarters of tho
several divisions are to be Dover, Portsmouth, and
Devonport. Including six auxiliary depots, to be
stationed at Suuderlaud, Seaforih, Yarmouth, Cork,
Duubar, aud Woolwich, there will be in all 133

numbered, and the Garrison Artillery

iNCE.

batteries, commanded by five Brigadier Generals, ten

Colonels, on the Staff, 45 Lieutenant Colonels, aud ten

Lieutenant Colonels for Auxiliary Artillery.

The order is of considerable length, and deals with
many details of the reorganisation. The promotion of
non-commissioned officers will continue in each battery
to the rank of serjeant, under the supervision of USH CHURCH.
SAMUEL WILBEI up
lieutenant colonels
divisions; above that
SCHOOL Ln rank throughout all commanding
the batteries at home, under the STMINSTER.
TERS TO HI orders of the colonel on the Staff at head-quarter?. KFORD.
Promotions in India will be carried out on the same
THE FUNCCOLLEGE LIFE A principle, under the orders of the Commander in Chief
in that country.
The garrison batteries have been i BISHOP.
PAI
OF
A
DUTIES
allotted to the

several divisions as far as practicable in

ARC accordance with
mobilisation requiremerx
aud the JTIONS.
stations
at
home
and abroad now allotted t<V ach diviMARRIAGE, ANE
THE DUTIES

STONE

sion will

remain

fixed,

and become identih J there-

ITS PERMAP with. the relief of the batteries

belonging to each diviTRACTS FOR TH sion at home and abroad being confined to those RMATIONS.
stations the recruits for each division to be drawn
DANGER OF TRJ from the regimental districts aud counties to which IK.
;

THE OXFORD

'.

MAN'S SECE

DEVELOPME
REVIVAL OF Cc
EDUCATION OF
MISSIONARY Di

belong the Militia Artillery affiliated to it, and from

other stations selected by the Inspector General of
Kecruitiug. The work of "the depots will be eouiineu,
under the new system, to the training of recruits, and
it is expected that the men will be rapidly turned out
in continuous
the head-quarters and service
supplies to
The Ixiding Establishment, Coast Brigade,
batteries.
School of Gunnery, and District Staff at Woolwich
will be administered as at present.

INTRODUCTION *
EXTRACTS FROM DIARY.

._=

----

*. __.

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TORONTO LIBRARY

Duncan, Francis
History of the ^oyal
regiment of artillery