SAILS for the Peninsula - Description of Lisbon - Joins the army at Sabral - Actions at Sabral - Retires behind the British lines - Retreat of the French to Santarem - Their atrocities on the way - Mortifying discovery in a wine store - Retreat of the French to the Aguida.
There were six companies, of 100 men each, embarked in two frigates; 300 in each. I was on board the Melpomene.
During the six days' sail to Lisbon my thoughts were not the most agreeable. I was on my way to that country in which I had already suffered so much. My health was good, but my spirits were very low; I could not yet bring myself to associate with the other men, so as to feel pleasure in their amusements. I found it necessary to humour them in many things, and be obliging to all. I was still called saucy, and little courted by my comrades to join them. I had changed my bedfellow more than once; they not liking my dry manner, as they called it.
On the seventh day after leaving Deal, we were landed at Blackhorse Square, Lisbon, amidst the shouts of the inhabitants. We were marched to the top of the town, and billeted in a convent. A good many were billeted in the town, the convent being not large enough to contain us. I was billeted upon a cook-shop.
Two years before, while encamped before Lisbon, I had often wished to enter the town; now, I as ardently wished to leave it. I was sickened every hour of the day with the smell of garlic and oil. Every thing there is fried in oil that will fry: Oil and garlic is their universal relish. Cleanliness they have not the least conception of. The town is a dunghill from end to end; their principal squares are not even free from heaps of filth. You may make a shift to walk by the side of the streets, with clean shoes; but cross one, if you dare. I inquired at one of our regiment, who had been left sick, if they had any scavengers? "Yes," said he, "they have one." He will have a great many under him?" "None." "What folly to have only one to such a city!" "And that one, only when he may please to come." "You joke with me." "No, I don't: The rain is their street-cleaner; he will be here soon; there will be clean streets while he remains; then, they prepare work for him again."
To my great joy, we paraded in the grand square, on the seventh day after our arrival, and marched in sections, to the music of our bugles, to join the army; having got our camp equipments, consisting of a camp-kettle and bill-hook, to every six men; a blanket, a canteen, and haversack, to each man. Orders had been given, that each soldier, on his march, should carry alongst with him. three days' provision. Our mess of six, cast lots who should be cook the first day, as we were to carry the kettle day about: the lot fell to me. My knapsack contained two shirts, two pair of stockings, one pair overalls, two shoe-brushes, a shaving box, one pair spare shoes, and a few other articles; my great. coat and blanket above the knapsack; my canteen with water was slung over my shoulder, on one. side; my haversack, with beef and bread, on the other; sixty round of ball-cartridge, and the camp-kettle above all.
I was now well broke down, by what I had been in my first campaign with Moore. How different was Tom, marching to school with his satchel on his back, from Tom, with his musket and kitt; (1) a private soldier, an atom of an army, unheeded by all; his comforts sacrificed to ambition, his untimely death talked of with indifference, and only counted in the gross with hundreds, without a sigh!
We halted, on the first night, at a palace belonging to the Queen of Portugal, called Safrea, where we were joined by the Honourable Henry Cadogan, our Colonel. Next day, the 14th October 1810, we joined the army at Sabral de Monte Agraco, a small town surrounded by hills. On the front is a hill, called by our men Windmill Hill, from a number of windmills which were upon it; in the rear, another they called Gallows Hill, from a gibbet standing there.
We had not been three hours in the town, and were busy cooking, when the alarm sounded. There were nine British, and three Portuguese regiments in the town. We were all drawn up, and remained under arms; expecting, every moment, to receive the enemy, whose skirmishers covered Windmill Hill. In about an hour the light companies of all the regiments were ordered out, alongst with the 71st. Colonel Cadogan called to us, at the foot of the hill, "My lads, this is the first affair I have ever been in with you; show me what you can do, now or never." We gave a hurra, and advanced up the hill, driving their advanced skirmishers before us, until about half-way up, when we commenced a heavy fire, and were as hotly received. In the meantime the remaining regiments evacuated the town. The enemy pressed so hard upon us, we were forced to make the best of our way down the hill, and were closely followed by the French, through the town, up Gallows Hill. We got behind a mud wall, and kept our ground in spite of their utmost efforts. Here we lay upon our arms all night.
