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RECOLLECTIONS 
 
 OF 
 
 MILITARY SERVICE, 
 
 IK 
 
 1813, 1814, & 1815, 
 
 THROUGH 
 
 GERMANY, HOLLAND, AND FRANCE; 
 
 INCLUDING 
 
 SOME DETAILS OF THE BATTLES OF 
 
 QUATRE BRAS AND WATERLOO, 
 
 BY THOMAS MORRIS, 
 
 LATE SERGEANT OF THE 2ND BATTALION OF THE 
 73RD REGIMENT OF FOOT. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 JAMES MADDEN AND CO. 
 
 8, LEADENIIALL STREET. 
 
 MDCCCXLV. 
 
LONDON: 
 
 BREWSTER, PR1NTEK, HAND COURT, DOWGATE. 
 
 HENRY 
 
{ 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 IN the various histories which have been 
 published, recording the events of the late 
 war, the greatest praise has invariably been 
 given to those regiments whose officers were 
 of high birth and aristocratic connexions; 
 while other corps, not possessing these for- 
 tuitous advantages, have had the mortifica- 
 tion to find their services pass altogether 
 unnoticed. This cannot be imputed to fault 
 in the historian, as he derived his information 
 from the official dispatches; the onus, then, 
 must rest with the General commanding; 
 and, without imputing to him any corrupt 
 motive, we may state it to have been but 
 
 509361 
 
IV PREFACE. 
 
 natural for him to make the most honour- 
 able mention of those regiments, whose officers 
 he was desirous of recommending to the 
 special notice of head-quarters. However, 
 favoritism always has existed, and doubt- 
 less, always will. I shall endeavour, therefore, 
 in the following pages, simply to place on 
 record some of the exploits of the regiment 
 in which I served, as well as of some others 
 with whom we occasionally co-operated ; but 
 who, like ourselves, had not the honour to 
 be noticed in dispatches, for the reasons 
 I have before stated. 
 
 As I have no written data to go on, but 
 trust entirely to memory, if any inaccuracies 
 shall be detected, I hope it will be imputed 
 to that circumstance, rather than to any 
 wilful intention on my part, to record events 
 which I do not know or believe to be true. 
 
 T. M. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Loyal Volunteers Motive for joining them Sham Fight 
 in Epping Forest Become acquainted with the 73rd, in 
 the Tower Brother with them Their Departure Dis- 
 appointment at not being allowed to join them Oppor- 
 tunity presents itself Journey to Colchester Enlistment 
 Join Regiment at Harwich Embarkation Fair Wind 
 " Blue Peter " hoisted The Storm Put in at Yarmouth 
 Roads The Bum Boats The Settlement Arrive off the 
 Coast of Denmark Fired at by Danes Punishment 
 Land on Island of Rugen March to Stralsund . 1 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Dilapidated State of Fortifications All hands to repair 
 them Severe Duty The Dream Departure Progress 
 through Germany Close on French Camp Join the Ger- 
 man Troops Cross the Elbe Battle of Gordo Escort 
 Prisoners to Danenberg Fatigue Duty The Church 
 The Wounded Return through Germany Arrival at 
 Rostock Description of Operations of Allied Armies 
 Capture of Leipsic Embark for England Bad Weather 
 Take refuge in the Harbour of Gottenberg Detained 
 Three Weeks Departure Arrival at Yarmouth Storm 
 Not permitted to Land Women and Children sent on 
 Shore Men sent to Holland Land at Williamstadt 
 Bad Condition .... 34 
 
VI CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Leave Williamstadt Bad state of Roads Disposition of 
 People Tired of French Arrival of Stores from England 
 Description of Last Campaign in Holland Advance 
 Severity of the Frost Country inundated Skirmish of 
 French Troops, near Antwerp Line of Intrenchments 
 Second Advance on Antwerp The Village of Merxem 
 taken The Bombardment of the City Visit of the Duke 
 of Clarence His Alarm, and Sudden Departure Erection 
 of Batteries Our Retreat The Cause . 72 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Occupation of Fort on Bank of Scheldt Attack thereof, by 
 French line-of- battle Ship The Rocket Ship takes Fire 
 Slips Cable and away Supply of Schnaps Men get 
 Drunk Relieved from Fort Punishment Another Visit 
 to the Fort The Mad Captain French Treachery 
 Soon punished The Boat's Crew Attack on Bergen-op- 
 Zoom Cause of Failure Surrender of Antwerp De- 
 scription of that City Severe Duty . . . 104 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Rejoicings at Termination of the War Buonaparte's depo- 
 sition and Banishment His Address to his Old Guard 
 The Attachment of his Men to Him The Reason Con- 
 trast between English and French Officers Remarks on 
 Constitution of British Army Effects of Kindness 
 Prince of Orange and Dutch People Evacuation of Hol- 
 land by the British Removal to Belgium Description of 
 Ghent Tourney Foot Guards Aristocratic Officers 
 Similarity in Dress Important Alteration . . 129 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Removal to Courtray Description thereof Annexation of 
 Belgium with Holland, not likely to last Cheapness of 
 Spirits Produces Drunkenness Severe Punishment 
 Disgust of the Inhabitants Other Modes of Punishment 
 adopted Jealous Husband, Faithless Wives Departure 
 from Courtray Extraordinary March Storm of Hail 
 The Fortune Teller Another Long Match No Billets 
 Old Quarters Welcome Reception Sudden Departure 
 The City of Ath News of Buonaparte His Landing 
 in France His Progress His enthusiastic Reception 
 His address to the Nation 156 
 
CONTENTS. Vll 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Concentration of Troops in Belgium Our Quarters The 
 Miller and his Daughters The Town of Soignes Journey 
 there on Business The Return Matrimonial Differences 
 Effects of Passion The Route March to Soignes, 
 through the Wood Arrive at Nivelles News of the 
 Enemy Forward to the Battle Quatre Bras Sudden 
 Attack of Cuirassiers Retreat The 69th lose their 
 King's colour Advance again Black Brunswickers 
 Death of the Duke Skirmishers The Cuirassiers again 
 Repulsed Anecdotes of the Battle The Bivouack Fresh 
 Arrival Glory Fatal Catastrophe Retreat from Quatre 
 Bras The Storm The British Rear attacked by Cuiras- 
 siers, at Genappe Driven back by Heavy Horse Arrival 
 at Waterloo Enemy take up Positions opposite Pile 
 Arms in the Field, amidst Thunder, Lightning, and Rain 
 Night passed in the Field 187 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Rain Abates Sun Rises Enemy in Sight Arrangements 
 for the Day Position of Troops Supply of Hollands 
 Shaw, the Life Guardsman Artillery begin the Battle 
 Attack of French Cuirassiers 33rd and 69th Regiments 
 in Square, broken They Rally The Enemy Repulsed 
 Another Attack The Duke in the Square Destruction 
 by Grape-shot Life Guards attack Cuirassiers Napoleon 
 leads on his Troops en masse They are Defeated Arrival 
 of the Prussians The British advance in line to Victory 
 Anecdotes of the Battle Remarks . . . 214 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Description of Field of Battle March over in the track of 
 the Prussians Enter France Long Marches Our Ar- 
 rival at Paris Surrender Camp Visit to Paris Taken 
 Prisoner Release and Promotion Camp on Fire Re- 
 view Parade of Troops to witness Execution Reprieve 
 Sham Fight Provost-guard Breaking up of Camp, 
 and Distribution of Troops 247 
 
Vlll CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 The Route for England Bad Weather New Adjutant 
 Embarkation Land at Ramsgate, and proceed to Col- 
 chester Reception there Leave of Absence Sudden 
 Recal Route for Nottingham Breaking up of Frost 
 Kindness of the People Wolverhampton The Welcome 
 The Deserter Journey to Isle of Wight Boat Race 
 Prison Ship An Old Acquaintance Return Celebration 
 of First Anniversary of Waterloo at Birmingham Riot 
 The Colonel at a Discount Yarmouth Meet Smugglers 
 Tumble over a Keg Return of the Guard The In- 
 trigue Route for Chelmsford Reduction of 2nd Battalion 
 The Recruiting Service The Return The Discharge 
 The Farewell. . .... 271 
 
RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 " The meanest soldier, fired by glory's rage, 
 Believes his name enroll'd in history's page ; 
 O! dear deceit the statesman's firmest friend, 
 By which the rabble crowd promote their end." 
 
 IN the year 181 2, though then only sixteen, 
 I had the honour to belong to the Loyal 
 Volunteers of St. George's, Middlesex. The 
 object of most of my comrades, in joining 
 that gallant corps, was to avail themselves 
 of the exemption thereby secured to them 
 from being compelled to serve in the Militia. 
 Such, however, was not my motive in joining 
 them, as I was not old enough to have any 
 fear about being drawn. But various were 
 the stratagems practised by persons to escape 
 
2 ' ' RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 serving. One young man I knew well, who 
 was just married, when he received a summons 
 to attend at the Court-house in "Wellclose 
 Square, to shew cause, if he had any, why 
 he should not be sworn in ; and, as he had 
 very considerable objections to serving His 
 Majesty in the Tower Hamlets' Militia, he 
 hit upon the following expedient to avoid it. 
 He went home, and feigned to be extremely 
 ill; sent for the doctor, and made a variety 
 of complaints; took all the physic that was 
 sent him, laid in bed, and let his beard grow 
 until the time came for his appearance, when, 
 borrowing a pair of crutches, he hobbled 
 along to the Court-house; and on presenting 
 himself before the magistrate, his reply to 
 the usual question, as to what objection he 
 had to serve, was, that he had been very 
 ill, and was very poor, but if they would 
 give him a ticket for the hospital, as soon 
 as he was recovered he would be at their 
 service. The fellow's appearance was alto- 
 gether so emaciated and miserable, that the 
 worthy and sagacious functionary at once 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 3 
 
 declared him unfit to serve, and desired him 
 to go about his business. The circumstance 
 became known to the shopmates of the man, 
 who frequently indulged in a laugh at the 
 expense of the magistrate; however, the man 
 saved something like ten pounds by the 
 manoeuvre, as it would have taken that at 
 least to provide a substitute. 
 
 As much as sixty pounds has been paid for 
 a substitute in the militia, in war time ; and, 
 as I have before observed, to avoid those 
 charges was the principal inducement to many 
 persons in becoming volunteers ; but other 
 motives influenced me. I was particularly 
 fond of reading the heart- stirring accounts of 
 sieges and battles; and the glorious achieve- 
 ments of the British troops in Spain, following 
 each other in rapid succession, created in 
 me an irrepressible desire for military service; 
 so, as the first step towards it, I became a 
 Volunteer, and, oh ! how proud did I feel 
 when having gone through my course of 
 drill, I was permitted to join the ranks. Even 
 now I often think of the delightful sensation 
 
4 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 I experienced on our forming on the regi- 
 mental parade-ground, and marching from, 
 thence to the Tenter-ground, in Goodman's 
 Fields at that time a most convenient place 
 for the exercise of troops, and where our 
 evolutions and martial exercises excited the 
 admiration and wonder of crowds of nursery- 
 maids and children, who invariably attended 
 on such occasions. Then, how delightful on 
 our return home, to parade the streets in our 
 splendid uniform, exhibiting ourselves as the 
 brave defenders of our country, should the 
 Corsican attempt to carry into effect his 
 threatened invasion of England. 
 
 Never shall I forget the occasion, when 
 we were ordered to proceed to the Forest, 
 for the display of a grand sham fight between 
 us and the Ratcliff Volunteers ! The ground 
 selected for the event, was where Fairlop 
 Fair is held, and on the day appointed, we 
 left town at six A.M., in the midst of the 
 greatest excitement, accompanied by a great 
 number of our friends, as also by sundry 
 wagons, for the conveyance of the sick or 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 5 
 
 wounded, together with some covered carts 
 and a brewer's dray, containing abundance 
 of ham, beef, and bread, as well as a plentiful 
 supply of ale and porter, which good things, 
 it was understood, were for distribution among 
 us, if we should perform our duty manfully 
 in the encounter. How exhilarating, on our 
 road to the scene of action, to be saluted 
 by the cheers of the crowd, the waving of 
 handkerchiefs, the shouting of boys, the thrill- 
 ing tones of the bugle, and the merry fife 
 and drum. On our arrival at the ground, 
 we found our antagonists had already taken 
 up their position. We were allowed some half- 
 hour's breathing-time, during which, the band 
 of the Tower Hamlets' Militia whose services 
 had been specially retained enlivened us by 
 the performance of some martial airs, calcu- 
 lated to inflame our minds with that enthu- 
 siasm so necessary to constitute the character 
 of the soldier. 
 
 At length the time for action arrived. We 
 fell in and commenced the duties of the day ; 
 which consisted in marching and counter- 
 
6 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 marching, attacking and retreating, forming 
 squares to repulse imaginary attacks of ca- 
 valry, and firing some thirty pounds of blank 
 cartridges at each other. At last, the moment 
 came which was to close our operations by a 
 grand charge with fixed bayonets. The two re- 
 giments faced each other in line, and after each 
 firing a volley, the men being directed to fire 
 low, that their shots might be more effectual, 
 the lines advanced, the word " Charge \" was 
 given, "Forward, forward V and on we went with 
 the desperate determination of men resolved 
 to conquer or die. When we had arrived within 
 about twenty p&ces of each other, our com- 
 manding officers, fully satisfied of our cool- 
 ness, and bravery, and unwilling to expose us 
 to unnecessary danger, gave the word " Halt \" 
 and thereby relieved the apprehension of those 
 who thought a collision unavoidable, and who 
 much admired the ability of our officers in 
 preventing danger so suddenly by giving the 
 word (halt). Not being able to recollect that 
 little word, led a colonel of the Warwickshire 
 Militia into an awkward predicament. He was 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 7 
 
 very unpopular with his men; and was one 
 day exercising them in a field that was bound- 
 ed by a deep ditch of black muddy water. 
 Occasionally, when excited, the colonel had an 
 impediment in his speech, which unfortunately 
 affected him at this time, when by his own 
 order, the regiment was charging in line. He 
 was on horseback, retiring as they advanced, 
 and for the life of him he could not think of or 
 ejaculate the word " Halt I" The men continu- 
 ed to advance, and the unfortunate commander 
 still retiring from the bayonet's point, was at 
 length driven with his horse into the black ditch. 
 But to return from this digression. Hav- 
 ing performed our evolution to the satisfac- 
 tion of our commanding officer, we were per- 
 mitted to retire beneath the ample foliage 
 of the Forest trees, there to enjoy ourselves 
 with the good things provided for us; and 
 there being no restriction in the serving out 
 as to quantity, we were able to invite those 
 of our friends, who had accompanied us from 
 town: and after doing ample justice to the 
 stock of provisions, we formed into parties, 
 
8 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 and indulged in the merry song and dance. 
 When it was thought we had sufficiently 
 enjoyed ourselves, we were ordered to pre- 
 pare for the march home ; but whether it was 
 the effects of the weather, or the potency of 
 the ale and porter, truth compels me to 
 admit, that our return was not of the orderly, 
 soldier-like description of our journey out- 
 wards in the morning ; and many of the men 
 were compelled to avail themselves of the 
 conveyance of the wagons. However, we re- 
 turned in safety, deposited our colours at the 
 major's residence, and retired to our respec- 
 tive homes ; much satisfied with our trip. 
 Very often since that time, (when I have been 
 exposed to the realities of a soldier's life, its 
 dangers, its fatigues, its privations,) have I 
 thought of our Forest mimic fight, and wished 
 that we could, on all occasions, have the same 
 liberal provision made for our wants. 
 
 About the time I have been speaking of, 
 there lay in the Tower, the second battalion of 
 the 73rd Regiment (Highlanders). They bore 
 on their colours and accoutrements the word 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 
 
 9 
 
 <c Mangalore," from the fact of the first batta- 
 lion having been engaged at the storming of 
 the fortress of that name in the East Indies; 
 and it so happened, that my brother, who 
 had been in the Staffordshire Militia, volun- 
 teered into this regiment. Probably, his prin- 
 cipal reason was, that on joining them in 
 the Tower, he would, for a time, be near 
 home; and, from this circumstance, I con- 
 tracted a sort of intimacy with the 73rd, 
 and felt at times almost ashamed of being 
 only half a soldier. 
 
 My ardour for military life was somewhat 
 damped, by the cruelty practised on a number 
 of Invalids, from various regiments then serv- 
 ing in Spain, many of them suffering from 
 recent wounds, and all of them, more or less, 
 affected by the severity of the duties they 
 had been subjected to. They were under 
 the command of an officer who exacted from 
 them the strictest attention to their duty, 
 and punished the slightest breach thereof 
 with two or three hundred lashes. Often 
 has my heart bled to see those poor fellows 
 B 5 
 
10 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 incapacitated by wounds or disease from 
 further active service, returned to their native 
 land, for which they had been shedding their 
 blood, and, instead of receiving that com- 
 miseration to which they were entitled, to 
 see such men tied to the halberts and their 
 backs lacerated, for the most trifling fault, 
 was really horrible : not only disgraceful 
 to the monster who ordered and superin- 
 tended them, but reflecting also indelible 
 infamy on the government which could tole- 
 rate them. The frequency and gross in- 
 humanity of those punishments, at length, 
 called forth indignant remonstrances from 
 the public, through the press ; which led to 
 the removal of the Colonel and the pension- 
 ing off the unfortunate invalids. Having 
 witnessed many of those punishments, I felt 
 somewhat less disposed to hazard life and 
 limb, in a service, with the probability of 
 being repaid with such gross inhumanity 
 and ingratitude. 
 
 The 73rd were not, however, suffered to 
 remain long in the Tower. They received 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 11 
 
 the route for Colchester in the first instance, 
 from whence they were expected to proceed 
 to Harwich for embarkation. I accompanied 
 my brother as far as Chelmsford ; it was my 
 desire to join them, but he refused to allow 
 me, and I reluctantly returned to town. In 
 a few days, I received a letter, informing me, 
 they were on board at Harwich, and only 
 waiting for a fair wind: their destination 
 was not known. 
 
 While brooding over my disappointment, 
 in not being allowed to go with them. I 
 most accidentally met with an old comrade 
 of my brother, who had volunteered with 
 him into the 73rd, and had been on furlough 
 to see his friends. I expressed to him my 
 desire to go, and finding his efforts to dis<- 
 suade me unavailing, he agreed to meet me 
 at six o' clock next morning. After a rest- 
 less night, produced by the anxiety and dis- 
 tress, which I knew my sudden departure 
 would cause to my parents, I left, about four 
 o'clock in the morning, without taking leave 
 of a single individual, so fearful was I of 
 
12 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 being again disappointed. I left a note for 
 my parents, praying their forgiveness and 
 hoping all would end well. At six, I met my 
 fellow traveller, at the Black Swan, at Bow, 
 and after taking some refreshment we pro- 
 ceeded on our journey, amidst the merry 
 ringing of the church bells, being the 29th 
 of May, the anniversary of King Charles's 
 Restoration. 
 