Next morning, by day-break, there was not a Frenchman to be seen. As soon as the sun was fairly up, we advanced into the town, and began a search for provisions, which were now become very scarce; and, to our great joy, found a large storehouse full of dry fish, flour, rice, and sugar, besides bales of cloth. All now became bustle and mirth; fires were kindled, and every man became a cook. Scones (2) were the order of the day. Neither flour nor sugar were wanting, and the water was plenty; so I fell to bake myself a flour scone. Mine was mixed and laid upon the fire, and I, hungry enough, watching it. Though neither neat nor comely, I was anticipating the moment when it would be eatable. Scarce was it warm, ere the bugle sounded to arms. Then was the joy that reigned a moment before, turned to execrations. I snatched my scone off the fire, raw as it was, put it into my haversack, and formed. We remained under arms until dark; and then took up our old quarters upon Gallows Hill, where I ate my raw scone, sweetly seasoned by hunger. In our advance to the town, we were much entertained by some of our men who had got over a wall, the day before, when the enemy were in the rear; and, now, were put to their shifts to get over again, and scarce could make it out.
Next morning, the French advanced to a mud wall, about forty yards in front of the one we lay behind. It rained heavily this day, and there was very little firing. During the night we received orders to cover the bugle and tartans of our bonnets with black crape, which had been served out to us during the day, and to put on our great-coats. Next morning the French, seeing us thus, thought we had retired, and left the Portuguese to guard the heights. With dreadful shouts, they leaped over that wall before which they had stood, when guarded by British. We were scarce able to withstand their fury. To retreat was impossible; all behind being ploughed land, rendered deep by the rain. There was not a moment to hesitate. To it we fell, pell-mell, French and British mixed together. It was a trial of strength in single combat; every man had his opponent, many had two. I got one up to the wall, on the point of my bayonet. He was unhurt. I would have spared him, but he would not spare himself. He cursed and defied me, nor ceased to attack my life, until he fell, pierced by my bayonet. His breath died away in a curse and menace. This was the work of a moment: I was compelled to this extremity. I was again attacked, but my antagonist fell, pierced by a random shot. We soon forced them to retire over the wall, cursing their mistake. At this moment, I stood gasping for breath; not a shoe on my feet: my bonnet had fallen to the ground. Unmindful of my situation, I followed the enemy over the wall. We pursued them about a mile, and then fell back to the scene of our struggle. It was covered with dead and wounded, bonnets and shoes trampled and stuck in the mud I recovered a pair of shoes: whether they had been mine or not, I cannot tell; they were good.
Here I first got any plunder. A French soldier lay upon the ground dead. He had fallen backwards; his hat had fallen off his head, which was kept up by his knapsack. I struck the hat with my foot, and felt it rattle; seized it in a moment, and, in the lining, found a gold watch and silver crucifix. I kept them, as I had as good a right to them as any other. Yet they were not valuable in my estimation. At this time, life was held by so uncertain a tenure, and my comforts were so scanty, that I would have given the watch for a good meal and a dry shirt. There was not a dry stitch on my back at the time, nor for the next two days.
In a short time the French sent in a flag of truce, for leave to carry off their wounded, which was granted. They advanced to their old ground, and we lay looking at each other for three days; the two first of which the rain never ceased to pour; the third day was good and dry. During this time, the French withdrew their lines, and left only picquets.
On the third day, an officer and twelve men went to the wall, as the French sentinels were become very remiss. He looked over, and saw a picquet of fifty men, playing cards, and amusing themselves. Our party levelled their muskets, and gave them a volley. They took to their heels, officers and all. There was no further attack made that day; and we retired behind the line of batteries, at night, quite worn out with hunger and fatigue.