 My comrade, whose name was Moore, was 
 under the necessity of reaching Colchester 
 that night, his time having expired, and owing 
 to the bustle of so many troops embarking 
 at Harwich, the coaches were all overloaded, 
 so that the only chance we had of riding was 
 by the return post-chaises. Being fortunate 
 enough to get two or three lifts with these, 
 we contrived to walk the rest of the distance. 
 My companion was a good-humoured, plea- 
 sant fellow, full of anecdote ; and amused me 
 on the road by relating the various plans 
 adopted in militia regiments, to induce men 
 to volunteer into regiments of the line. The 
 militia would be drawn up in line, and the 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 13 
 
 officers, or non-commissioned officers, from 
 the regiments requiring volunteers, would 
 give a glowing description of their several 
 regiments, describing the victories they had 
 gained and the honours they had acquired, and 
 conclude by offering, as a bounty, to volun- 
 teers for life 14 ; to volunteers for the limi- 
 ted period of seven years, 11. If these 
 inducements were not effectual in getting 
 men, then coercive measures were adopted; 
 heavy and long drills, and field exercises 
 were forced on them; which were so oppres- 
 sive, that to escape them, the men would 
 embrace the alternative and join the regulars. 
 It was late in the evening when we reached 
 Colchester, having walked thirty miles and 
 ridden twenty-two ; we went direct to the 
 barracks, where my companion was at once 
 admitted, and reported himself to his officer. 
 It being after hours, they would not let him 
 out again that night, nor would they let me 
 in ; so that, tired as I was, I was compelled 
 to go in search of a lodging rather a difficult 
 thing to get, as the town was so full of troops. 
 
14 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 I was at length accommodated at a low public- 
 house, called tlie " Harrow," near the barracks, 
 and being much fatigued with our long walk, 
 I went to the bed allotted me in the attic, 
 extending the whole breadth of the house, 
 and containing some twelve beds of the most 
 miserable description (as I then thought). 
 However, as I was too tired to seek better 
 accommodation, and as I was about entering 
 on a situation in life which would necessarily 
 subject me to many privations, I made up 
 my mind to take life as it should come, and 
 to do my best to struggle through its disagree- 
 bles ; but I must confess, that on contrasting 
 the wretched accommodation I now had, with 
 the clean and comfortable home I had just 
 left, I began seriously to reflect whether I 
 had not better retrace my steps, as I still 
 had the power to do so. 
 
 While discussing this subject with myself, 
 I fell asleep, and had a strange medley of 
 dreams, which rendered my repose anything 
 but refreshing. 
 
 Having had my breakfast, and paid my 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 15 
 
 reckoning, I wended my way towards the 
 barracks, still thinking, at times, that I had 
 better go back; however, on I went found 
 out the room where Moore was lodged, and 
 went with him to Major Kelly, commanding 
 the depot, who seemed pleased with my ap- 
 pearance, and sent me with a note to the 
 surgeon of the 4th, or King's Own Regi- 
 ment of Foot, then lying in the same bar- 
 racks. That regiment was then on parade, 
 and it was a punishment-parade some six- 
 teen poor fellows were waiting to receive 
 their allowances, varying from 200 to 500 
 lashes : while this was going on I had no 
 opportunity of seeing the surgeon, whose 
 presence in the square was necessary during 
 the punishment. 
 
 A gentleman standing near me, inquired of 
 another the name or number of the regiment, 
 and the answer he received was, that the 
 men were called the King's Own, but he 
 thought the officers must be the Devil's Own. 
 This circumstance had almost overcome my 
 desire for glory and I was leaving the place 
 
16 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 to return home, when I met the major, to 
 whom I related the reason I had not delivered 
 his note, and he then sent me with a ser- 
 geant to another doctor, by whom I was 
 examined and pronounced fit for service. The 
 same sergeant then went with me to the 
 town-hall, to witness my attestation before 
 the magistrate. Before going in, however, 
 we thought it desirable to obtain some re- 
 freshment, and having ordered a steak for 
 two, while it was getting ready, the sergeant, 
 a very intelligent Scotchman, gave me some 
 good advice ; and on learning that I was 
 only seventeen, he told me to make it eighteen, 
 as all under that age was boys' service, and 
 reckoned nothing, either for extra pay or 
 pension. 
 
 Having dispatched the steak, with sun- 
 dry glasses of ale, we proceeded to the 
 magistrate's office, and went through the 
 customary form of attestation, being sworn 
 in to serve His Majesty, King George the 
 Third, for the space of seven years. They 
 sadly wanted me to enlist for life, but I 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 17 
 
 thought seven years quite long enough for 
 a trial. I felt somewhat more satisfied now 
 that the deed was done : there was no longer 
 any " halting between two opinions. " I had 
 no longer the power to go back. 
 
 On my return to the barracks, I imme- 
 diately obtained a suit of regimentals, and 
 throwing aside my civilian's dress, I was 
 that evening parading the town a la militaire ; 
 and no one who saw me would have supposed 
 I had only been enlisted that day. 
 
 Next morning, at my own request, I was 
 sent to drill ; and while so occupied, I observed 
 the major paying great attention to my 
 movements : and calling me to him, and ad- 
 dressing me rather sternly, he said, " Young 
 man, you have been in the service before." 
 1 assured him I had not been in any other 
 than a corps of Volunteers. " Well," said he, 
 his face brightening up a little, "if that is 
 the case, the proficiency you have acquired 
 in your exercise is highly creditable to you ; 
 if the volunteers were all as perfect, they 
 would not be so much ridiculed as they are." 
 
18 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 Taking advantage of the major's good 
 feeling towards me, I requested, as a favour, 
 that he would allow me to join the regiment, 
 which was still detained at Harwich by con- 
 trary winds, as he was going with a draft 
 of 150 men in a few days. He expressed his 
 regret that it was not in his power to grant 
 my request, as the men were already selected, 
 and their names forwarded to the Horse 
 Guards, but he said he would take care I 
 should come out with the next draft. 
 
 I then begged permission to visit my bro- 
 ther, at Harwich, which he readily complied 
 with, and I had a pass for three days. So 
 drawing a portion of my bounty, I started 
 off immediately; and on my arrival at Har- 
 wich, hired a boat, and boarded the head- 
 quarter's ship, the Old Saragossa. The men 
 all crowded round me, to learn the news 
 from the depot. I reported myself to the 
 colonel, and obtained leave for my brother 
 to go on shore with me. We did not go 
 directly, as it was near the time of serving 
 out the grog, and some of them insisted I 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 19 
 
 should take a can with them. I also partook 
 of some beef and pudding, part of that day's 
 allowance, after which, we went on shore, 
 and spent the rest of the day and night at 
 the "Old Fishing Smack." 
 
 Next morning, as we were strolling through 
 the town, we met the colonel, who, till the 
 time for sailing should arrive, was lodging 
 with his family, at the "Three Cups." As 
 I had still a strong desire to go with the 
 regiment, I made the request, with which 
 he seemed pleased. He asked when my pass 
 expired ? I told him that I was to return to 
 Colchester next day. "Well/* said he, "go 
 back to-morrow, and 1*11 see what can be 
 done." I thanked him for his kindness, and 
 we spent the rest of the day on board. 
 
 Next morning, I started early for Colches- 
 ter ; but whether it was the heat of the sun, 
 or the indulgences of the last two days, I 
 was so completely exhausted, that I sought 
 a shady spot, and had a comfortable sleep 
 on the grass for a couple of hours, when 
 I was roused by a gentleman, travelling in 
 
20 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 a chaise, who inquired the direction in which 
 I was journeying, and on my naming Col- 
 chester, he invited me to join him, which, 
 of course, I did with great pleasure, being 
 very glad of the opportunity; as I should 
 otherwise have had to walk the whole dis- 
 tance. I found the gentleman a very pleasing 
 companion, as well as a liberal one, for he 
 stood paymaster for the refreshment we had 
 on the road. 
 
 Having a good horse, we were not long 
 reaching Colchester ; and on getting out 
 of the chaise, I expressed my thanks for 
 his kindness; but he cut me short, by ob- 
 serving, "that it was to serve himself he 
 had done it. The fact is," said he, " that I 
 have a great deal of money about me; and 
 the roads about here are hardly safe just now, 
 as there are so many old smugglers, and one 
 rogue or another about, and I thought I 
 might as well have a guard : so, my good 
 fellow, I wish you good bye, and God bless 
 you \" then giving his horse a slight touch 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 21 
 
 with the whip, he was out of sight in an 
 instant. 
 
 They were much surprised, at the barracks, 
 at my early return, not expecting me before 
 night. I reported myself to the major, and 
 he informed me that he had received instruc- 
 tion from the colonel to include me in the 
 detachment, which was to go on the third day 
 from that time. 
 
 We were now all bustle and excitement; 
 some of the men was not at all desirous of 
 going, but I felt as much joy as if I had been 
 going a journey of pleasure. 
 
 The morning of our departure came, and 
 I received the rest of my bounty, with the 
 exception of about two pounds, which I was 
 told would be paid me on my arrival at 
 Harwich. The distance from Colchester was 
 twenty miles, which we had to accomplish 
 in one day ; a tolerably long day^s march for 
 young soldiers. We did not reach our desti- 
 nation until late in the afternoon, and im- 
 mediately embarked on board a small brig, 
 
22 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 of about 200 tons, called the Gratitude. We 
 were much crowded, and the prospect of going 
 a voyage, in so small a vessel, was not very 
 pleasant. On the colonel coming on board, 
 I requested permission to sail in the Saragossa, 
 along with my brother; he promised to con- 
 sider of it, and, in the course of the day, 
 my request led to an inquiry, as to whether 
 the whole of us could not be transfered there. 
 The result was, that we were all removed 
 immediately, and the brig we had left was 
 to accompany us filled with stores, which she 
 was previously intended for. 
 
 The Saragossa was now rather inconveni- 
 ently crowded by this reinforcement, but it 
 was expected the voyage would not be a 
 long one, though our destination was not 
 as yet known. On the fourth morning after 
 our embarkation, we were awakened early, by 
 an extraordinary bustle on deck, which rather 
 alarmed us; till some of the watch came 
 hurrying down, to inform us that the wind 
 had changed, and that the " blue Peter," the 
 signal for sailing, was flying at the mast-head 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 23 
 
 of every vessel going with us. The intelli- 
 gence was so gratifying to us as to produce, 
 spontaneously, three hearty cheers. A gun 
 was fired on board the agent ship, and the 
 signal hoisted to get under weigh immediately. 
 
 The orders were so promptly obeyed, that 
 in less than two hours we were out of the 
 harbour, and passed some British men-of-war, 
 who gave us some intimation of a storm that 
 appeared to be brewing; the captains of our 
 transports took the hint, and prepared for 
 it, by lowering their topmasts and taking in 
 some of their canvass. The prediction of 
 the men-of-war was soon realized ; the wind 
 chopped round and blew with tremendous 
 force j the waves ran so high that they were 
 compelled to close the hatchways, leaving 
 the men, women, and children below, in 
 utter darkness, and who therefore fancied 
 the danger greater than it really was. 
 
 The North Sea is proverbial for its storms ; 
 and we had a good taste of them. As we could 
 not proceed on our course, neither could we 
 make any of the harbours for shelter, and 
 
24 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 were therefore compelled to keep knocking 
 about for five days and nights, when we for- 
 tunately reached Yarmouth. 
 
 On the subsiding of the storm, we found 
 all our vessels safe, except the brig we were 
 at first on board, and which, unfortunately, 
 went down the first day of the storm, and 
 the crew all perished; thus, my application 
 for removal was the means, under Providence, 
 of saving the lives of the whole detachment. 
 
 We waited at Yarmouth a couple of days, 
 to repair damages, and to lay in a stock of 
 fresh provision; and the bum-boats which 
 came were soon eased of their contents, and 
 were kept employed in bringing things on 
 board as long as any money was left, when 
 the men began to barter the surplus portion 
 of their dress. 
 
 Having disposed of my money before leav- 
 ing Harwich, I was anxious, like the rest, 
 of laying in a stock, and recollecting there 
 was still a balance due to me, I made appli- 
 cation for it to the officer who had charge 
 of the company, and he rather ,unceremo- 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 25 
 
 niously ordered me to go about my business. 
 I thought I was going about my business; 
 and this repulse did not deter me from re- 
 porting the circumstance to the colonel, as 
 soon as he came on deck : who immediately 
 sent for Lieutenant Brown, and enquired the 
 reason I was not settled with. The lieutenant 
 replied, that " I had been settled with, before 
 leaving the depot." The colonel asked " if 
 he had the books on board?" He replied, 
 " they were," and was ordered to fetch them; 
 and after going through them, the colonel 
 found there was a balance due to me, of 
 one pound eighteen shillings, which he was 
 directed to pay instantly. He said " he had 
 no money," and the paymaster just then 
 coming on deck, the colonel called out, " Mr. 
 Williams, let Mr. Brown have a little money." 
 The necessary sum was produced, and I was 
 settled with. The cash was soon disposed 
 of; but, in pressing the claim, I made an 
 inveterate enemy of the officer, who was ever 
 after on the watch to do me an injury. All 
 he was able to do, however, was to prevent 
 c 
 
26 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 my promotion. I explained the awkward- 
 ness of my position to the major, and he 
 offered to remove me to some other com- 
 pany, which I begged to decline ; saying, " I 
 would do my duty, to the best of my ability, 
 and trust to the colonel and him for pro- 
 tection." Although I can forgive and forget 
 an injury, as well as any man living, yet, 
 I really was hardly sorry, when this officer, 
 two years afterwards, was mortally wounded. 
 
 We now left Yarmouth, with a perfectly 
 fair wind, and without any further delays 
 reached the coast of Denmark, when one 
 of our transports, the Robert Harrison, hav- 
 ing part of the 91st regiment on board, 
 ran a-ground, and fears were entertained 
 for their safety; but, on the return of the 
 tide, they were relieved from their perilous 
 position, with but little damage. 
 
 We were at this time under convoy of 
 the Amphion frigate; and, on entering the 
 Belt, to get to the Baltic Sea, we joined 
 a fleet of merchantmen, and kept company 
 with them some distance. We were detained 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 27 
 
 for some time, in the Belt, by continual calms, 
 and the prevalence of the thickest fog I ever 
 saw; taking advantage of which, a number 
 of Danish gun-boats came out and fired 
 on us, without, however, doing much injury. 
 On one occasion, we were progressing slowly 
 and rather too near the Danish batteries, 
 which opened on us, but were soon silenced 
 by a few broadsides from the Lion seventy- 
 four. 
 
 While we were becalmed here, the vessels 
 were occasionally so close together, that we 
 could converse with each other; and having 
 every bit of canvass spread, there being no 
 wind, and the several regimental bands play- 
 ing of an afternoon, the scene at such times 
 was of the most imposing nature. The 
 officers too, used to encourage games among 
 the men, sometimes forming them in parties 
 for dancing on deck ; and having several 
 boxes of oranges on board, they would throw 
 them among the men, to produce a scramble. 
 These various pastimes had the effect of 
 keeping up a good understanding among 
 c 2 
 
28 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 the officers and men. There was one private 
 soldier, named Ealy, on board, who, from 
 his extraordinary likeness to Wellington, was 
 called " Lord Wellington," and in these sports 
 he generally headed one of the parties, pro- 
 ducing a great deal of amusement. From 
 this trifling circumstance, I have no doubt, 
 had he afterwards conducted himself well, 
 he would have been rapidly promoted; but, 
 in the first action we entered, he proved 
 himself a rank coward, and the officers then 
 turned their backs on him. 
 
 The monotony of the voyage was one morn- 
 ing rather unpleasantly relieved, by the in- 
 fliction of corporal punishment. The officers 
 had, by some means, obtained some fresh 
 vegetables, and what was not consumed, was 
 placed on the deck aft, under the charge of 
 the sentry ; the prisoner, who made free with 
 a couple of carrots, was detected in the act, 
 tried by a court-martial, and sentenced to 
 receive one hundred and fifty lashes. 
 
 The morning the punishment took place, 
 there was a stiff breeze, and the motion of the 
 vessel prevented the drummers from always 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 29 
 
 hitting one spot, so that the lashes fell some- 
 times on the back of the neck, then on the 
 shoulders, and also over the back, which gave 
 the man the appearance of having been very 
 dreadfully punished, whereas, in reality, he 
 did not suffer so much as if he had been 
 struck always on one place. However, as 
 it was, it was considered quite unnecessary, 
 and rather too severe for the offence; had 
 they stopped his grog for a few days, it 
 would have been quite sufficient. 
 
 These delays in our progress, gave us 
 ample time to reflect on our probable des- 
 tiny. I have sat, for hours together, me- 
 ditating on my own folly, or temerity, in 
 thus rushing on to certain danger, perhaps 
 to death. Of our regiment, consisting of 
 about 30 officers, and 550 men, how many 
 of them were destined never to return? how 
 many of them were to be disabled by severe 
 wounds ? and the question would arise 
 Should I be among the first ? or second ? 
 or should I return in safety ? 
 
 The shots fired at us, on passing the Belt, 
 
30 RECOLLECTIONS OP 
 
 had created rather uneasy sensations among 
 us, being all young soldiers not more than 
 a dozen of us having ever before seen a 
 shot fired in anger; and I must here con- 
 fess, that I felt the enthusiasm which had 
 hitherto urged me on, oozing out very fast ; 
 though I determined still to do my duty, 
 whatever dangers I might be exposed to. 
 
 Our officers, on the whole, seemed to be 
 very soldierly. The colonel was the son 
 of General Harris, who gained so much 
 celebrity and renown as commander of the 
 Anglo-Indian forces, at the storming of 
 the important fortress of Seringapatam. The 
 son had yet to be tried; but he had every 
 appearance of being likely to do his duty. 
 He had as fine a regiment under his com- 
 mand as any in the service, consisting chiefly 
 of young men, from eighteen to thirty 
 years of age, fit for any sort of duty. 
 
 Our light company, was, for its number, 
 the finest set of men I ever saw, being a 
 mixture of English, Irish, and Scotch, com- 
 manded by a captain who had risen from 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 31 
 
 the ranks. Report said, that he was indebted 
 for his promotion, to his beautiful black 
 eyes and whiskers, which had attracted the 
 notice of his colonel's lady; who had sufficient 
 influence to obtain for him a commission as 
 ensign. He was now captain; and though 
 his whiskers were tinged with grey, his eyes 
 possessed all their former fire and brilliancy. 
 
 He was very eccentric in his ways; and 
 his men scarcely knew how to please him. 
 On one occasion, as we were going into 
 action, one of the men excited his anger, 
 and he ordered him to have an extra guard; 
 and calling to his lieutenant, said, " Reynolds, 
 if I am killed, see that Gorman has an extra 
 guard." " Sergeant Pennyton ! " " Sir." 
 "If Reynolds and I are killed, see that 
 Gorman has an extra guard." "Yes, Sir." 
 " None of your ready-made answers, Sir ; 
 but mind you do it, Sir!" "Yes, Sir." 
 
 On another occasion, he found a Bible in 
 possession of one of the men, and ordered 
 him to burn it ; and made use of the fol- 
 lowing blasphemous expression : " D n you, 
 
32 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 Sir, I '11 let you know that your firelock is 
 
 your Bible, and I am your G a \" 
 
 With all his faults, however, he was a brave 
 and well-disciplined officer. 
 
 His lieutenant, Reynolds, was a good little 
 fellow ; but was very unfortunate. If there 
 was a shot fired at all, he was sure to get 
 hit; while some men pass through so many 
 fights without receiving a scratch. 
 
 The ensign of the light company, was a 
 fine, manly fellow, named Loyd, now a 
 major in the service. He had sometimes 
 to put up with the arbitrary conduct of his 
 captain. Once, the latter said to him, "T) n 
 you, Sir, I '11 let you know that I am your 
 captain \" The ensign replied, " And, Sir, 
 you will please to recollect, at the same time, 
 that I am Ensign Loyd, and a gentleman \" 
 
 By this time, we were acquainted with 
 our destination Swedish Pomerania. The 
 Crown Prince having entered into a treaty 
 with the British Government, whereby, on 
 receiving one million of money, he engaged 
 to join the Allied Sovereigns, with 30,000 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 
 
 33 
 
 Swedes; and it was intended that we should 
 co-operate with him. 
 