For five nights I had never been in bed, and, during good part of that time, it had rained hard. We were upon ploughed land, which was rendered so soft, that we sunk over the shoes at every step. The manner in which I passed the night was thus: I placed my canteen upon the ground, put my knapsack above, and sat upon it, supporting my head upon my hands; my musket, between my knees, resting upon my shoulder, and my blanket over all, - ready to start, in a moment, at the least alarm. The nights were chill: indeed, in the morning, I was so stiff, I could not stand or move with ease for some time; my legs were benumbed to the knees. I was completely wet three nights out of the five. A great number of the men took the fever and ague, after we retired behind the lines. I was not a whit the worse.
On our arrival behind the lines, our brigade, consisting of the 50th, 71st, and 92d, commanded by Major-General Sir William Erskine, was quartered in a small village, called Sabreira. Our first care was to place out-posts and sentinels between the batteries, about twenty yards distant from each other. We communicated with the foot guards on our right, and the Brunswick infantry on our left. Those off duty were employed throwing up batteries and breast-works, or breaking up the roads. The day after we fell into the lines, the French placed sentinels in front of us, without any dispute. There was a small valley and stream of water between us.
We remained thus for five weeks; every day, when off duty, forming defensive works, or breaking up the roads; it being a place that no army could pass, save upon the highway. The advanced picquet of the French lay in a windmill; ours, consisting of one captain, two subalterns, and 400 men, in a small village. There was only a distance of about 150 yards between us. We learned from the deserters, that the French were much in want of provisions. To provoke them, our sentinels, at times, would fix a biscuit to the point of their bayonets, and present to them. One day the French had a bullock, in endeavouring to kill which, the butcher missed his blow, and the animal ran off right into our lines. The French looked so foolish, we hurraed at them, secured the bullock, brought him in front, killed him in style. They looked on, but dared not approach to seize him. Shortly after, an officer and four men came with a flag of truce, and supplicated in the most humble manner for the half of the bullock, which they got for godsake.
On the evening of the 14th November, the French made their outposts stronger than they had yet been, and kindled great fires after dark. We were all under arms an hour before day, expecting to be attacked; but, when the day dawned, there was not a Frenchman to be seen. As soon as the sun was up, we set off after them.
When we arrived at Sobral, we found a great number of our men, who had been wounded on the 14th and 15th October, besides a greater proportion of French wounded and sick. We were told by our men, that the weakly men, and the baggage of the French army, had been sent off eight days before. We were halted at Sobral, until provisions came up; when three days' allowance was served out to each man. We again commenced our advance. The weather was very bad; it rained for a great part of time time without intermission. On the fourth day, we took about 100 prisoners, who had concealed themselves in a wood.
This retreat brought to my mind the Corunna race. We could not advance one hundred yards, without seeing dead soldiers of the enemy stretched upon the road, or at a little distance from it, who had lain down to die, unable to proceed through hunger and fatigue. We could not pity them, miserable as they were. Their retreat resembled more that of famished wolves than men. Murder and devastation marked their way; every house was a sepulchre, a cabin of horrors! Our soldiers used to wonder why the Frenchmen were not swept by heaven from the earth, when they witnessed their cruelties. In a small town called Safrea, I saw twelve dead bodies lying in one house upon the floor! - Every house contained traces of their wanton barbarity. Often has a shade of doubt crossed my mind, when reading the accounts of former atrocities; often would I think - they are exaggerated. Thank God we live in more civilized times. How dreadfully were my doubts removed! I cease to describe, lest I raise doubts similar to my own.
At this time, I got a distaste I could never overcome. A few of us went into a wine-store, where there was a large tun, with a ladder to get to the top, in which was a hole about two feet square. There was not much wine in it, so we buckled our canteen straps together, until a camp-kettle attached to them reached the liquor. We drew it up once - we all drank: down it went again - it got entangled with something at the bottom of the tun - a candle was lowered; - to our great disappointment, the corpse of a French soldier lay upon the bottom Sickness came upon me ; and, for a long the afterwards, I shuddered at the sight of red wine. The Portuguese soldiers never would drink red wine, if white could be got. When I asked the reason, their reply was, they knew how it was made.