 Our force consisted of the following re- 
 giments, the 25th, 33rd, 54th, 73rd, first 
 Royals, and 91st, amounting altogether, to 
 about 3,000 men; under the command of 
 General Gibbs. 
 
 In the latter part of August, we arrived at 
 the island of Rugas; where we disembarked, 
 and marched across the island to Stralsund 
 the place which acquired so much celebrity 
 under the romantic Charles XII. of Sweden. 
 Our baggage, which took some time getting 
 on shore the ships not being able to come 
 within half-a-mile of the beach was after- 
 wards conveyed, by some small vessels, up 
 the river, and did not reach Stralsund till 
 next day. 
 
 The whole of the troops were quartered 
 on the inhabitants, and were very kindly 
 treated by them : but for further particulars, 
 I must refer the reader to the next chapter. 
 
 c 5 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 " Sound, sound the clarion ! fill the fife, 
 To all the sensual world proclaim 
 One crowded hour of glorious life 
 Is worth an age without a name !" 
 
 THE first morning after our arrival in Stral- 
 sund, we discovered that our duties were 
 likely to be of the most onerous, if not of 
 the most dangerous, nature. The French 
 General, Morrand, had taken possession of 
 it some few months before ; and being called 
 away suddenly, he destroyed most of the 
 batteries and fortifications ; and as there 
 was a probability of its being now again 
 attacked, it was necessary to place it in a 
 state of defence. The Crown Prince, who 
 paid us a visit, drew off all the men capable 
 of bearing arms, the tradesmen and wealthy 
 burghers mounted guard at the town hall as 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 35 
 
 private soldiers , and every man capable of 
 labour, was obliged to assist in repairing the 
 batteries; we also were compelled to assist 
 them; and there still being a deficiency of 
 labourers, about a thousand young women, 
 of the lower classes, were engaged, and 
 dressed in male attire, were set to work, 
 and were found very efficient; the women 
 in that country being inured to field labour. 
 Some ludicrous mistakes took place with some 
 of our men, who in carrying on affairs of 
 gallantry, were not always able to distinguish 
 the women from the men. 
 
 Our duty now became very severe, as 
 may be seen from the following statement 
 for one week. Namely, Monday forenoon, 
 attend parade at ten o' clock, eleven o' clock 
 mount guard. Tuesday morning (at eleven) 
 relieved from guard, go to quarters, change 
 dress, and work for the rest of the day 
 at the fortification. Wednesday, fall in 
 two hours before daybreak, or as they say 
 on service, " until we can see a grey horse a 
 mile :" this was to prevent our being taken 
 
36 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 by surprise. Attend regimental parade at ele- 
 ven; at eight o } clock in the evening fall in 
 for picket; and patrol the streets till twelve. 
 Go to quarters, get an hour or two rest; fall 
 in two hours before daybreak on Thursday, 
 get back to quarters by seven, attend regi- 
 mental parade at ten, mount guard at ele- 
 ven. Friday, relieved from guard at eleven, 
 change dress and go to work. Saturday, fall 
 in two hours before daybreak, attend parade 
 at ten, work the rest of the day, picket at 
 night. Sunday morning, fall in before day- 
 break as usual, parade at ten, mount guard 
 at eleven. 
 
 Thus, it will be seen that we had very 
 little time for rest; and we were so com- 
 pletely worn out, that one night, when I 
 was placed as sentinel on a post of very 
 considerable importance although I knew 
 the safety of the town depended on my 
 vigilance I could not resist the inclination 
 to sleep; so, deliberately laying myself down 
 on the ground, resting my firelock by my 
 side, and placing a stone for my pillow, I 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 37 
 
 fell asleep. Time passed quick; and I was 
 awakened by a most terrific dream. An 
 immense lion, I fancied, was about spring- 
 ing on me. In the utmost terror I started 
 to my feet, instinctively grasping my fire- 
 lock, and heard footsteps approaching. I had 
 sufficient presence of mind to give the usual 
 challenge " Who comes there ?" and " The 
 Grand Round" was the reply. I demanded, 
 1 ' Stand fast, Grand Round ; advance sergeant, 
 and give the countersign." The sergeant ad- 
 vanced a few paces, pronounced the mystic 
 word, and I called out, " Pass on, Grand 
 Round; all's well." 
 
 It would not have been ' ' well " for me, had 
 they caught me asleep; the inevitable punish- 
 ment for such a crime, under such circum- 
 stances, would have been death. In a few 
 minutes afterwards, the relieving sentinels 
 came round, so that I had been asleep 
 nearly two hours. I did not feel any more 
 an inclination for sleep that night. I thanked 
 God for my deliverance; and vowed never 
 again to indulge in a nap while on sentry. 
 
38 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 As the batteries were assuming a state of 
 efficiency ; and no tidings of the enemy, 
 General Gibbs detached the 54th Regiment, 
 to reconnoitre the country; and they had 
 not been gone more than three or four days, 
 when they returned in the utmost disorder ; 
 stating they had met with the enemy in con- 
 siderable numbers, which induced them to 
 make the best of their way back to Stral- 
 sund : and we, of course, expected the French 
 would now pay us a visit. As there were 
 still no signs of them, the General left Stral- 
 sund himself, taking only our regiment with 
 him. 
 
 We left Swedish Pomerania, and proceeded 
 through Germany, by forced marches, of 
 about thirty miles a-day; and as we had no 
 Commissary with us, we were obliged to trust 
 entirely to chance for our daily supplies. In 
 the various towns through which we passed, 
 more particularly at Gustrow, the inhabitants 
 behaved towards us with the greatest kind- 
 ness, striving with each other which should 
 have the honour, of entertaining us. 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 39 
 
 Our journey, after leaving the last-named 
 town, was through a country purely agricul- 
 tural; and yet, though it was in the begin- 
 ning of September, there were no signs of 
 harvest. The country had been overrun with 
 troops, alternately friendly and hostile; but 
 (whether one or the other) draining them of 
 their resources, driving away their cattle, and 
 producing the utmost desolation; so that, 
 though the inhabitants of the villages were 
 extremely kind to us, it was not in their 
 power to furnish us with any provision, even 
 for money. The only inhabitants, indeed, re- 
 maining in the villages, were old men and 
 women, and young children, no cattle, no 
 horses, sheep, pigs or poultry; the trees, in- 
 deed, were yielding abundance of fruit, and 
 there were a few tobacco fields in cultivation : 
 with these exceptions, it is impossible to de- 
 scribe the state of desolation to which the 
 country had been reduced. 
 
 Though General Gibbs left Stralsund with 
 us, he did not accompany us always. He was 
 desirous of falling in with some of the allied 
 
40 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 troops. Napoleon was at this time at Dres- 
 den, with upwards of 100,000 men. Murat, 
 Key, Davoust, and some others of the French 
 marshals, were occupying strong positions 
 between Dresden and Leipsic, ready to act 
 singly, or co-operate with their master, as 
 circumstances might require. Against these, 
 were the combined forces of Austria, Russia, 
 and Prussia, and the Crown Prince, with 
 30,000 Swedes. The utmost reliance was 
 now placed in the fidelity and ability of Ber- 
 nadotte ; and he was created Generalissimo 
 of the Allied Troops. 
 
 Our regiment continued to advance, though 
 with what object was not known. The wea- 
 ther was very hot ; and, for a whole week, we 
 had nothing to subsist on but such potatoes 
 or fruit as we could pick up on the march; 
 generally bivouacking in a wood, at night. 
 
 On the 15th of September, towards the 
 close of the day, when our colonel was look- 
 ing out for some suitable spot, on which to 
 pass the night, and pointing to a wood in 
 the distance, as seeming to promise the ne- 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 41 
 
 cessary accommodation ; having nearly reached 
 the spot whether through the ignorance or 
 treachery of our guide, I know not but we 
 found ourselves within two miles of the 
 French camp, of 20,000 men. Had they been 
 aware of our approach, they could have de- 
 tached two or three regiments of cavalry, 
 and have taken the whole of us prisoners. 
 As soon as we found out our mistake, we 
 lost but little time in placing ourselves at a 
 more respectful distance. Having gone about 
 five miles in another direction, we fell in 
 with General Walmoden, with about 20,000 
 Germans and Hanoverians ; and though night 
 was drawing on, he was breaking up his camp 
 to attack the enemy, whom we were so close 
 upon. 
 
 We were now fortunate enough to get a 
 supply of bread, and two cows, alive; they 
 were soon dispatched, however, and cut up, 
 after a manner some of the men roasting 
 their portions at the wood fires, and some 
 actually devouring it raw warm, as it came 
 from the beast, after the Abyssinian fashion. 
 
42 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 After two or three hours' rest, we also were 
 ordered to advance, but not exactly in the 
 track of our allies. They crossed the Elbe, 
 at Dormitz, and we proceeded to Dannen- 
 berg, where the enemy had broken down 
 the bridge, and it was midnight before a 
 bridge of boats could be constructed to enable 
 us to pass. How we got over, 1 cannot tell ; 
 for we were so thoroughly fatigued, that we 
 actually slept as we walked along. Towards 
 morning, we were indulged with about two 
 hours' repose, on the grass; when we were 
 again urged forward. 
 
 General Count Walmoden had overtaken 
 and engaged the enemy, on the plains of 
 Gordo, in Hanover, about fifteen miles from 
 our last town. As soon as we heard firing 
 we were hurried on to assist, and went double- 
 quick through the wood, in which we passed 
 a delightful country-seat, the property of 
 George III., as Elector of Hanover; and 
 soon afterwards, emerging from the wood, a 
 most extraordinary sight presented itself to us. 
 On our left, was the French army, drawn 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 43 
 
 up, with their right near the wood. On their 
 right centre was a hill, on which some cannon, 
 with a strong body of infantry, were placed. 
 On their extreme left was a solid square of 
 French infantry ; and as we entered the field, 
 the latter were attacked by some of our 
 cavalry, consisting of the 2nd and 3rd Ger- 
 man Hussars. The attack was not successful ; 
 the cavalry were repulsed with considerable 
 loss. 
 
 As soon as Walmoden perceived us, he rode 
 up with a couple of aides-de-camp. His ap- 
 pearance, for a general especially for a gene- 
 ral commanding in a field of battle was the 
 most extraordinary I have ever seen. He was 
 actually smoking one of the long German 
 pipes, the flexible tube passing round his 
 body, and the bowl deposited in a pouch, by 
 his horse's side. Addressing our commanding 
 officer, he said, " Colonel, I am glad you 
 are come; I want that hill taken!" pointing 
 to the one with the two pieces of cannon, 
 and about a thousand men on it. " Will you 
 charge them, Colonel?" "Yes, Sir," was the 
 
44 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 answer. " Well/' said the German, " I shall 
 send a Hanoverian regiment to assist you." 
 On which our colonel observed, "Let us try 
 it ourselves, General, first ; and if we fail, then 
 assist us." Then, addressing the regiment, he 
 said, "Now, my lads, you see what we have 
 to do; we are the only regiment of Eng- 
 lish in the field : don't let us disgrace our- 
 selves \" A hearty cheer from the men was 
 the assurance that they would do their duty. 
 The colonel, calling the quarter-master, told 
 him to endeavour to get us a supply of 
 schnaps, by the time we had done the job ; 
 and then he led us on to the foot of the hill. 
 As we began to ascend, the enemy fired one 
 volley, which being ill-directed, passed over 
 us harmless, or nearly so; and then they 
 abandoned their position, and retreated, on 
 perceiving the English colours, which our 
 officers had just unfurled; previously, they 
 were rolled up in oilskin cases. 
 
 In order to account for this apparent cow- 
 ardice on the part of the French, their general, 
 himself, informed us afterwards, when taken 
 
MILITARY SERVICE* 45 
 
 prisoner, that when he was attacked by the 
 Hanoverians, the whole being in British uni- 
 form, he had a difficulty in persuading his 
 men that they were not English; and when 
 our regiment began to ascend the hill, they, 
 of course, took us to be part of the Hano- 
 verians : but when the British colours were 
 exhibited, the French troops fancied that not 
 only we, but the majority of the red coats, 
 were English, and this circumstance caused 
 such a panic among his men, that he could 
 no longer keep them to their duty. 
 
 The French right, on seeing the hill aban- 
 doned, fled also. The square of French in- 
 fantry, on the left, which I have before alluded 
 to, were still firm ; but there happened to be 
 two or three of the Rocket Brigade in the 
 field, and the first rocket fired, fell directly 
 in the square, putting them in the greatest 
 confusion; and while they were so, the Ger- 
 man Hussars, who had been previously re- 
 pulsed, charged them again, and influenced 
 by feelings of revenge, cut among them, right 
 and left, giving no quarter. 
 
46 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 The French were now defeated at all points, 
 and the result was about 800 French killed, 
 1200 wounded, and 1500 prisoners; our loss 
 in killed and wounded, was about 800. This 
 battle is very slightly mentioned in history, 
 and no notice whatever has been taken of our 
 presence. If it had been a battalion of the 
 Guards so engaged, the circumstance would 
 have found a prominent place in history; but 
 as it was only a paltry regiment of the line, 
 of course it was not worth recording, as there 
 was nothing in the shape of patronage to be 
 secured by it. 
 
 I have stated that the French General was 
 taken prisoner, and there was a circumstance 
 connected with his capture worth recording. 
 Finding his efforts to rally his men ineffectual, 
 being wounded, he endeavoured to make good 
 his own retreat, but was closely pursued by 
 one of the 2nd German Hussars. The Gene- 
 ral, in order to check him in the pursuit, 
 threw on the ground a well-filled purse. The 
 hussar noticed the spot where the purse fell, 
 but continued the pursuit, when the General 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 47 
 
 surrendered, and on retracing their steps the 
 German dismounted, took up the purse and 
 gave it to the General : who, when he met our 
 General, reported the brave and disinterested 
 conduct of the man. General Gibbs, who 
 arrived in the field during the action, was so 
 struck with the conduct of the hussar, that 
 he attached him to his own person as an 
 orderly, and when that general was killed 
 afterwards at New Orleans, in America, the 
 man was found dead by his side. 
 
 In the course of this engagement, we were 
 joined by a Regiment of Russian Cossacks ; a 
 set of barbarians, inspiring as much terror in 
 our own ranks as in those of the enemy. 
 There was nothing like discipline preserved by 
 them, and their principal object seemed to be 
 plunder, no matter how obtained, whether 
 from friend or foe. One of them having killed 
 a man, was in the act of stripping him, when 
 another came up to assist him, " No, no ! my 
 good friend," said the first one, " go and kill a 
 man for yourself." They did not confine them- 
 selves to taking watches, money, or other 
 
48 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 valuables, but stripped the dead and dying of 
 every particle of clothing, taking with them 
 such as they thought worth carrying, and 
 scattering the rest about the ground. 
 
 Having collected the prisoners, to the 
 amount of 1500, who were placed under our 
 charge, we paid such attention to the wound- 
 ed as circumstances would admit of, and 
 there being no town nearer than the one we 
 last left, and the weather extremely wet, we 
 made the best arrangement we could for the 
 night ; and miserable indeed was our position. 
 The rain continued the whole night, increasing 
 tenfold the sufferings of the wounded, and 
 rendering our situation anything but pleasant. 
 
 Notwithstanding these unpleasant circum- 
 stances, however, such was our state of ex- 
 haustion, that no sooner were the prisoners 
 arrranged, being surrounded by sentinels, with 
 orders to shoot any of them who should en- 
 deavour to escape, than the rest of us laid 
 down and slept on the ground, exposed to the 
 " pelting of the pitiless storm." At day- 
 break next morning the weather cleared up, 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 49 
 
 and we were engaged for an hour or two in 
 lighting fires and drying ourselves. A number 
 of wagons arrived from Dannenberg for the 
 removal of the wounded, and we had to escort 
 the prisoners to that place. Some of them had 
 been in English prisons, and seemed pleased 
 when it was intimated to them that they 
 would be sent to England, by which we may 
 suppose they had been tolerably well treated 
 there. On our arrival at Dannenberg, the 
 prisoners were placed under a guard in the 
 Town Hall, and the wounded French, as they 
 arrived, were deposited on straw in the pews 
 of the church. 
 
 General Gibbs was here with us, and we 
 were billeted on the inhabitants. I obtained 
 tolerably good quarters ; but just as I had got 
 something to eat, and was about to retire to 
 rest on some clean straw, (there being so many 
 of us, beds were out of the question) I was 
 called out on what is called "fatigue duty," and 
 our employment during the whole of the night 
 was assisting the surgeons in the church, who 
 had taken their station near the altar ; and we 
 D 
 
50 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 carried to them such of the wounded as were 
 marked for amputation, holding them while 
 the operation was performed, and then deposit- 
 ing them on the floor with straw to lay on, 
 and an allowance of bread and water to each : 
 and occasionally, carrying away such of them 
 as had died, to the holes prepared in the 
 yard for them. In the morning there was a 
 stack of amputated limbs beside the altar, 
 which we had afterwards to remove and bury. 
 
 On leaving this place we were relieved from 
 the charge of the prisoners, where they were 
 taken to I never could learn. We returned by 
 the same road through Germany, and were 
 exposed to the same privations until we had 
 passed Gustrow, when, as on our advance, we 
 subsisted on the inhabitants ; instead of going 
 back to Stralsund, we diverged to the left, and 
 went to Rostock in Mecklenburgh, where we 
 obtained very comfortable quarters. 
 
 The operations of the combined armies in 
 Germany, during the month of October, were 
 so very important in their results, that it 
 cannot be deemed altogether irrelevent to a 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 51 
 
 work of this description, if I quote from his- 
 tory a brief summary of them, commencing 
 with the veiy slight notice which is taken of 
 the battle I have been endeavouring to sketch. 
 At this period General Blucher was posted at 
 Cantzen, where he maintained a communica- 
 cation with the Grand Allied A rm V' The 
 Crown Prince (Bernadotte) had his head quar- 
 ters at Zerbot, and held additional posts on 
 the Elbe, some detachments of his cavalry 
 acting along the left bank of that river. 
 
 Count Walmoden, commanding a body of 
 the Allies on the Lower Elbe, having been 
 informed that Davoust had detached the 
 General of Division, Pecheux, with his corps, 
 to the left bank of the Elbe, in order to clear 
 it and advance towards Magdeburg, crossed 
 that river on the 14th September, near Dor- 
 mitz ; and brought the enemy to action on the 
 16th, whom he entirely defeated and dispersed, 
 with the loss of 2000 killed and wounded, and 
 1500 prisoners, with eight pieces of cannon. 
 
 A grand plan of co-operation was now begun 
 to be acted on by the Allies, which was to 
 D 2 
 
52 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 be decisive of the result of the campaign. A 
 large force of Russians and Prussians, with 
 the entire Austrian army of Bohemia, de- 
 bouched from the passes through the Erzege- 
 birge, arid marched by Chemitz and Freybourg 
 towards Leipsic. The intelligence of this 
 movement determined the Crown Prince to 
 attempt the passage of the Elbe. While he was 
 making his preparations for this purpose, he 
 received information, from General Blucher, of 
 his intention to move his army to the Elbe, 
 and cross that river at Elster. This he effected 
 on the 3rd of October, and was immediately 
 after engaged by the 4th French corps, under 
 General Bertrand, which was entrenched at a 
 neighbouring village. A sanguinary conflict 
 ensued, which terminated in the rout of the 
 French with great loss. Blucher afterwards 
 fixed his head quarters at Kremberg, and 
 pushed his cavalry to Duben, within twenty 
 miles of Leipsic. The Crown Prince, in the 
 meantime, whose advanced guard after taking 
 possession of Dessan had been obliged to 
 relinquish it, caused a bridge to be thrown 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 53 
 
 over the Elbe lower down at Acken; and 
 learning the success of Blucher, he passed his 
 whole army on the 4th, partly at that place 
 and partly at Roslaw. 
 
 The French, under Ney, now retired from 
 Dessan, lest they should be placed between two 
 fires, and the Crown Prince took his quarters 
 there. The situation of the French was now 
 rendered more critical, by the parties of the 
 Allies which were spreading in his rear, and 
 impeding all communication between them 
 and France. PlatoiF covered the country on 
 the Saale and Mulda, and between them and 
 the Elbe, with detachments of his Cossacks. 
 The Russian Czernichoff, after three success- 
 ful actions, pushed on to Cassell, which he 
 entered by capitulation on the 30th Septem- 
 ber, King Jerome having fled from it only two 
 hours before, and taken the road towards 
 Frankfort. It was not long, however, before he 
 was replaced in his capital. 
 
 In the north of Germany the Allies were also 
 superior, and General Tettenborne (on the 14th 
 of October, 1813) entered Bremen by composi- 
 
54 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 tion, the garrison being allowed to depart, on 
 condition of not serving against the Allies for 
 the space of twelve months. 
 
 Leipsic being the point to which the great 
 efforts of the Allies were directed, the posses- 
 sion of which was of the highest importance to 
 each party, Napoleon found it necessary on 
 the 7th of October, to quit Dresden in com- 
 pany with the King of Saxony, and take post 
 at Rochlitz, about forty miles to the west of 
 that city, and twenty-five to the south of 
 Leipsic. He assembled his forces to the sup- 
 posed number of 180,000 men, exclusively of 
 his garrisons, which amounted to 30,000 more ; 
 they were chiefly stationed on the right bank 
 of the Mulda, on a long parallel to that of 
 the Elbe. The city of Leipsic is placed nearly 
 midway between the Mulda and the Saale; 
 the passage of the latter river, therefore, by 
 the army of the Crown Prince, would enable 
 him to advance upon Leipsic, from the north- 
 west, along its left bank, whilst the army 
 from Bohemia was making its approach by 
 Chemitz and Altenberg from the south. 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 55 
 
 This movement it was determined to execute, 
 notwithstanding the demonstration made by 
 the French on the Elbe, toward Torgan and 
 Wittenberg, and which threw the inhabit- 
 ants of Berlin into consternation. 
 
 On the 10th of October, the armies of 
 the Crown Prince and Blucher joined at 
 Zorbig, when the passage of the Saale was 
 concluded upon ; this was effected by Blucher, 
 at Halle, and at this period information was 
 received, that Platoff with his Cossacks, was 
 at Pegaw, and that Kleist and Wittgenstien, 
 with the vanguard of the Bohemian army, 
 was approaching Altenberg. At this mo- 
 mentous crisis, an important accession was 
 made to the cause of Germany, by a treaty 
 of alliance and concert, between Austria and 
 Bavaria, signed on the 8th, by Prince Reuss 
 and General Wrede ; in consequence of which, 
 the latter, with fifty-five thousand Bavarian 
 troops, was to act with the Austrians. 
 
 When the ancient enmity between these 
 powers, and the particular favours conferred 
 on the latter, are considered, a more convinc- 
 
56 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 ing proof of the prevalent disposition, through- 
 out German, to unite in freeing the country 
 from the yoke imposed upon it by the am- 
 bition of Napoleon, could not be given. It 
 was not to be expected that the numerous 
 troops round Leipsic could long remain with- 
 out coming to action : indeed, the Allies, full 
 of hope and spirit, had concentrated their 
 force with the resolution of becoming assail- 
 ants, the moment their disposition should be 
 completed. 
 
 It was the lot of General Blucher to lead 
 the way to victory. Advancing from his 
 position at Halle, on the 14th of October, 
 to Gras Kugel, he pushed his van on the 
 great road to Leipsic, occupying the villages 
 on each side of it. The Crown Prince gave 
 orders to march to Halle, on that night; 
 but when his troops were on the march, he 
 took up his head-quarters at Sylbitz. 
 
 Blucher found the French forces under 
 Marmont, and Ney, and General Bertrand, 
 occupying a line in an open country, com- 
 prehending several villages. After the first 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 57 
 
 onset, the enemy gave up the advanced vil- 
 lages, anJ retired to some distance; but 
 obstinately held some of the more defensible. 
 At one of these, named Mockern, a very 
 sanguinary contest took place, it being taken 
 and retaken five times. The corps of D'Yorck 
 was engaged at this spot, and suffered great 
 loss. At length this position was forced ; and 
 the French were driven beyond the Partha. 
 
 The villages, in the woody ground, on the 
 right, were also the scene of sharp actions : 
 in which the Russians, under Langeron, 
 fought against the corps of Marshal Ney. 
 They were, however, finally successful; and 
 night put an end to the conflict. It is said 
 that Napoleon was an eye-witness of the 
 latter part of this defeat of his own troops. 
 The loss of the Allies was severe, amounting 
 to 6,000 or 7,000, killed or wounded ; among 
 whom were many commanders of brigades 
 in D'Yorck's corps. The French, it was as- 
 serted, lost 12,000, in killed, wounded and 
 prisoners, an eagle, and forty pieces of cannon. 
 
 On the 16th, the Grand Army of the Allies 
 D 5 
 
58 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 made a general attack, to the south of Leipsic. 
 The country being peculiarly adapted for ca- 
 valry, they were chiefly employed in this 
 engagement, with a tremendous artillery of 
 600 pieces on both sides. Two solitary build- 
 ings, in the centre of the enemy's position, 
 were occupied by several battalions of in- 
 fantry, and after repeated attacks by the 
 Russian infantry, were carried with great 
 carnage. Murat then brought forward the 
 whole of the French cavalry, and made a 
 desperate charge on the centre of the Allies, 
 which for a time was forced ; but a charge of 
 six regiments of Austrian cuirassiers, which 
 nothing could withstand, restored the position ; 
 and after a great deal of slaughter, the two 
 armies remained nearly on the same ground 
 where the battle was fought. 
 
 The 17th chiefly passed in preparation for a 
 renewal of the contest. The Crown Prince 
 moved from his head-quarters at Landsberg, to 
 Brittenfield. Winzingerode's cavalry and artil- 
 lery had moved forward in the night, near 
 the heights of Tancha. The French appeared 
 in great force, in a good position, on the 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 59 
 
 left of the Partha, upon a ridge parallel to 
 that river. Some Mecklenburgh hussars ad^ 
 vanced into the suburbs of Leipsic, and took 
 three pieces of cannon and a few prisoners. 
 
 On the morning of the 18th, the different 
 armies of the Allies advanced from the villages 
 round Leipsic, for their grand attack on 
 that city. The first operation of the Crown 
 Prince's army, was to force the enemy's 
 right, and obtain possession of the heights 
 of Tancha. This was effected, and General 
 Winzingerode took about 3,000 prisoners, and 
 some cannon, at Tancha. The French in- 
 fantry soon after abandoned the line of the 
 Partha, and retired over the plain towards 
 Leipsic ; occupying in strength, some villages, 
 to cover their retreat. In the forcing of 
 these, considerable resistance was experienced 
 by the corps of Langeron and Bulow ; but at 
 length, they were all carried. A retiring 
 solid square of French infantry, was thrown 
 into such consternation by the Rocket Bri- 
 gade, under Captain Bogue, that it surrendered 
 after the first fire. 
 
 During the action in this part, twenty-two 
 
60 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 pieces of Saxon artillery joined the Allies, and 
 were instantly turned against the French ; 
 and two regiments of "Westphalian hussars, 
 with two battalions of Saxons, also came over, 
 and readily accepted the offer of the Crown 
 Prince, to lead them immediately against their 
 former ally. 
 
 On the southern side, whence the Grand 
 Allied Army made its attack, the French 
 resisted with great obstinacy, at various points, 
 but were finally driven from their posts ; and 
 a communication was established between 
 the two assailing armies. The result of this 
 important day, was a loss to the French, of 
 40,000, in killed, wounded, and prisoners ; 
 among the latter of whom were many generals, 
 sixty-five pieces of cannon, and the desertion 
 of seventeen German battalions, which joined 
 the victors, with their generals and staff. The 
 conquering armies remained, during the night, 
 on the ground they had won. 
 
 On the morning of the 19th, the King of 
 Saxony sent a flag of truce to the Emperor 
 Alexander, requesting him to spare the town 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 61 
 
 of Leipsic ; but that sovereign, considering 
 it as a feint to gain time, ordered an imme- 
 diate assault. Leipsic was taken, after a 
 short resistance ; the Allies entering it at 
 eleven, two hours after Napoleon had made 
 his escape. There were captured with it, the 
 King of Saxony, with all his court; the gar- 
 rison and rear-guard of the French army, 
 amounting to 30,000 ; all the sick and 
 wounded, computed at 22,000 ; the magazines, 
 artillery, and stores. 
 
 Nothing could be more complete than this 
 success. The Emperor of Russia, the King 
 of Prussia, and the Crown Prince of Sweden, 
 each at the head of their respective troops, 
 made their entry, from different points, and 
 met in the Great Square, amidst the acclama- 
 tions of the people. General Blucher's ser- 
 vices were rewarded by the rank of Field 
 Marshal; and Marshal Prince Schutzenberg 
 was decorated with orders, by the Emperors of 
 Austria and Russia, and the King of Prussia. 
 
 After the battle of Leipsic, the French 
 retreated, with the utmost precipitation, to- 
 
62 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 wards France, closely pursued by the com- 
 bined armies. The Crown Prince was left, 
 with a considerable force, to relieve those 
 places in Germany, which were still garri- 
 soned by French troops. A portion of the 
 Swedish troops returning to Pomerania, re- 
 lieved the British there, who soon joined 
 us at Rostock ; and as our services were 
 not likely to be wanted again so far north, 
 it was expected that, as soon as transports 
 could be provided, we should be conveyed 
 to Holland ; as an effort was now to be 
 made, to free that country from the French 
 domination. 
 
 During our stay at Rostock, the reigning 
 Prince of Mecklenburgh returned to his pa- 
 lace, a splendid building, situated at the 
 end of the principal street ; and a series of 
 entertainments were given, to celebrate the 
 release of Germany from the thraldom of 
 the ambitious Napoleon. 
 
 Notwithstanding the desolation of the sur- 
 rounding country, the town of Rostock seemed 
 to be amply supplied with provisions, of every 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 63 
 
 sort ; and to us they appeared remarkably 
 cheap. At an eating-house near the Town 
 Hall, I have frequently got an excellent 
 dinner, consisting of poultry, fish, and flesh, 
 with abundance of vegetables, and a glass 
 of schnaps included, for three-pence half- 
 penny. Geese, here, are remarkably good 
 and plentiful ; a good sized one could be 
 had at the cook-shop, ready dressed, for 
 Is. 3d. A great many of the inhabitants of 
 this, and other towns in Germany, keep 
 geese, which, I suppose by some municipal 
 regulation, are taken out every morning, to 
 feed on the commons. The man who takes 
 charge of them, goes through the town in 
 the morning, blowing a horn, on hearing 
 which the keepers of geese turn them out. 
 When all are collected, they are taken to the 
 common : and at night the man brings them 
 back to the owners. A similar practice pre- 
 vails in regard to the pigs, which are sum- 
 moned by the cracking of a whip, and taken 
 in like manner to the common. The abun- 
 dance of geese enables the people to indulge 
 
64 
 
 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 in the luxury of the finest feather beds, one 
 under, and one over them, with a pair of 
 sheets only between them. 
 
 I had the good fortune to be quartered 
 here upon a very respectable Lutheran minis- 
 ter, whose house was adjoining the church. 
 He could speak a little English ; and I 
 understood, by this time, something of the 
 German ; and every morning, when I was 
 off duty, he would invite me into his library : 
 when the servant used invariably to bring us 
 in two buns, and two glasses of rum, and 
 he would question me about England, its 
 customs, politics, religion, and so on, oc- 
 casionally referring to some of his books. 
 After passing an hour thus, he would dress 
 and go to the church, to perform his religious . 
 duties. The short time I passed in the house 
 of this worthy pastor, was about the most 
 agreeable that I have ever experienced. 
 
 The latter end of October the frost set in 
 with the greatest severity, and the weather- 
 wise then predicted that we should have a 
 long and severe winter. 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 65 
 
 On the arrival of the transports, we left 
 Rostock amidst the strongest manifestations 
 of goodwill and friendship from the inhabit- 
 ants ; and after a march of a few miles, we 
 reached the shores of the Baltic, in the Gulf 
 of Lubec. This was on the 2nd of November, 
 1813; the sea was uncommonly rough, and 
 the process of embarkation was both difficult 
 and dangerous. Having none but the ships' 
 boats, it was late at night before the various 
 regiments got on board; and then some of 
 the officers were obliged to leave their horses 
 behind them. 
 
 The two vessels in which our regiment em- 
 barked, were the Ajax and Mountaineer, 
 ricketty things, of about 400 tons each. The 
 wind increased in violence, and we were buf- 
 fetted about at the mercy of the waves for 
 two days and nights ; every wave dashing over 
 the vessel, compelling us to keep the hatch- 
 ways closed, and the watch, on deck, obliged 
 to lash themselves to some part of the vessel, 
 to prevent them from being washed overboard. 
 
 As it was found impossible to proceed, in 
 
66 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 such weather, we sought shelter in the harbour 
 of Gottenburg ; where we were detained for 
 fourteen days. This delay was very distress- 
 ing, as the majority of our men were attacked 
 with dysentery ; and the effluvia between 
 deck was so horribly offensive and insupport- 
 able, that those who were free from the 
 disorder (and I was fortunately one of them) 
 chose rather to remain, day and night, on 
 deck, sleeping in or under the long-boat, in 
 the forecastle, or any where that we could 
 stow ourselves away; the frost at the time 
 being so intense, that the ships were ac- 
 tually frozen in. A Lieutenant Dowling,* 
 and. another officer, belonging to us, were sent 
 up the river to Gottenburg, where they were 
 detained for a fortnight ; and spent for their 
 own subsistence the money with which they 
 had been provided to purchase some neces- 
 sary things for the men. 
 
 When released from this place, we had a 
 favourable, though rather brisk, wind; and 
 
 * This officer is now Barrack-master at the Wellington 
 Barracks, London. 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 67 
 
 in four days we reached Yarmouth Roads, 
 where we were exposed to another tremendous 
 storm, which continued, with fearful violence, 
 through the night. When daylight appeared, 
 seventeen vessels were discovered on shore, 
 some of them complete wrecks. 
 
 We hoped, having so much sickness on board, 
 that we should be permitted to land directly ; 
 but had to await the arrival of instructions 
 from the Government, which, when they came, 
 were a sad disappointment to many. The 
 order was the whole of the women and 
 children should be left on shore, at Yarmouth, 
 and the troops sent directly to Holland ; and 
 it was expected our landing there would be 
 strongly contested by the French. These 
 orders were a sad disappointment to most 
 of us; but it was particularly distressing to 
 the married people, to be separated thus sud- 
 denly the women and children landed in a 
 strange place, perhaps hundreds of miles from 
 their home, and no resources ; the men, most 
 of them ill, on board, with the prevailing 
 disorder. But the orders were imperative, and 
 
68 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 so, after getting in a supply of fresh provisions, 
 we left Yarmouth with a fair wind, and in a 
 few hours made the coast of Holland. 
 
 On the 12th of December, we reached 
 Helvoetsluys, which had just been evacuated 
 by the French. We proceeded up the river 
 to Williamstadt, which was also just aban- 
 doned by the enemy; and we had the op- 
 portunity of landing without any interrup- 
 tion. It was fortunate for us, that such 
 was the case, as most of our men were so 
 dreadfully weakened by the disorder, that it 
 was with the utmost difficulty they were got 
 on shore ; and they were instantly sent into 
 the hospital. However, a few days judicious 
 treatment, with proper diet, and medicines, 
 put them to rights, and we soon began 
 again to assume an appearance of efficiency. 
 The illness I have alluded to, was confined 
 to our regiment, and was supposed to have 
 been produced by our excessive fatigue, and 
 bad living, throughout Germany. The other 
 portion of the troops had remained all the 
 time in quarters, at Stralsund ; where, after* 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 69 
 
 we left, the duty was tolerable, as the 
 works were completed ; and having correct 
 information of the operations of the conten- 
 ding armies, they were no longer under 
 any apprehensions of an attack. 
 
 Our regiment cut rather a miserable figure 
 beside the other regiments in another respect. 
 They having been in a state of comparative 
 inactivity, had preserved their regimental 
 dresses in good order; while ours, from our 
 bivouacking in the woods, and marching a dis- 
 tance of upwards of 300 miles, were in 
 such a shattered condition, that many of the 
 men had their red coats mended with the 
 grey trowser cloth, there being no possibi- 
 lity of obtaining any red cloth for the pur- 
 pose. But though the other could boast of 
 a superiority in appearance, all the honour 
 rested with us. 
 
 In again alluding to the battle of Gorde, 
 it will be perceived, that the enemy we 
 defeated, had been detached on a most im- 
 portant duty ; namely, to open the passage 
 for the French troops to Magdeburg. The 
 
70 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 consequence of our victory was, that the 
 French General, Davoust, was not able to 
 carry into effect his plan of reaching that 
 place ; and without arrogating too much 
 to ourselves, I think our regiment may 
 consider the panic caused by the appearance 
 of their colours, was the means of render- 
 ing the victory more decisive than it would 
 otherwise have been. 
 
 Should it be supposed that I have exag- 
 gerated the fears of the French, on the ap- 
 pearance of the English colours, I could ad- 
 duce two more instances, in which the 
 French have contended well with us, before 
 they discovered that we were English, when 
 they instantly fled. But the fact I have 
 already alluded to, can be attested by re- 
 spectable parties, now living. There are two 
 officers, now resident in this metropolis, who 
 were present; the one is Major Mead, who 
 then belonged to us, and was aide-de-camp to 
 General Gibbs; he exchanged from us into 
 the 21st Fusileers, and very sorry we were to 
 lose him, for he was, in every sense of the 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 71 
 
 word, an officer and a gentleman. He holds 
 now, an appointment in the Adjutant-general's 
 office, at the Horse Guards. Captain Dowling 
 was present; and would, I have no doubt, 
 bear testimony to the truth of my observa- 
 tions. 
 
 I believe, the reason why our presence 
 in that engagement was not noticed at the 
 time, was, that the general (Gibbs) had ex- 
 ceeded his instructions in carrying us so far. 
 I am sorry he did not take us a little further, 
 as I should much like to have witnessed 
 the grand operations before Leipsic; not 
 that I am, by any means, fond of slaughter ; 
 but there was something so very interesting 
 in the capture of Leipsic, that I have often 
 wished I had been there. It will appear, 
 from the subsequent chapters of this narrative, 
 that I was afterwards called on to witness 
 some scenes, quite as grand in their develop- 
 ment, and quite as glorious in their results. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 " Red Battle stamps his foot, 
 And Nations feel the shock." 
 