We continued our pursuit, every day taking more or less prisoners, who were unable to keep up with the main army, until we came in front of Santarem. Here we piled arms upon the sandy ground; the French were in possession of the heights. Colonel Cadogan made the smartest of the men run races, in front, for run. From this sport, we were suddenly called to form line for attack: but the French position was too strong for us. By this time it was quite dark, and we had a large plain to cross, to a village where we were to halt all night. In our march we were put into confusion, and a good number of the men knocked over, by a flock of goats, of which we caught a few, which made a delicious supper for us. On our arrival at the village we were forced to break up the doors, as the inhabitants would not let us in.
Next morning was very wet. The following evening, we halted at, a village but two Portuguese regiments had been before us, and swept all away. We sent out parties to forage, and got some Indian corn, which we ground ourselves, at a mill, the inhabitants having all fled. We were then quartered in a convent in Alcanterina, where we lay from the beginning of December until 5th March 1811. Provisions were very scarce. Fatigue parties were sent out every day, for Indian corn and pot-herbs. We had beef; but we could not subsist upon beef alone, which was seldom good, being far driven, very tough, and lean. An accident procured us a short relief. Some of our men, amusing themselves in piercing the ceiling with their bayonets, discovered a trap-door, and found a great concealed store of food and valuables. We fared well while it lasted. Having very little duty, our time was spent at football. We were very badly off for shoes; but, by good luck, discovered a quantity of leather in a tan-yard. Those who found it, helped themselves first, and were wasting it. The Colonel then ordered each man a pair of soles and heels, to be put up in his knapsack.
The French gave us the slip, at the commencement of their retreat, by placing wooden guns in their batteries, and stuffing old clothes with straw, which they put in place of their sentinels. By this means, their retreat was not discovered for two days ; and, only then, by one of our cavalry riding up to their lines to take a sentinel prisoner, who appeared asleep. As soon as it was ascertained there was a trick, we set off after them: and, beginning to come up with them, took a good many prisoners. Our advance was so rapid, that provisions could not be brought up to us. We were often two days without bread. The rear of the army being always served first, we, who were in advance, seldom got enough. For four or five days, we were so close up with the French, that we had skirmishes with them every day; but, having received no bread for three days, we were forced to halt for two, until we got a supply. During these two days, I had an opportunity of witnessing the desolation caused by the French soldiers. In one small village, I counted seventeen dead bodies of men, women, and children; and most of the houses were burnt to the ground.
The Portuguese were not unrevenged of their destroyers; great numbers of whom had lain down, unable to proceed, from wounds or fatigue, and had been either killed by the peasantry, or died, unheard, amongst the devastation themselves or their fellows had made.
At this time, we were forced either to forage or starve, as we were far in advance of our supplies. I was now as much a soldier as any of my comrades, when it fell to my turn. At this time I was so fortunate as to procure the full of my haversack of Indian corn heads, which we used to call turkeys. I was welcomed with joy. We rubbed out some of our corn, and boiled it with a piece of beef; roasted some of our turkeys, and were happy. Bread at length coming up, we received three days' allowance a man, and recommenced our advance; but never came up with the enemy until they reached the Aguida, on the 9th April 1811.
We were marched into winter quarters. Our division, the 2d, was posted in a small town called Alberguira, on the frontiers of Spain, where we remained till the 30th April. During our stay, I had an adventure of a disagreeable kind. I was strolling, as usual, when I heard a voice pleading, in the most earnest manner, in great distress. I hastened to the spot, and found a Portuguese muleteer taking a bundle from a girl. I ran up to him and bade him desist: he flew into a passion, drew his knife, and made a stab at me. I knocked him downs with my fist; the girl screamed and wept. I stood on my guard, and bade him throw away his knife. He rose, his eyes glistening with rage, and stabbed furiously at me. In vain I called to him: I drew my bayonet. I had no choice; yet, unwilling to kill, I held it by the point, and knocked him to the ground with the hilt, as he rushed to close with me; left him there, and brought home the weeping girl to her parents.
(1) Kitt, a term for a soldier's necessaries.
(2) Thin flat cakes.
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