 THE regiments composing our brigade, left 
 Williamstadt on the 28th of December. There 
 was a partial breaking of the frost; and our 
 first day's march was the most miserable I 
 have ever experienced. The roads were lite- 
 rally knee-deep in mud ; many lost their shoes 
 and boots. After toiling all day, we were only 
 able to accomplish a distance of about ten 
 miles, when we were quartered on the in- 
 habitants of a village ; and though the people 
 were poor, they treated us kindly, and there 
 appeared among them an apparently sincere 
 desire to be released from French domination. 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 73 
 
 The Stadtholder, or Prince of Orange, had 
 been driven from his country eighteen years 
 before, when the French republican forces 
 proceeded triumphantly through Belgium, 
 entered Holland, drove the army commanded 
 by the Duke of York, from one town to an- 
 other, until at length, they were compelled 
 (at least, what was left of them) to abandon 
 the country, which immediately fraternized 
 with the French. But they were now heartily 
 sick of them, and anxious for the restoration of 
 the former dynasty. This revolution in favour 
 of the Prince of Orange, was as unexpected 
 to that Prince, as it was to the French ; who 
 not anticipating such an event, had drawn off 
 a portion of the several garrisons to reinforce 
 the army ; when the people, spontaneously, as 
 it were, rose in several places, drove out the 
 French troops, and proclaimed the Prince of 
 Orange. 
 
 The French Emperor was now placed in a 
 position so extremely critical, that his over- 
 throw seemed inevitable, unless he should 
 succeed in making some pacific arrangements 
 
74 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 with the Allied Sovereigns, who had now 
 hemmed him in on every side ; and, possessing 
 such advantages, they were not likely to con- 
 sent to any terms short of the complete restor- 
 ation of all those places, which had been taken 
 by the French since the Revolution, as well 
 as to obtain some guarantee against future 
 aggressions. 
 
 The chief command of the force concen- 
 trating in Holland, was given to Sir Thomas 
 Graham ; an appointment which gave universal 
 satisfaction to the troops. It was some time, 
 however, before we saw or heard anything of 
 him. 
 
 The frost having set in with increased seve- 
 rity, put a stop to our operations; and we 
 were quartered on the various towns and 
 villages, and received from England an ample 
 supply of stores, including the year's regimental 
 dress (not before we wanted it), with an abun- 
 dance of flannel shirts, thick worsted stockings, 
 and such other things as were necessary to 
 protect us from the inclemency of a winter 
 in Holland; bearing in mind, probably, the 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 75 
 
 horrible sufferings of the British troops, when 
 last there, under the Duke of York, which 
 have been thus recorded in history : 
 
 "The Duke of York quitted the command 
 of the army, on the 6th of December, 1794, 
 and returned to England a sufficient indica- 
 tion that even the British ministry had given 
 up the cause of Holland, as desperate. The 
 state of the army was extremely bad, even 
 while the Duke of York, by his presence, con- 
 trolled, in some degree, the rapacity of the 
 inferior agents, and prevented as far as the 
 exertions of one man, in the midst of a corrupt 
 system, could the unpardonable neglect which 
 prevailed in every department. But he was 
 no sooner departed, and the army placed under 
 the command of a foreigner, General Walmo- 
 den, than the grossest abuses were committed. 
 Perhaps, there never was a period when the 
 supplies to the troops cost such enormous 
 sums to the nation ; and there certainly never 
 was a war in which the army was so destitute 
 of every thing. From the flannel waistcoats 
 supplied by the patriotic contribution of the 
 E 2 
 
76 RECOLLECTIONS Of 
 
 English nation, by some mismanagement or 
 corrupt practice, many of the wretched suffer- 
 ing victims never received any advantage. The 
 condition of the sick was deplorable, beyond 
 all precedent; and when a man was ordered 
 for the hospital, the common expression 
 throughout the army was, ' that he was sent 
 to the shambles/ '' An eye-witness, a British 
 officer, whose account has never been contra- 
 dicted, and whose attachment to Government 
 cannot be suspected, has described the affect- 
 ing scene in the following terms. " The sick- 
 ness of the army increased daily, with the 
 extreme severity of the weather; and the 
 total inattention to the comfort and con- 
 venience of our suffering fellow-countrymen, 
 rendered their situation pitiable in the ex- 
 treme. A description, circumstantially de- 
 tailed, of their poignant sufferings, during 
 this retreat, would form a tale ' whose lightest 
 word would harrow up the soul, and make the 
 blood run cold with horror/ Constantly re- 
 moved in open wagons, exposed to the intense 
 severity of the weather, to drifting snow, and 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 77 
 
 heavy falls of sleet and rain ; frequently with- 
 out any victuals till the army halted, and then 
 but scantily provided; littered down in cold 
 churches, upon a short allowance of dirty 
 straw, and few of them enjoying the comforts 
 of even a single blanket, to repel the rigorous 
 attacks of the night air, it is no wonder that 
 they expired by hundreds, martyrs to the most 
 unpardonable neglect. The sufferings of the 
 flying army, in their nocturnal marches, are 
 beyond the power of description. The mul- 
 titudes who sunk into the arms of death, op- 
 pressed with cold and fatigue, were beyond 
 calculation. Some of the sufferers were 
 mounted behind the cavalry, and even behind 
 some of the officers, whose humanity, on this 
 occasion, reflects honour upon their character ; 
 but many more were left behind, dead or 
 dying, or buried under the drifts of snow." 
 
 The 16th of January was a day more 
 peculiarly marked by distressing scenes than 
 any other during the retreat. The troops 
 were on that morning put in motion at day- 
 break, with the view of reaching Loonen, 
 
78 RECOLLECTIONS OP 
 
 a village distant about twenty-three miles. 
 Owing to the uncommon severity of the 
 weather, and the snow, which lying deep on 
 the ground, was drifted in the faces of the 
 men by a strong easterly wind, they were 
 so worn down by fatigue, that it was thought 
 advisable to halt some of the regiments at 
 two neighbouring villages, about nine miles 
 short of their destination. The whole of the 
 British could not, however, be possibly ac- 
 commodated, and it was left to the discretion 
 of the commanding officers of corps, to con- 
 tinue their march, or take up such situations 
 as they could meet with in the villages on 
 the road. Some of the regiments proceeded, 
 even after sun-set, with their baggage and 
 field-pieces, and consequently were entirely 
 dispersed, as it was impossible to trace out 
 any pathway over the dreary common. Great 
 numbers of men, unable to bear up against 
 the fatigue they had undergone, and several 
 women and children, were frozen to death in 
 their attempts to discover the road which 
 their battalion had pursued. The whole of 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 79 
 
 the eighty-eighth regiment was so scattered, 
 that no return whatever could be given of 
 its strength next day ; and the few straggling 
 parties that joined, gave a very melancholy 
 account of the main body. 
 
 An officer of the guards, who was ordered 
 to reconnoitre next morning, had more oppor- 
 tunities than any other person of witnessing 
 the dreadful consequences of the preceding 
 night's march, the distressing account is there- 
 fore given in his own words : " On the 
 morning of the 17th, I was sent upon a 
 particular duty; to trace out a road over 
 the common, by which the army and artilliary 
 might safely proceed to Loonen. "When the 
 party marched it was scarcely light ; and as 
 day broke in upon us, the horrible scenes that 
 it revealed, afforded a shocking proof of the 
 miseries of a winter campaign. On the com- 
 mon, about half a mile off the road, we dis- 
 covered a baggage cart, with a team of five 
 horses, apparently in distress. I galloped 
 towards the spot, and found the poor animals 
 were stiff, but not dead; the hoar frost on 
 
80 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 their manes plainly shewing they had been 
 there the whole night. Not perceiving any 
 driver with them, I struck my sword repeat- 
 edly upon the covered tilt, enquiring at the 
 same time if there was any person in the 
 cart; at length a very feeble voice answered 
 me, and some one underneath appeared to 
 be making an effort to rise. A pair of naked 
 frost-nipped legs were then advanced, and 
 the most miserable object I ever beheld sunk 
 heavily to the ground, the whole of his cloth- 
 ing so ragged and worn, that I can scarcely 
 say that he was covered ; so stiff and frozen 
 was the miserable wretch, that he was by no 
 means capable of moving. He informed me, 
 that his regiment, the 54th, which he was 
 following the preceding night, had lost its 
 road, and, in turning to another, he found 
 his horses incapable of clearing the cart from 
 the ruts, and that himself and his two com- 
 rades were left behind, to proceed in the best 
 manner they could. The two men he spoke 
 of were lying dead in the cart, having all 
 three endeavoured to communicate to one 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 81 
 
 another a degree of warmth, by creeping close 
 together. We placed the miserable survivor 
 upon one of the horses of his team, and led 
 him forward to join his battalion; by that 
 means his life was preserved, yet, I fear but 
 for a season, for when placed in the hospital, 
 his toes dropped off, frost-bitten, and his 
 mass of blood appeared to be in a corrupted 
 state. 
 
 " The whole of this day's march, was marked 
 by scenes of the most calamitous nature, 
 similar to the one I have just recited. "We 
 could not proceed a hundred yards, without 
 perceiving the dead bodies of men, women, 
 and children, and horses in every direction. 
 One scene made an impression on my memory, 
 which time will never be able to efface. 
 
 " Near another cart, a little further on the 
 common, we perceived a stout-looking man 
 and a beautiful young woman, with an infant 
 about seven month's old at the breast, all 
 three frozen and dead. The mother had 
 most certainly, expired in the act of suckling 
 her child, as, with one breast exposed, she 
 E 5 
 
82 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 lay upon the drifted snow, the milk, to all 
 appearance, in a stream drawn from the nipple, 
 by the babe, and instantly congealed. The 
 infant seemed as if its life had but just been 
 disengaged, and it reposed its little head on 
 its mother's bosom, with an overflow of milk 
 frozen as it trickled from the mouth. Their 
 countenances were perfectly composed and 
 fresh, resembling those of persons in a sound 
 and tranquil slumber. About fifty yards fur- 
 ther advanced, was another dead man, with 
 a bundle of linen and a few biscuits, evidently 
 belonging to the poor woman and child, and 
 a little further was a horse lying down, but 
 not quite dead, with a couple of paniers on 
 his back, one of which contained, as we dis- 
 covered, the body of another child, about two 
 years of age, wrapped up in flannel and straw : 
 this, as we afterwards heard, was the whole of 
 one family, a Serjeant's wife, of the 55th, 
 her brother and children. The man found 
 with the horse and bundle, had remained 
 behind to assist them. During a march thus 
 memorable for its miseries, he had just gained 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 83 
 
 sight of a distant hamlet, where they might 
 have obtained shelter from the inclemency of 
 the weather, when his strength failed him. 
 The commanding officer of the 55th rode by 
 at that critical moment, but too late to render 
 them any service ; and as the battalion passed 
 the spot, the troops were witnesses in their 
 turn of this melancholy scene." 
 
 Such were some of the horrors of the 
 last campaign in Holland; and there was 
 at least a probability of our being involved 
 in similar disasters, as all the strongly-for- 
 tified places were still in possession of the 
 enemy ; and notwithstanding the recent re- 
 verses of the Emperor Napoleon, Belgium 
 being in his possession, he could, in a short 
 time, march a sufficient number of troops 
 to Holland, to drive us back to our ships; 
 and his troops, especially those in garrison, 
 were as enthusiastically attached to him as 
 ever. 
 
 Notwithstanding the severity of the wea- 
 ther, we left the pretty town of Rosendall 
 and advanced through the country in the 
 
84 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 direction of Antwerp ; the intention of Ge- 
 neral Graham was to cut off the communi- 
 cation between that place and Bergen-op- 
 Zoom, as well as to deprive each of them 
 from drawing their usual supplies from the 
 surrounding country. 
 
 Acting on some information which had 
 been received, we made a forced march, to 
 intercept a body of French troops, intended 
 to reinforce Bergen-op-Zoom. We took up 
 our position on a common, on the line of 
 road which they were expected to traverse, 
 and waited for them some hours, exposed 
 to the drifting snow, and a bitter north- 
 east wind. Some dragoons were dispatched 
 in search of the enemy; and on their re- 
 turn, we learned that the French had been 
 already encountered, and beaten, by some of 
 the Dutch troops, at Westwesel. After 
 this disappointment, we separated, and sought 
 shelter from the cold. Our commissariat ar- 
 rangements were as yet tolerably good, the 
 bread and meat being served out with the 
 utmost regularity ; but the food, if not eaten 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 85 
 
 directly, became frozen so very hard, as to 
 require great force to break it, and I have seen 
 a piece of meat actually freezing on one side, 
 while it was frying on the other that was 
 when they were cooking their meat at the 
 fire, lit on the ground, in the open air. 
 
 The cottagers whom we were billetted on, 
 were so very poor, that very few indeed had 
 the second bed; and all we could expect 
 from them was potatoes and tobacco, both 
 grown by themselves, and for which, they 
 generally received from us an equivalent in 
 meat, which was to them a great luxury. 
 Their dinner generally consisted of a large 
 bowl of potatoes, they always selecting the 
 smallest for their own use, and giving the 
 large ones to the cows or pigs. Over the 
 potatoes, when boiled, they poured some sweet 
 oil and vinegar, and this, with some very 
 brown bread, was their usual fare. There 
 was a fork laid for each person, and they 
 used their own clasp knives. When the oil 
 used, was really sweet, I was rather fond of 
 their mess. On Sundays they generally had 
 
86 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 a piece of bacon with their potatoes. Such 
 of them as indulged in the use of coffee,, 
 had a very small cup, something like what 
 the children in England play with. Sugar 
 was a prohibited article, and as a substitute 
 for it, they would put a piece of sugar 
 candy in the mouth, to sweeten the coffee 
 in its passage. After each meal, the whole 
 of the family produce their pipes, and 
 taking from the pouch which they inva- 
 riably carry with them a portion of their 
 home-grown tobacco, after cutting it in small 
 pieces, and rolling it in their hands, they 
 would fill their pipes, and indulge in the 
 luxury of smoking : in which habit even the 
 children indulge. Even if we, by good for- 
 tune, obtained possession of a bed, we had 
 the most imperative orders not to undress; 
 and in some instances, indeed, we were pro- 
 hibited from taking off our accoutrements : 
 and every morning, whatever might be the 
 state of the weather, we were compelled to 
 be under arms an hour or two before day- 
 break. All these measures were adopted, 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 87 
 
 to prevent our being taken by surprise by 
 the enemy. 
 
 Severe as the weather was, we were con- 
 tinually on the move, and to add to the un- 
 pleasantness of our journey, the French had 
 opened the sluices, and inundated the country 
 to a very considerable extent ; and as the 
 waters increased, successive layers of ice 
 were formed, of which the top surface not 
 always being sufficiently strong to bear us, 
 we would go down to the next and have to 
 wade through the water : and whenever we 
 came to dry ground, or firm ice, the trowsers 
 would instantly freeze, making them uncom- 
 fortable for the rest of the journey. The 
 hardships we suffered in these marches, would 
 be sufficient to kill any solitary traveller, but 
 there being a large body of us together, we 
 kept each other alive. 
 
 On the 26th of January, 1814, being within 
 five miles of Antwerp, we fell in with a body 
 of the French troops, and immediately en- 
 gaged them, and as they fought rather obsti- 
 nately, Sir Thomas Graham ordered us to 
 
88 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 retire and roll up our great coats, which, on 
 account of the extreme cold, we had been 
 permitted to wear with the accoutrements over 
 them, and it was thought the French had 
 thus mistaken us for raw Dutch troops. 
 There seemed to be some truth in this, for 
 on our again advancing the enemy immedi- 
 ately fled, and we pursued them even to the 
 gates of Antwerp; but, as they opened upon 
 us from the batteries, we, in our turn, were 
 forced to retire. 
 
 It was thought that General Graham had 
 received some intimation that the inhabitants 
 of Antwerp, who were known to be favourable 
 to us, intended to open the gates and assist 
 us in expelling the French garrison ; but 
 while the brave and celebrated French General 
 Carnot had possession of the citadel, they 
 would not dare to do so, as he could have 
 destroyed the whole town in two days. In- 
 deed, it was to overawe the city that the 
 citadel was built, by the Spanish General Alva, 
 at the time the Netherlands formed a part 
 of the possessions of Spain. 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 89 
 
 The French garrison of Brada was about 
 this time defeated by stratagem. A regiment 
 of Cossacks approached the gates, and avow- 
 ing themselves to be the advanced guard of 
 10,000 Russians, struck such consternation 
 among the French, that they immediately eva- 
 cuated the place, leaving six hundred of their 
 number as prisoners in the hands of their 
 brave assailants. When the French found 
 out how they had been cheated, they made 
 an effort to recover the place, but the Cossacks, 
 aided most willingly by the citizens, repulsed 
 them with considerable loss. 
 
 A circumstance connected with our recent 
 brush before Antwerp, created some amuse- 
 ment afterwards. The drum-major of a regi- 
 ment in our brigade, who, though he had not 
 been within the smell of powder, wrote an 
 eloquent and affectionate letter to his wife in 
 London, giving her a detailed (but purely 
 imaginary) account of the affair, describing 
 very minutely his own exploits ; how, that, 
 when his regiment was ordered to charge, he 
 rushed on and succeeded in taking with his 
 
90 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 own hands one of the enemy's standards ; that 
 he had received several wounds, none of them, 
 however, dangerous; and that the circum- 
 stance was witnessed by his commanding 
 officer, who had reported it to Sir Thomas 
 Graham, and he expected, of course, to be 
 rewarded with a commission. The receipt of 
 such a letter could not but be highly pleasing 
 to the good wife, who took occasion to show 
 it to some of her friends, who advised her to 
 send it to the editor of one of the daily papers, 
 who immediately gave it insertion, and in a 
 very short time a copy found its way to the 
 mess-table of the regiment to which the man 
 belonged. The officers, after a hearty laugh at 
 the "Bombastes Furioso" qualities of their 
 drum-major, gave the paper to the men, and 
 the circumstance became known through the 
 brigade. The poor fellow was for ever after- 
 wards pestered with, enquiries as to when he 
 expected his commission? 
 
 The weather continuing very severe, we were 
 divided among a number of villages, and iron- 
 bound as the ground was with the frost, we 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 91 
 
 threw up some strong entrenchments, embra- 
 cing Calnthoupt, Brecht and Westwesel, thus 
 rendering ourselves tolerably secure from a 
 surprise from the garrison, either of Antwerp 
 or Bergen-op-Zoom. The latter end of Janu- 
 ary another move was made towards Antwerp, 
 and having been strongly reinforced by some 
 heavy artillery and some large-sized mortars, 
 there was no doubt now of something serious 
 being in contemplation. 
 
 On the night of the 1st of February, our 
 brigade took up the advanced position at a 
 village called Donk, about five or six miles 
 from Antwerp, and only two miles from the 
 enemy's advanced posts. This village con- 
 tained about 100 houses and a good many 
 barns, the latter being our most favourite 
 lodgings, provided we had plenty of straw ; 
 as, by lying closely together, we contrived to 
 keep away the cold. I had the good fortune 
 here to be quartered on a large chateau, and 
 though we were strictly prohibited from in- 
 juring the property of the inhabitants of the 
 country, yet this seat being known to be the 
 
92 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 private property of the French General, was 
 devoted to destruction. A large fire was made 
 on the hearth of the drawing-room, fed by 
 the valuable furniture, which was broken up 
 for the purpose. Some very valuable paintings 
 and looking-glasses were wantonly destroyed. 
 
 Before daybreak, we fell in with the utmost 
 silence. The snow had fallen heavily in the 
 night, and still continued ; nevertheless, we 
 were ordered to advance. A young man, be- 
 longing to us, made rather an extraordinary 
 request to the officer, viz., that he might be 
 placed on the baggage guard, as he had re- 
 ceived an intimation, by a dream, that if he 
 went on, he would be the first man killed. 
 Of course, his request was not complied with ; 
 and we endeavoured to laugh him out of his 
 fears, but in vain. We were soon discovered 
 by the enemy; who, in the first instance, 
 opened on us some of their light artillery. 
 The first shot that took effect, was a six- 
 pounder, which struck poor Francis, whose 
 dream was thus unhappily realized he was 
 the first man killed. 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 93 
 
 On our further advance, we met with some 
 serious obstructions. The enemy had very 
 strongly entrenched themselves behind some 
 trees, which had been cut down for the pur- 
 pose, and placed across the road: the wind 
 being against us, drifted such large quantities 
 of snow, as literally to blind us. Being still 
 exposed to the enemy's fire, the order was 
 given to force the entrenchment ; and in- 
 stantly rushing forward, we drove the enemy 
 before us, until we reached the main street 
 of the village of Merxem, when they rallied, 
 and opened on us two pieces of cannon, with 
 grape-shot, which compelled us to seek shelter 
 from the sides and gable-ends of the houses. 
 Upon this, Lieutenant Acres, of our Grena- 
 diers more familiarly known as "Bob Acres," 
 a man of gigantic stature, as brave as a lion, 
 and almost as strong as one rushing into the 
 middle of the street, called on us to follow 
 him ; nor did he call in vain. In a moment, 
 every man was after him. We drove the enemy 
 from the main street, took the two pieces 
 of cannon, and pursued the foe up one of 
 
94 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 the side streets. They were followed up to 
 the gates of Antwerp ; the distance from the 
 village to that town is two miles and a-half. 
 
 The light brigade which made this attack, 
 consisted of the following regiments : the 25th, 
 33rd, 52nd, 73rd, and 95th Rifles. Our re- 
 giment took a different direction to the other, 
 perceiving some two or three hundred of the 
 French diverging to the left, from the road. 
 If the ground had been passable, this would 
 have been a nearer road to the town; but 
 there was now a broad sheet of water, in which 
 about forty of them boldly entered : the rest 
 gave themselves up as prisoners, throwing 
 their firelocks down in a 'heap. 
 
 The company I belonged to, was ordered to 
 continue the pursuit of those in the water, 
 which was frozen over, but not sufficiently 
 strong to bear. Both the enemy, and our- 
 selves, therefore, had to break the ice as we 
 waded through the water, which was about 
 three feet deep ; and as the French refused to 
 surrender, we continued to fire on them, until 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 95 
 
 there was not more than five or six left ; and 
 they effected their escape. 
 
 On our return to the village,, we were sur- 
 prised at the number of our troops which had 
 come up, consisting of the heavy brigade, 
 among whom were some of the Foot Guards. 
 
 The batteries of the town now opened on 
 us a well-directed and destructive fire; not- 
 withstanding this, we succeeded in forming 
 several batteries, and began to exchange a 
 few shots with them. Their principal aim 
 was the village, as they knew we were there 
 in considerable numbers. Many of the houses 
 were set on fire by the shells, and more of 
 them were battered by the shot. 
 
 The inhabitants had most of them retired 
 to the city for safety, taking with them such 
 portions of their property as they could re- 
 move. I observed one house, the owner of 
 which had remained, who professed himself 
 friendly to us. His house, however, like the 
 rest, was knocked down by the shot. I was 
 several hours before I had an opportunity of 
 
96 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 drying my clothes, and then only by standing 
 before a wood fire, that was lit on the ground. 
 Our daily supply of schnaps we found of con- 
 siderable service; it was served out in camp- 
 kettles, each man receiving about a third of 
 a pint, which they generally put out of sight 
 at once, in order to make sure of it. 
 
 That night I was on an outline picket, pa- 
 trolling the ground in advance towards the 
 town. It was a beautiful night, but very cold ; 
 As we passed along, the apparent desolation 
 caused in so short a time was surprising ! On 
 coming to the house I have before alluded to, 
 where the man had remained, we noticed that 
 in the demolition of the building most of the 
 materials had fallen forward into the street; 
 and as I had been in the house in the day- 
 time, and noticed the situation of the door, it 
 struck me that, by clearing away some of the 
 timber from the back part, we might gain an 
 entrance to the cellar, and obtain from thence 
 something to warm us. After about an hour's 
 labour, we were successful in clearing a way to 
 the lower part of the building, and were much 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 97 
 
 surprised, and rather startled, to hear sounds 
 proceeding from thence. On going down, we 
 found the man, with his whole family, had 
 retired there for safety, and by the destruction 
 of the house had been buried alive ; and there 
 they would probably have remained, but for 
 our exertion. They were very grateful for their 
 deliverance, and readily gave us what had been 
 the object of our search. 
 
 The troops were all under arms the whole of 
 that night, and before daybreak took up their 
 respective positions for the ensuing day. The 
 town batteries recommenced firing about six 
 o' clock, and then balls followed each other in 
 rapid succession. During the forenoon Sir 
 Thomas Graham entered Merxem, accompa- 
 nied by the Duke of Clarence, who, to witness 
 the operations, obtained a seat in the belfry 
 of the church; and remained there until a shot 
 from the enemy struck the steeple, and gave 
 him an intimation that his royal person was 
 not exactly safe; he immediately descended, 
 mounted his horse, and rode off to the rear. 
 
 Our regiment was engaged, in the face of 
 
98 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 the enemy, in constructing a sand-bag mortar 
 battery, which is formed as follows : Such a 
 number of men, as may be deemed sufficient, 
 are provided each with a canvas bag, which is 
 to be filled with sand and secured at the 
 mouth by a string. These are then deposited 
 in rows, under the superintendence of the artil- 
 lery-men, and in an hour or two a battery 
 may be so formed, which will bear a great deal 
 of battering. Having completed our job, the 
 mortars were brought up, fixed, and commenced 
 firing. It must not be supposed, however, 
 that we had been doing all this unobserved 
 by the enemy from the town, or that we did 
 not receive from them some very striking inti- 
 mations of their displeasure at our bold ad- 
 vances. Fortunately for us, there happened 
 to be a mound of earth which screened us 
 from their shot, while we lay down ; we had 
 to remain on this spot, not only through the 
 day but during the following night ; and, as 
 the evening drew in, we began to dig caves to 
 keep off a portion of the cold air, as well as 
 a shelter from the shot. The ground being 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 99 
 
 chiefly sand, we were enabled to do this with 
 the aid of some pickaxes and shovels, the 
 loan of which we obtained from the sappers 
 and miners. 
 
 I had at this time for a comrade, a Serjeant 
 Burton, belonging to the same company, and 
 we were attached to each other from the 
 circumstance that we were both Cockneys. 
 He and I had contrived to form a cave, just 
 large enough to hold us, and we thought, with 
 a little straw, and our blankets and great- 
 coats, we might contrive to pass the night 
 without being frozen. Serjeant Burton was 
 not at all soldierlike in his appearance, being 
 on the wrong side of fifty, and having served 
 some years on board a man-of-war ; afterwards 
 he joined the Tower Hamlets Militia, and 
 from them he volunteered into our regiment. 
 He was one of those active, devil-may-care, 
 rough-and-ready sort of fellows, that an officer 
 would select if he wanted a job done off-hand, 
 without any bother. Now, while he was 
 taking home the implements we had borrowed, 
 one of the largest sized shells, from the 
 F 2 
 
100 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 enemy's battery, burst in the air, immediately 
 over us, and literally descended among us as 
 a shower of iron. A large portion of the 
 shell fell directly on the top of our cave, and 
 destroyed in one moment the work of an hour. 
 On Burton's return, he swore bitterly at the 
 destruction of our work, and said to me, with 
 the utmost seriousness, " D n it, Tom, how 
 came you to let them do that \" As we could 
 not again obtain the loan of the tools, we were 
 obliged to walk or run about the whole night 
 to keep the blood in circulation. 
 
 As soon as daylight appeared, the firing 
 from the town forced us again to lie down. 
 One of the officers, who was looking through 
 the breastwork watching the enemy's batteries, 
 suddenly drew himself down, observing, that 
 a gun was just fired, the shot from which 
 would come very close to us ; the observation 
 caused a young man, reclining next the officer, 
 to raise himself up to look, and immediately 
 his head was taken off. 
 
 Hitherto, we had been sheltered from the 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 101 
 
 batteries, but this morning they took us in 
 flank, opening on us some long forty-two 
 pounders, from Fort Ferdinand; and against 
 these shots we had no sort of shelter. About 
 mid-day, we were relieved from this very dan- 
 gerous position, where we lost a great many 
 men, and retired beyond the village, but not 
 out of the reach of the shot ; one among other 
 proofs we had of this, was, that a number of 
 us were sitting round a fire, over which was a 
 camp-kettle, containing our allowance of meat, 
 when the pot was struck by a cannon-shot, 
 and shattered to pieces, and some of those 
 sitting round were very seriously injured. 
 
 During the next day, the enemy's fire was 
 continuous, but ours rather languid, and as 
 night set in, we commenced moving the guns 
 and mortars from their position; and before 
 daybreak, we were in full retreat from the 
 place. The author of the history of the war 
 has attempted to account for this sudden 
 retreat, by stating, that Sir Thomas Graham 
 was ordered to join Bulow in some operation 
 
102 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 in another quarter: but the fallacy of this 
 excuse will at once appear, from the circum- 
 stance of our taking up the position we pre- 
 viously occupied. The fact is, we were com- 
 pelled to retire, absolutely for the want of 
 ammunition for the artillery. 
 
 We lost, about this time, a fine young 
 fellow through the dread of the lash. He be- 
 longed to the light company, and was so 
 remarkably clean and well conducted, that he 
 was generally selected at guard mounting, as 
 orderly to the commanding officer, which not 
 only saved him from the fatiguing duty of 
 standing sentry, but was considered as a re- 
 commendation for promotion. For some slight 
 crime, he was confined and tried by a court 
 martial, and sentenced to receive three hun- 
 dred lashes. When the morning of punish- 
 ment came, he contrived, unseen by the guard, 
 to take one of the firelocks from the rack, 
 (they were all loaded) and placing the muzzle 
 to his head, and putting his toe in the loop 
 of a string, which he had fastened to the 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 103 
 
 trigger, he blew his own brains out. Poor 
 fellow ! he was much esteemed by his com- 
 rades, and I think, on the whole, they were 
 not sorry that he had thus freed himself from 
 the horrors of the lash. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 " Now are our brows crowned with victorious wreaths, 
 Our bruised arms hung up for monuments," 
 
 AFTER the retreat from Antwerp, our brigade 
 occupied a, village called Putte, on the road 
 and exactly half-way between Antwerp and 
 Bergen-op-Zoom, and about three miles from 
 the river Scheldt ; having obtained possession 
 of Fort 'Frederick Henry, a fort on the banks 
 of the river, two miles from fort Lillo, then 
 occupied by the French, and being on the 
 same bank. 
 
 As there was no accommodation whatever 
 for the lodging of troops at this place, the 
 regiments of our brigade relieved each other, 
 in the occupation of it. It was of the utmost 
 importance, as it completed our line of in- 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 105 
 
 trenchment, and enabled us most effectually 
 to cut off all supplies to Bergen-op-Zoom, 
 either from the country, or from Antwerp, by 
 the river. 
 
 On the 28th of February, it being our turn 
 to take the duty of this fort, we arrived there 
 about ten o'clock in the forenoon, and relieved 
 the 30th regiment. At this time a French 
 lirie-of-battle ship, with a number of gun- 
 boats, having dropped down with the tide 
 from Antwerp, anchored just above the fort, 
 and immediately opened their fire on us. 
 The 30th, in going away, was exposed to con- 
 siderable danger, from the cannon balls which 
 were flying about. One of these shots struck 
 two men of the 30th, as they were crossing 
 the bridge, taking off both legs from one of 
 them, and one from the other. 
 
 Being now placed as a sentinel, on the bank 
 of the river, between the two forts, I was im- 
 mediately opposite the French man-of-war, 
 and my instructions were, to lie down on the 
 bank, that I might be less exposed to their 
 shot, to keep a sharp look out upon them, 
 F 5 
 
106 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 and to give notice if I saw them attempting 
 to land any men. The gun-boats kept rather 
 behind the man-of-war, out of the range of 
 the long forty-two-pounders at our fort. I 
 could see everything that was passing on board 
 the large ship, who, though she had fired a 
 few broadsides at the fort, was now evidently 
 making arrangements to bring as many of 
 her guns as possible to bear on the fort, her 
 object being to force a passage by, to relieve 
 Bergen-op-Zoom. The bank of the river is 
 about twenty feet above the surrounding 
 country, and it is by cutting through this 
 bank, that they can, to impede the operations 
 of an enemy, inundate the country. Under this 
 bank our regiment were tolerably secure from 
 the enemy's shot, except when they had to 
 assist the artillery-men, in superintending the 
 furnaces, and getting the red-hot shot ready 
 for them. 
 
 As soon as the enemy had got everything 
 ready, she opened upon us in right earnest; 
 broadside after broadside was fired in the most 
 rapid succession. It was the most awful sight 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 107 
 
 I have ever been called on to witness. The 
 whole of her shot passed obliquely by me, but 
 appeared to make but little impression on the 
 fort. The gun-boats, who could not reach the 
 fort, amused themselves by firing at us poor 
 fellows on the bank; but, as we were lying 
 down, they did not hit any of us, though 
 many of the shot passed very close. One, a 
 nine-pounder, struck the bank within a yard of 
 where I was reclining; I got it out of the 
 bank, and afterwards took it to the fort with 
 me. The enemy continued her fire for the 
 space of four hours. 
 
 When we had been on our dangerous duty 
 two hours, we expected to be relieved; but 
 were disappointed, as to relieve us they would 
 have had to bring the men on the top of the 
 bank, where they would have been exposed to 
 certain destruction. So we had to stand fast, 
 and I was not sorry for it afterwards, as it 
 gave me an opportunity of seeing the close of 
 this affair. 
 
 At about three o'clock two men belong- 
 ing to the Rocket Brigade arrived at the 
 
108 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 fort, and immediately commenced operations, 
 the first rocket fell just astern of the enemy ; 
 the next one was sent with greater precision, 
 and fell on the deck, about midships. The 
 greatest confusion prevailed on board, and 
 they were shouting and running in all direc- 
 tions : of course, they expected some more to 
 follow, and they were so evidently afraid of 
 them, that they took advantage of the flood 
 tide, slipped their cables, and made the best of 
 their way back towards Antwerp. 
 
 We were now relieved, and on reaching the 
 fort found it had suifered very considerably. 
 None of the guns had been dismounted, and 
 the casualties among the men, were two artil- 
 lery men killed, five or six wounded, and a 
 few of our men wounded by the splinters and 
 stones which were scattered about. The fields 
 behind the fort presented a very singular ap- 
 pearance, the hundreds of cannon balls which 
 had fallen there, had ploughed up the earth 
 in the most extraordinary manner. 
 
 As soon as we were rid of the enemy, some 
 of the inhabitants of the neighbouring town of 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 109 
 
 Sandvleit, came with a quantity of schnaps as 
 a present to us ; and a great number of the 
 foolish fellows drank to such an excess, as to 
 be quite unfit for duty. I had the credit of 
 being a sober man, and this circumstance has 
 on more than one occasion entailed on me 
 additional duty. Such was now the case : 
 although I had been on sentry six hours 
 during the day, at ten o'clock at night I was 
 obliged to go on again. My post, this time, 
 was just outside the battery, and my duty 
 was to give the alarm if any of the gun-boats 
 should attempt to pass or land their men. 
 
 The night set in very dark, with a dense 
 fog, and the only companion I had was one 
 of the dead artillery men. He had been killed 
 in the act of sponging his gun, and the ball 
 that struck him, took his hand off at the. wrist 
 and forced it completely through his body. 
 He had been laid outside the fort, with the 
 intention of burying him next morning. I 
 had to remain in this situation until two 
 o'clock in the morning, before they could get 
 men sober enough to succeed us. 
 
110 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 Next day we were marched back to our 
 quarters at Putte, and the third morning 
 afterwards we were called out on a punish- 
 ment parade; were taken to a secluded spot 
 some distance from the village ; a square was 
 formed, the triangle erected, and the proceed- 
 ings of the court martial which had been 
 held, having been read over, eight men were 
 tied up in succession and received two hun- 
 dred lashes each: one hundred each short of 
 their sentences. The colonel was highty ex- 
 asperated, and threatened (for the future) to 
 give the full punishment awarded to such men 
 as should be found drunk on duty. 
 
 The next time it came to our turn for duty 
 at the fort, a curious circumstance occurred, 
 which one of the party had to remember as 
 long as he lived. The bank to which I have 
 already alluded, ran from our fort to Fort 
 Lillo, a strong place occupied by the French. 
 Close to our fort some strong defences were 
 raised, and about a mile along the bank where 
 I was posted during the attack on the fort. 
 About half-a-mile further on was the post 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. Ill 
 
 of our advanced sentinels, protected by some 
 strong chevaux-de-frise, and not far from 
 this, within hearing, were the advanced sen- 
 tinels from the French fort. Our advanced 
 sentinels this morning were two of the 95th 
 Rifles, and they were visited by one of our 
 captains, who, from his eccentricity, was called 
 the ' ' mad captain." As he could speak French 
 fluently, he took it into his head that he could 
 prevail on the French sentrys to abandon their 
 post, and come over to us. In order to make 
 the experiment he advanced without his sword, 
 inviting the Frenchmen to a parley. One of 
 them did lay down his musket, and came slowly 
 towards the captain. Suddenly, however, he 
 drew back, took up his piece, took deliberate 
 aim at the captain, and fired. Finding his 
 ball had not taken effect, he placed the butt 
 of his musket on the ground, holding it with 
 the left hand by the muzzle, and, turning 
 himself round, placed his right-hand on a 
 certain part of his person. 
 
 Now, it so happened, that our two advanced 
 sentries, the riflemen, were reclining on their 
 breastwork, looking on ; and one of them had 
 
112 RECOLLECTIONS OP 
 
 the butt of his rifle at his shoulder, the muzzle 
 resting on the chevaux-de-frise, and his finger 
 on the trigger; and no sooner had the 
 Frenchman placed his hand in the manner I 
 have stated, than both the hand and the part 
 of the person on which it was placed, were 
 perforated by the rifleman's bullet. The fellow 
 bounded about a yard in the air, fell heavily 
 to the ground, and was carried away. 
 
 We were gratified, on this occasion, by a 
 visit of a boat's crew from one of our men-of- 
 war, lying down the river, towards Flushing. 
 They brought some despatches from the Ad- 
 miral, for General Graham. In their passage 
 up, they had to pass several forts, which fired 
 a few shots, but without effect. Though they 
 had to repass the same forts, that circumstance 
 did not appear to give them any uneasiness. 
 This was our last visit to this fort. 
 
 A few days afterwards, our brigade went 
 about ten miles, and were employed in throw- 
 ing up some fresh entrenchments, under the 
 superintendence of the sappers and miners. 
 While so engaged, we were very suddenly 
 called away, and we were soon joined by 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 113 
 
 Sir Thomas Graham. The information was 
 given us, that we were going to storm the 
 strong fortress of Bergen-op-Zoom ; but when 
 we had arrived within eight miles of that 
 place, an aide-de-camp brought the disastrous 
 intelligence, that the general who had been 
 left with the troops before the town, and 
 whose instructions were to watch the place, 
 until Sir Thomas arrived to his assistance with 
 the light brigade, had most imprudently made 
 an attack. 
 
 However, possession was gained of the 
 rampart; where, for want of order, they 
 piled arms, and some of the men went into 
 the houses and got drunk. The consequence 
 was, that when daylight appeared, the French 
 garrison were at their posts, and the British, 
 who had entered, were taken prisoners. A 
 considerable number of them, however, made 
 their escape, and the rest were forced into the 
 church, and two pieces of cannon pointed at 
 the entrance. 
 
 That this precipitately conducted affair 
 took place contrary to orders, was evident, 
 
114 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 from the chagrin Sir Thomas exhibited, when 
 informed of it. Perhaps, had the generals 
 survived, we should have heard something 
 more of the matter, but as they fell, it was 
 hushed up. 
 
 The French governor having already more 
 mouths than he could find bread for, owing 
 to our having, for several months, cut off all 
 his supplies ; was glad to dismiss the prisoners, 
 on condition that they should not serve in 
 that country again during the war. 
 
 One of the regiments engaged in this affair, 
 was the 91st, composed entirely of boys, 
 so young, that they carried fuzils instead of 
 muskets ; and yet, these were the troops whom 
 Generals Gore and Skerrit thought proper to 
 lead against the veterans of Napoleon ! Had 
 they waited our arrival, there would have been 
 no doubt of success. 
 
 By reference to the history of this period, 
 it will be found that the French were driven 
 in upon all points. Wellington was advancing 
 with his victorious troops towards France. 
 The Austrians, Russians, Prussians, and Ger- 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 115 
 
 mans, who had continued the pursuit of the 
 French troops from Leipsic, were now in the 
 environs of Paris ; and nothing remained for 
 the French nation, but an unconditional sur- 
 render to the Allies : which led to the depo- 
 sition and banishment of the Emperor, and 
 the restoration of the former dynasty. 
 
 " Unhappy France ! fresh changes now begin, 
 
 And in your punishment you see your sin ; 
 
 Still to new perjuries an endless prey, 
 
 Still doomed to feel some upstart despot's sway, 
 
 With all your struggles, you remain the same ; 
 
 You've fought for nothing but an empty name. 
 
 When first your arm 'gainst tyranny you rais'd, 
 
 What heart but bless'd you, and what tongue but prais'd ? 
 
 When your proud Empire tumbled to the ground, 
 
 And vine-clad hills heard Freedom's cheering sound, 
 
 England, your former foe in every state, 
 
 Too great to fear, too generous to hate 
 
 Forgot the conflicts sprung from ancient ire, 
 
 Both cheer'd and fann'd your newly-kindled fire ; 
 
 With earnest wishes pray'd for prosp'rous gales, 
 
 That Hope might steer, while Freedom filPd your sails. 
 
 Freedom and Hope, alas ! retired with scorn, 
 
 Left your gay regions wretched and forlorn. 
 
 Was it for this you put forth all your might, 
 
 Toiled through the day, and through the sleepless night, 
 
116 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 Endured so much, pass'd through so many forms, 
 And bore the horrors of so many storms ; 
 Pour'd your best blood upon Germania's plains, 
 For many years of sufferings and pains ; 
 Destroy'd those ties that soften and adorn, 
 Made life more wretched, and made death forlorn ; 
 Smarted beneath the demagogue's keen rod, 
 Destroy'd your monarch, and abjured your God ; 
 Plundered his temples ; swam through seas of gore, 
 To sink in slavery deeper than before ? " 
 
 Lewis the Eighteenth having been seated on 
 the throne of his ancestors, by the Allied Sove- 
 reigns, the necessary orders were sent to the 
 commanders of garrisons, held by the French, 
 to evacuate them, and return to France. By 
 virtue of these arrangements, the gates of 
 Antwerp were opened to us on the 5th of May, 
 and we entered amidst the acclamations of the 
 people. We obtained possession of the citadel ; 
 and the French left the same day, on their 
 road for France. Such of our troops as could 
 not be accommodated in barracks, were bil- 
 letted on the inhabitants. Our regiment, with 
 the 56th, were placed in the barrack called 
 the Cusern de Fa9ons ; and though the French 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 117 
 
 had left the rooms in rather a filthy state, 
 we found them far preferable to the accommo- 
 dation we had been accustomed to the last 
 five months. 
 
 The city of Antwerp was formerly one of 
 the richest in Europe; and is still a noble 
 place. It is eight miles in circumference ; and 
 is compared to a bow, the string thereof being ' 
 represented by the river Scheldt. Its walls 
 are strong and beautiful, one hundred and 
 ten feet broad, and on the top are a num- 
 ber of trees, regularly planted in rows. Along 
 the walls are a number of bastions, contrived 
 with great skill. There are thirteen gates ; 
 and the streets leading to them are straight and 
 large; the buildings are many of them ex- 
 ceedingly grand, and the cathedral is the 
 finest I have ever seen. There are about a 
 dozen other churches, and a number of reli- 
 gious houses. The citadel is about a mile in 
 compass; it is a pentagon, with some noble 
 bastions, and commands both the city and the 
 surrounding country. 
 
 Antwerp has been much celebrated in for- 
 
118 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 mer days, for its extent of trade, its riches, 
 and the magnificence of its buildings. It is 
 stated that one of its citizens, named John 
 Daens, having lent the Emperor Charles the 
 Fifth, a million of gold, invited him to dinner ; 
 when, after a royal entertainment, he threw 
 the Emperor's bond into a fire made of 
 cinnamon. 
 
 Antwerp will always command a trade, on 
 account of its noble river, which brings ships 
 of large burthen up to the very shore. 
 
 As soon as we were fairly settled, it was a 
 matter of curiosity with us to visit the village 
 of Merxem, whence we had driven the enemy 
 on the 2nd of February; and although the 
 time was so short, the alteration was astonish- 
 ing. Many of the houses, which had only 
 been partially destroyed, were again inhabited 
 by their former tenants, and most of those 
 which had been entirely destroyed, had been 
 rebuilt. The family, whom I had the good 
 fortune to rescue from a living tomb, were 
 again in possession of their premises. They 
 immediately recognized me, and manifested 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 119 
 
 much joy at the meeting, making me promise 
 to call very often to see them, and I certainly 
 intended to visit them again; but, though we 
 lay four months in Antwerp, I never had an 
 opportunity of again going out that road. 
 
 Our duty in Antwerp was rather hard, 
 mounting guard every third day, and on 
 picket one night between; and I am sorry 
 to say, that punishment-parades now were 
 very frequent. I have often heard the obser- 
 vation made on service, " that war was peace, 
 and peace was war ;" and the meaning of the 
 paradox is, that in a state of actual war, the 
 officers having to share all dangers and 
 privations in common with the men, are in- 
 duced to manifest a greater degree of kind- 
 ness towards them ; but as soon as hostilities 
 cease, harassing parades, long drills, and 
 corporal punishments are sure to increase. 
 Such was now the case; and the average 
 amount of punishment for slight offences, 
 was three hundred lashes. 
 
 It is an extraordinary met, that, horrible 
 as this mode of punishment is, it seems to 
 
120 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 have no effect whatever, in reforming the 
 character: it invariably makes a tolerably 
 good man bad, and a bad man infinitely worse. 
 Once flog a man, and you degrade him for 
 ever, in his own mind ; and thus take from 
 him every possible incentive to good conduct. 
 Besides these regular modes of punishment, 
 provost guards were established, who possessed 
 and exercised the most arbitrary power. 
 
 A sergeant of our brigade was appointed 
 provost-marshal for the district we were in, 
 and in perambulating the streets at night, 
 with a file or two of men, and a drum- 
 mer, if he caught any of the men out after 
 hours, he would either tie them to a lamp- 
 post, and give them a dozen or two, or take 
 them prisoners to his guard-room, and pu- 
 nish them there. He became at last so in- 
 flated with his own consequence, that late 
 one night, when the main-guard fell in for 
 inspection by the field officer, notwithstand- 
 ing the said officer was his own colonel, he 
 had the temerity to charge him with being 
 drunk. 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 121 
 
 The colonel had been dining with the 
 mess of his regiment, and there was no 
 doubt a great deal of truth in the remark; 
 but the truth must not always be spoken, 
 especially against superiors which the ser- 
 geant afterwards discovered to his cost. The 
 colonel having retired, the sergeant took 
 down the names of the guard, and asking 
 them if the colonel was not drunk, they all 
 replied that he was. Next day, the sergeant 
 included, in his daily report, a charge against 
 his colonel, of being drunk on duty; and the 
 consequence was, that a general court martial 
 was held, to try the colonel. The sergeant 
 summoned the whole of the guard ; and after 
 making his own statement, called on them 
 to support it : but as they were respectively 
 produced, (whether it was through hatred to 
 the sergeant for his severity of conduct, as 
 provost marshal, or fear of the consequences 
 to themselves) not one of them could be in- 
 duced to say the colonel was drunk. On the 
 contrary, they stated on their oath, that they 
 did not perceive any appearance of intoxica- 
 G 
 
122 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 tion about him. The charge, therefore, 
 having been so signally disproved, by the 
 accuser's own witnesses, the officer was ho- 
 nourably acquitted. The sergeant was then 
 confined, and another general court martial 
 held, before which he was found guilty of 
 bringing a false charge against his command- 
 ing officer, when he was sentenced to be reduced 
 to the ranks, to receive five hundred lashes, 
 and to suffer six months solitary confinement. 
 As far as his reduction to the ranks, and the 
 infliction of the stripes, the sentence was car- 
 ried fully into effect; but death released the 
 poor wretch from his solitary confinement. 
 
 Disgusting as this subject must be, to all 
 persons having in their composition any portion 
 of the " milk of human kindness," yet I can- 
 not forbear mentioning the following : 
 
 I mounted guard one day at Fort Ferdinand, 
 a strong place near Antwerp, mounting guns 
 of very heavy calibre, not only commanding 
 the river, but also the country north of Ant- 
 werp to a very considerable extent, (it was the 
 guns of this fort which flanked us in our in- 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 123 
 
 trenchments while we were bombarding the 
 town in February.) During the afternoon I was 
 on the rampart, and noticed the entrance of 
 two officers on horseback. The guard saluted 
 them and they rode round the ramparts. One 
 of the sentinels (a very quiet steady man, who, 
 from the darkness of his complexion, had been 
 nicknamed the " Black Prince,") overcome by 
 the oppressive heat of the sun had fallen 
 asleep, and his musket had fallen from his 
 hand against the cannon on which he was 
 reclining. The officers, who now rode up to 
 him, were Brigadier-general Crawford and his 
 aide-de-camp, the former a strict disciplina- 
 rian, an Irishman, and an Orangeman. He had 
 obtained an infamous notoriety in his own 
 country, by his uncompromising asd san- 
 guinary conduct towards his unfortunate coun- 
 trymen, during the rebellion in Ireland. He 
 was only a militia officer there, and attained the 
 rank of general as a reward for his valuable 
 services. He was transferred to the regulars ; 
 was appointed captain in our regiment, and 
 Brigadier-general of the army. The conse- 
 G 2 
 
124 JIECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 quence of this was, that, when our regiment 
 lay by itself, he fell in and did duty as captain 
 of a company only; but if there were other 
 regiments with us, then, by virtue of his brevet 
 rank, he took command of the whole until 
 some superior general officer should be pre- 
 sent. Such was the officer who now rode up 
 to the sleeping sentinel. He dismounted, took 
 possession of the man's firelock, then called 
 for the serjeant of the guard, and ordered him 
 to confine the poor fellow, who was afterwards 
 tried by a court martial, and sentenced to 
 receive three hundred lashes. 
 
 There being very much sickness among 
 us, we were for a while quartered on the sub- 
 urban villages for the benefit of the air, where 
 the time passed pleasantly enough, the inha- 
 bitants invariably treating us with the utmost 
 kindness. For three weeks I was billeted, 
 with sixteen other of our men, at the country- 
 house of one of the richest citizens of Antwerp . 
 He was not there, but sent very liberal instruc- 
 tions to his steward concerning us. The fur- 
 niture, paintings and decorations of this man- 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 125 
 
 sion, were of the most splendid description. 
 Though the people, on whom we were quar- 
 tered, were not of necessity compelled or ex- 
 pected to support us, as we had our daily 
 rations, yet the old steward, willingly acting 
 on his instructions, provided every day for us, 
 and seemed offended if we did not make our- 
 selves welcome. 
 
 The weather (July) being extremely fine, the 
 long table, for breakfast, was spread under an 
 avenue of trees at the back of the house ; and 
 this meal consisted of an abundance of new 
 milk, white bread, eggs and coffee : and after 
 the morning parade, such of us as were not for 
 duty, were permitted to stroll through the 
 extensive and delightful gardens and grounds, 
 with full permission to partake of the fruit, of 
 which there was a great redundancy. The only 
 restriction imposed on us was, not to injure 
 or destroy the trees or grounds ; and so satis- 
 factory to the steward, was our conduct in 
 this respect, that on our leaving he not only 
 gave us a certificate of good conduct, but gave 
 us also a general invitation to call on him 
 
126 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 whenever we had the opportunity. Indeed, the 
 kindness of this worthy man towards us, was 
 most strikingly evinced on his receiving the 
 news of the battle of Waterloo. Having taken 
 our names down, he made enquiries after the 
 battle respecting us, and manifested much 
 sorrow on learning that nearly all were either 
 killed or wounded. If I had had the oppor- 
 tunity afterwards, I think nothing would have 
 afforded me greater gratification than to have 
 paid a visit to this kind-hearted old gentleman. 
 During the stay in Antwerp, I was in the 
 habit every Sunday, if off duty, of attending 
 the cathedral, and though not of their reli- 
 gion, I could always admire the magnificence 
 of the building and paintings, the splendid 
 music and imposing ceremonies. At this 
 time a most serious charge was laid against 
 the principal of that establishment, to the 
 effect that he had been for some time 
 carrying on an intrigue with a nun. It was 
 thought he did not succeed in establishing 
 his innocence of the charge; but to prevent 
 imputations of a like nature for the future, 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 127 
 
 he had the courage to submit to an extraordi- 
 nary and dangerous surgical operation. 
 
 While here I had the opportunity of resi- 
 ding, a little time, in the interior of a nun- 
 nery, which had been converted into a hos- 
 pital, the nuns having been previously re- 
 moved. I was confined here by a fever, the 
 effects of a severe cold, and when I became 
 convalescent I used to stroll through the 
 extensive grounds, consisting of a variety of 
 delightfully laid out but secluded walks, each 
 one terminating at the shrine of some parti- 
 cular saint. 
 
 A circumstance took place here one night, 
 which might, rather unexpectedly, have ter- 
 minated my career. There were about twenty 
 of us in one sleeping apartment, each man's 
 accoutrements hanging at the head of his 
 bed; next to me lay a grenadier, a very 
 powerful man, suffering much pain from a 
 wound in the thigh. To compose him to sleep 
 the doctor had given him a large dose of 
 opium, which, instead of having the desired 
 effect, conjured up to his imagination a thou- 
 
128 RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 sand demons, whom he followed with his eyes 
 round the room until they rested on my bed, 
 when he raised himself up in bed,, drew his 
 bayonet, and by a violent effort threw him- 
 self across towards me, striking his weapon 
 to the very socket into my bed, exultingly 
 exclaiming, " I have him now \" Fortunately for 
 me I had been watching his movements, and 
 springing from bed with the utmost alacrity, 
 I pinned him by the arms and called for 
 assistance, which was quickly rendered by the 
 guard, and a sentry was placed over him for 
 the rest of the night. The poor fellow slept 
 afterwards for several hours, but appeared as 
 if troubled by frightful dreams. Next morn- 
 ing he had no distinct recollection of any- 
 thing that had passed ; but as I was not alto- 
 gether pleased with my position near him, I 
 reported myself fit for duty, and left before the 
 evening. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 " The cold shade of the aristocracy ! " 
 
 ANTWERP participated largely in the general 
 joy and rejoicing, at the successful termination 
 of the war, and the prospect of a lasting peace, 
 under the guarantee of the Allied Sovereigns. 
 The newspapers from England, at this time, 
 teemed with the most glowing statements of 
 the enthusiasm of all classes of people, and of 
 the numerous and splendid fetes given by the 
 Prince Regent, in honour of his illustrious 
 visitors. If any one had then predicted 
 the astounding events which followed, within 
 a few months, he would have been deemed 
 either a fool or a madman. 
 G 5 
 
130 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 The great Napoleon had, in the mean time, 
 been consigned to the island of Elba, the place 
 allotted for his future residence; and where, 
 with the allowance it was stipulated he should 
 receive, he would still be able to play the 
 sovereign on a small scale. His separation 
 from his old and faithful Guard which has 
 formed the subject of an excellent painting 
 was thus described, at the time, in a French 
 paper. 
 
 " To the officers of the Old Guard, who were 
 still with him, he spoke in nearly the follow- 
 ing words : 
 
 ( My dear friends and comrades, I bid you 
 farewell. During the twenty years that we 
 have acted together, I have been satisfied with 
 you. I have always found you in the path of 
 glory. All the powers of Europe have armed 
 against me. A part of my generals have be- 
 trayed their duty: France itself has betrayed 
 it. With your assistance, and that of the 
 brave men who remained faithful to me, I 
 have, for three years preserved France from 
 civil wars. Be faithful to the new king, whom 
 France has chosen. Be obedient to your com- 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 131 
 
 manders ; and do not abandon your dear 
 country, which has suffered too long. Pity 
 not my fate: I shall be happy when I know 
 that you are so likewise. I might have died ; 
 nothing would have been more easy to me, 
 but I still wish to pursue the path of glory ! 
 What we have done, I will write. I cannot 
 embrace you all; but I will embrace your 
 general. Come, General; let the Eagle be 
 brought to me, that I may also embrace it. 
 Ah ! dear Eagle ; may the kisses which I 
 bestow on you, resound to posterity. Adieu, 
 my children ! Adieu, my brave companions ! 
 Once more encompass me/ The staff, ac- 
 companied by the commissioners of the four 
 Allied Powers, formed a circle round him ; and 
 Buonaparte got into his carriage, manifestly 
 affected by the scene, dropping some tears." 
 
 History furnishes but few instances of such 
 entire devotion and enthusiasm, as was ex- 
 hibited by the French soldiers towards their 
 darling leader; even the dreadful reverses to 
 which they were subjected, on their disastrous 
 retreat from Russia, were not sufficient to wean 
 
132 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 their affections from the Emperor : they were 
 still willing to fight for him, to die for him. 
 One of the old French guard was dangerously 
 wounded, and attended by an English surgeon ; 
 who, while probing for the ball, endeavoured 
 to elicit from the man an acknowledgement 
 that he was tired of his general. " No, no/' 
 said the veteran, " cut on cut deeper yet ; and 
 still you ; 11 find the Emperor \" If we seek a 
 reason for such extraordinary attachment, we 
 shall find it in that constant attention of 
 Napoleon, to the wants and wishes of his men ; 
 his identity with them in all their dangers; 
 his prompt, profuse, but impartial distribution 
 of rewards ; his throwing open to the meanest 
 soldier, the road of promotion to the highest 
 honours ; so that every man had a strong 
 incentive to good conduct. When officers 
 were killed or disabled, the vacancies were 
 filled up from among the men who had been 
 serving, who could sympathise with their com- 
 rades, in their dangers and privations; and 
 while they had no difficulty in maintaining 
 their authority, their conduct towards the men 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 133 
 
 was kind and affectionate. No man, however 
 elevated in rank or connexion, had any chance 
 of promotion, but by passing through the 
 various grades, commencing with the lowest. 
 
 But how different the practice in the British 
 army ! where, as soon as vacancies occur in a 
 regiment, they are filled up frequently by mere 
 boys, just from school ; who, though they may 
 have acquired some theoretical knowledge of 
 the art of war, know nothing of its practice j 
 and who, knowing nothing of the fatigues and 
 hardships the men have undergone, have no 
 kindly feeling towards them. 
 
 When I joined the army, I was foolish 
 enough to imagine, that by good steady con- 
 duct, or by some daring act of bravery, I 
 should be fortunate enough to gain a commis- 
 sion; but I very soon discovered the fallacy 
 of this expectation. I certainly have known 
 two or three instances in which commissions 
 have been bestowed as the reward of merit; 
 but such cases are "like angel's visits, few 
 and far between." Indeed, according to the 
 present constitution of our army, to obtain a 
 
134 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 commission places the individual in a worse 
 position, especially in what are termed the 
 "crack regiments;" the aristocratic officers 
 of which, send every man to " Coventry/' who 
 cannot, like themselves, boast gentle blood, 
 and whose private purse is not sufficiently well 
 filled to support all the luxuries and extrava- 
 gance of the mess table. Besides, how is it 
 possible, supposing a deserving non-commis- 
 sioned officer is promoted to a commission in 
 such regiments as the 10th or llth Hussars, 
 that he can provide his equipments, which, I 
 believe, under the most economical arrange- 
 ment, amount to upwards of five hundred 
 pounds. 
 
 The man who obtains a commission by 
 merit, in the British army, is placed in a 
 most unpleasant and unenviable position. 
 It was reported, that the Duke of York gave 
 a commission to a deserving sergeant of the 
 Guards, who waited on him afterwards, re- 
 questing to be unmade, describing the manner 
 in which he was slighted by his brother 
 officers, who positively refused to associate 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 135 
 
 with him. The Duke told him to go back and 
 take no notice, but he would try to alter the 
 case. The colonel received orders to have the 
 regiment ready, on a day named, for the 
 Duke's inspection. The day came ; the regi- 
 ment fell in ; the Duke arrived and inspected 
 them, and afterwards, as they were standing 
 at ease, the Duke called out the new-made 
 officer and walked arm-and-arm with him, in 
 front of the parade, for at least half an hour, 
 the other officers looking on with the utmost 
 astonishment. After the Duke's departure, 
 the ex-serjeant found a marked difference in 
 the conduct of his brother officers towards 
 him, and for the future they were very 
 anxious to cultivate the acquaintance of an 
 officer, who appeared to be such an especial 
 favourite with the Duke. 
 
 Taking all these things into consideration, 
 I ask what incentive to good conduct is there 
 in the British service ? The chances of a man 
 obtaining a commission are about one hundred 
 thousand to one against him; and the only 
 benefits he is likely to obtain, is an admittance 
 
136 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 to Chelsea Hospital,, or a pension of one or 
 two shillings a day, if disabled in the service : 
 to be taken from him, however, if he should 
 exercise the rights of a citizen, and take part 
 in any public ebullition of feeling against the 
 ministry of the day. 
 As the old song has it 
 
 " You may fight till you die, do the best that you can, 
 
 And the captain will reward you, with 'There lies a 
 brave man ! ' " 
 
 Should this country again be involved in 
 war, it is to be hoped the army will be placed 
 on a different footing to what it has been, 
 and that commissions will not be bestowed 
 on individuals, simply because they belong to 
 this or that noble family; but that they will 
 be given as the reward of merit. Then 
 we. may expect to have an efficient set of 
 officers ; for while I admit that I have known 
 many brave and well-disciplined officers in the 
 service, yet, on the whole I considered them the 
 most inefficient of any officers in the European 
 armies. If it were not for the ability and 
 efficiency of their covering Serjeants, they 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 137 
 
 would be very frequently at fault, and very 
 often, when regiments or companies are order- 
 ed extra drill, for apparent blunders, the fault 
 really rests with some of the officers. 
 
 When doing duty with the Prussians, I have 
 mounted guard with a young nobleman, sus- 
 taining no higher rank than myself, and re- 
 ceiving no favours from his superiors on 
 account of his fortuitous advantages of birth 
 or connexion ; obliged to take his turn of duty, 
 and any dereliction of that duty punished, as 
 certainly with him as with the meanest of his 
 comrades. Contrast with this the haughty 
 conduct of many British officers, who fancy 
 themselves made of different stuff to the men, 
 and consider it derogatory to their characters, 
 to use any other words towards them than 
 those of command or abuse. I have known, 
 however, many exceptions to these remarks. 
 
 The colonel of my own regiment, the pre- 
 sent Lord Harris, always considered himself 
 the father of his regiment, and behaved to- 
 wards the men with the utmost kindness ; and 
 though he ordered and superintended a great 
 
138 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 number of corporal punishments, yet, I verily 
 believe, that nothing but an imperative sense 
 of duty urged him to it; and he always ap- 
 peared to suffer as much mental anguish as 
 the prisoners did bodily suffering. No sooner 
 was the probable efficiency of other less dis- 
 graceful modes of punishment suggested to 
 him, than he immediately adopted them. 
 Where men have officers who treat them 
 kindly, they perform their duty with cheerful- 
 ness and alacrity ; and there is no service so 
 desperate that they will not volunteer to 
 perform for officers whom they respect. To 
 shew the difference in the conduct of the men, 
 towards good and bad officers, I will mention a 
 circumstance, which I witnessed in going 
 through Germany. 
 
 We had been several days without any 
 other provision than fruit, and one of the 
 men was roasting potatoes by the camp-fire, 
 when an officer came up, who was very ge- 
 nerally disliked, and from the cadaverous 
 colour of his complexion, was called the " Sick 
 Black. " Coming up to the fire, and assuming, 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 139 
 
 for the moment, a look of the utmost kind- 
 ness, he said, " Smith, I wish you would give 
 me a few of those potatoes ?" " I '11 see you 
 d d first," was Smith's reply : (before giving 
 it, however, he ascertained there was no one 
 by that was likely to bear witness, in case 
 the officer should charge him with disrespect.) 
 Another officer came up directly, Ensign 
 Stewart, and not knowing what had passed, 
 he said to Smith, " Jack, I wish you would sell 
 me some of those potatoes." "No," said 
 Smith; "I will not sell you any but I will 
 give you as many as you like, on one con- 
 dition : that you will not give any to McBean." 
 As an instance of the effects of kindness, in 
 reforming the character, I will relate the fol- 
 lowing : When the regiment lay in the Tower, 
 there was a fine young fellow in the Grenadiers, 
 who gave way to intemperate and disorderly 
 conduct ; was continually in the guard room, and 
 at punishment drills ; at length, he got drunk 
 one night, and deserted ; was taken, and 
 brought back a prisoner. The colonel sent for 
 him, to his own room, having a great regard 
 
140 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 for him, and pointed out the consequences of 
 his present course of life, promising to for- 
 give him the crime of desertion (for which he 
 had expected five hundred lashes) and to pro- 
 mote him, if he would only conduct himself 
 well. The man, overcome with the kindness 
 the colonel evinced towards him, promised 
 amendment ; and he kept his promise, for from 
 that time, he became one of the soberest and 
 cleanest men in the regiment ; was promoted to 
 the rank of corporal, then sergeant, then colour- 
 sergeant; and when the sergeant-major was 
 killed at Waterloo, he was appointed to that si- 
 tuation. But for the colonel's extraordinary 
 kindness towards him, he would have been 
 flogged for desertion, and the chances are, 
 that he would ever afterwards have been a 
 drunken, dirty, disorderly, vagabond. 
 
 The Prince of Orange having arranged with 
 the people of Holland, the basis of the new 
 Constitution, which was of the most liberal 
 description, and the reorganization of the 
 Dutch troops being completed, the garrisons 
 and fortresses were given up to them; the 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 141 
 
 British troops retiring to Belgium. Our re- 
 moval, in the first instance, was to the ancient 
 and beautiful city of Ghent, formed on the 
 banks of two rivers, the Scheldt and Leys, 
 which run through, and divide it into twenty- 
 six islands, which are joined together by up- 
 wards of a hundred bridges. The circumfer- 
 ence, within the old walls, is about seven miles. 
 This place has been much celebrated in history, 
 for its magnificent buildings ; those, which re- 
 main, bear abundant evidences of their former 
 grandeur. The cathedral is a fine building; 
 its architectural beauties have been much ad- 
 mired. There are, besides, some ten or twelve 
 other churches, besides a number of religious 
 houses, the inhabitants being principally Ro- 
 man Catholics. The castle was formerly the 
 palace of the reigning Prince ; and contained 
 three hundred chambers. There is a citadel, 
 which would have been considered strong, be- 
 fore the art of war attained such perfection, 
 as it now has done. The country round is so 
 extremely prolific, as to require very little aid 
 to bring forth the most abundant crops. We 
 
RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 found a marked difference here, in the man- 
 ners of the people. To us, indeed, they were 
 civil; but they evidently were most attached 
 to the French interest which is not to be won- 
 dered at, considering its contiguity to France, 
 and the vast numbers of French families who 
 had settled there. 
 
 We remained here about three weeks ; and 
 were then moved on to Tourney, and took up 
 our quarters in the citadel. This town has 
 been a place of very considerable strength; 
 indeed, so recently as the year 1795, it stood a 
 siege by the Allied Troops, under the Duke of 
 York, who erected batteries, and fired some 
 days on the town, but did not attempt to force 
 it. On the advance of the French republican 
 troops, the British were compelled to retire so 
 suddenly, as to leave a number of their cannon 
 behind them. Before we had been long here, 
 numbers of our men were attacked by a dis- 
 ease of the eyes ; the symptoms were an intole- 
 rable itching, in the evening ; during the night 
 inflammation would take place, and in the morn- 
 ing the eyes would be completely closed. Those 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 143 
 
 attacked, were led away to darkened rooms, and 
 the surgeon began to operate on them: and 
 whether it was their ignorance of the nature of 
 the disorder, or their bungling manner of apply- 
 ing the lancet, they managed to deprive some 
 men of the use of both eyes, and others of one. 
 The inhabitants, themselves, were generally 
 attacked in the same way, in the autumn. It 
 was supposed to arise from the effluvium of 
 the stagnant water, in the trench round the 
 walls, which contained a vast deal of animal 
 and vegetable putrid matter. 
 
 As soon as the men could be moved, we 
 were placed in another part of the town. A 
 portion of the Foot Guards were laying with us 
 here; and some of their aristocratic officers, 
 made the astounding discovery, that the uni- 
 form of our officers was exactly like theirs, with 
 the exception of a slight difference in the 
 colour of the facings theirs being dark blue, 
 and ours a dark green. Of course, such a cir- 
 cumstance, as that there should be no differ- 
 ence in dress between the Guards and a fighting 
 regiment, could not be tolerated. A consulta- 
 
144 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 tion was held by them, on the subject; and 
 a communication forwarded to the commander- 
 in-chief in England ; who lost no time in 
 taking a matter of so much importance into 
 his most serious consideration. The next des- 
 patches contained an order for the officers of the 
 73rd to divest themselves of two slips of gold 
 lace, from the skirt of their regimental jackets, 
 to prevent, for the future, the possibility of 
 their being mistaken for officers of the Guards ! 
 
 In the month of October, we left Tourney, 
 and proceeded to Courtray, or Cortrick, as 
 it was formerly called. It was once a place 
 of very considerable strength, being situated 
 on the river Leys, and well defended, both by 
 art and nature. When we were there, how- 
 ever, the defences were in such a state of 
 dilapidation, that it was altogether untenable 
 as a fortress : only our regiment was quartered 
 there. The duty was not severe, having but 
 three guards to find. 
 
 I believe the motive for quartering the Bri- 
 tish troops through the towns of Belgium, at 
 this time, was to ensure the tranquillity of the 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 145 
 
 people, until the annexation of Belgium to 
 Holland should be carried into effect, as agreed 
 on by the Allied Powers, in their settlement 
 of the boundaries of the different states. 
 
 Belgium, of right, belonged to Austria ; but 
 that power readily agreed to its being joined to 
 Holland, on their receiving an equivalent for 
 it. In another quarter, the proclamation of 
 the (now) King of Holland, in reference to the 
 incorporation of the two countries, was very 
 unpopular; so much so, that where we were, 
 they could not prevail on any of the inhabit- 
 ants to assist in the reading of it; and that 
 duty had to be performed under a guard of 
 British bayonets. It was easy then to predict, 
 that the union of two countries, different in 
 religion, language, customs, and manners, 
 would exist only as long as a foreign army 
 should be there to enforce it. 
 
 During our residence in this town, in con- 
 sequence of the prevalence of the small-pox, 
 the men were all examined, and those who had 
 not had the disorder, were inoculated for it. 
 
 An accident of a curious nature, befell one 
 H 
 
146 EECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 of our sergeants here. He was out rather late 
 at night, and running home, in turning sharply 
 round the corner of the street, he came in 
 contact with two of the gen-d'armes, or police, 
 who were carrying their firelocks slung over 
 their shoulders, with the bayonets pointing 
 out in front, and the sergeant's thigh came 
 in contact with one of the bayonets, which 
 entered the front of the thigh, passed along 
 obliquely for about four inches, and came out 
 beneath. The poor fellow was regularly trans- 
 fixed: they had not the courage, for some 
 time, to pull the weapon out. There was no 
 blame to the police, in the matter, as the ser- 
 geant came so unexpectedly on them. It was 
 considered one of the worst bayonet-wounds 
 that could be : the man never got the better 
 of it. Other incidents, of a more disgraceful 
 nature, here force themselves on my memory, 
 and I feel bound to relate them. 
 
 The cheapness of ardent spirits, genuine 
 hollands, direct from the distillery, was sold 
 in the chandlers' shops, the same as small 
 beer used to be in England ; and the price of 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 147 
 
 the spirit (retail) was only eight-pence per 
 quart. The consequence was, we had a great 
 deal of drunkenness and crime; and, as a 
 matter of course, a great many punishment- 
 parades, which took place on the Esplanade, 
 or piece of ground near the citadel, overlooked 
 by a number of respectable houses ; and the fre- 
 quency of our disgraceful flogging exhibitions, 
 created such horror and disgust, that at length 
 a remonstrance was presented to our com- 
 manding officer, on the subject. I shall re- 
 late one of the cases which took place here, 
 as being of rather an extraordinary nature. 
 
 Two prisoners were brought out, and the 
 proceedings of the court-martial read, their 
 crime having been the same drunkenness 
 and insubordination, under very aggravated 
 circumstances, which certainly merited severe 
 punishment; though nothing, in my opinion, 
 can justify the use of the lash. The first 
 prisoner was a young man belonging to the 
 Grenadiers; his sentence was eight hundred 
 lashes, out of which he received five hundred. 
 
 The other prisoner was a drummer, young, 
 H 2 
 
148 RECOLLECTIONS Otf 
 
 small, and weakly ; he had been punished 
 before, and his back was scarcely healed from 
 the last infliction. The first few strokes of 
 the cat, laid the back bare to the bone. Some 
 one, from mistaken motives of kindness, had 
 given the poor wretch, before he came out, a 
 copious draught of hollands, the effect of 
 which was not perceptible until he was tied 
 up; and then it maddened him. Instead of 
 wincing from the stripes, he abused the 
 commanding officer, and sung a variety of 
 scraps of songs. The major who commanded 
 that morning, was exasperated at the apparent 
 levity of the prisoner, and abused the drum- 
 major for not making the drummers do their 
 duty more effectually; and for every stroke 
 the drummer gave the poor wretch, he received 
 one from the drum-major's cane, across his 
 own shoulders. At length, the major sus- 
 pended the punishment; selected one of the 
 drummers ; and formed what is called a " Drum- 
 head court-martial." The drum-major swore 
 the man could punish more effectually, if he 
 chose. He was found guilty of refusing to 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 149 
 
 do his duty ; was tied up there and then, and 
 received one hundred and fifty lashes. The 
 other punishment was proceeded with : but 
 the poor creature, the strength of the spirits 
 having evaporated, was not able to bear any 
 more ; he fainted, and was carried to the hos- 
 pital in a state of insensibility.* 
 
 After the protest of the inhabitants, other 
 modes of punishment were adopted. Solitary 
 confinement, for the more serious crimes, 
 and extra-guards and punishment-drills for the 
 common offences. Sometimes the man would 
 have to mount guard, and stand sentry with 
 a log of wood, fastened by a chain to his leg. 
 Crime did certainly not prevail to the same 
 extent afterwards, as it did before. Solitary 
 confinement was more especially dreaded by 
 the men. 
 
 With these exceptions, we passed the winter 
 very comfortably in this place. I was billeted 
 with eight or nine others, at a public-house 
 called the "Parrot;" in reference to the 
 
 * The regiment was at this time under the command of 
 Major Kelly, the Colonel being absent. 
 
150 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 landlord of which, strange tales were told, 
 and believed too. Being of an extremely 
 jealous nature, it was reported that he had 
 poisoned three of his wives. He had been 
 subjected to two examinations; but no con- 
 clusive evidence having been adduced, he was 
 released. He was now about seventy years of 
 age, and his former cruelties did not prevent 
 his getting another wife, who was then about 
 thirty years old. Nor did the reported fate 
 of his former wives, prevent the present one 
 from forming a connection with one of our 
 sergeants; whose criminal intercourse with 
 her was beyond a doubt. 
 
 In the early part of March, 1815, we left 
 this place, and lay three or four days at a vil- 
 lage, about three miles distant. From thence 
 we were taken on an excursion across the coun- 
 try, for a distance of thirty miles, through 
 cross country-roads, and over fields, hedges 
 and ditches. At night, dreadfully fatigued, 
 we lodged in some barns, and early in the 
 morning fell in ; the colonel having received 
 orders to take the regiment back that night 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 151 
 
 to the village we had left the day before. On 
 our return we encountered a very severe storm, 
 of wind, hail and rain ; the men were so com- 
 pletely knocked up, and some of them literally 
 knocked down, by the hailstones, or more pro- 
 perly speaking, masses of ice, that they were 
 almost in a state of mutiny, at being so harassed 
 without any object. The colonel was requested 
 to halt the men at some place short of their des- 
 tination ; but Tie replied, " he must go the 
 whole distance with the colours, even if he did 
 not take thirty men with him." Numbers of 
 the men were actually unable to proceed ; and 
 only about one hundred of us went in with the 
 colonel and colours; and it was several days 
 afterwards before we could muster the men. 
 
 I never could learn the reason for this extra- 
 ordinary march. In war time, we were fre- 
 quently called on to make forced marches, but 
 then we knew there was a necessity for it, and 
 an object to be gained ; but here there was no 
 apparent motive, beyond the mere caprice of 
 the general. 
 
 While stopping here, for the first and last 
 
152 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 time in ray life, I had my fortune told me, not 
 only unsolicited, but under circumstances of a 
 rather extraordinary nature. I was billeted by 
 myself, on a cottage, about a mile from the 
 village ; and the only inmates were an old man, 
 his daughter, and her infant. The husband 
 of the young woman was serving with the Bel- 
 gian troops, and was then stationed at Ghent. 
 The old man was dangerously ill, with the 
 scarlet fever; and as they had no relatives 
 near them, and the neighbours not liking to 
 visit them under the circumstances, I occasion- 
 ally assisted the young woman in ministering 
 to her father's wants, for which she was ex- 
 tremely grateful. On one occasion, she hastily 
 drew from the cupboard a pack of cards, 
 and after turning them over in a variety 
 of ways, she at length pronounced my fate ; 
 which was, that I should go in one more grand 
 battle ; that I should then go home to Eng- 
 land, and marry a certain person, who was 
 then waiting for me. I laughed at the pre- 
 diction, at the time; but have often since 
 wondered at its accuracy. 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 153 
 
 We left this place again very suddenly, and 
 apparently on the same wild-goose-chase as 
 before. After marching upwards of thirty 
 miles, by a roundabout way, we reached the 
 city of Tourney at one o'clock in the morning, 
 dreadfully tired. The night was very dark ; 
 the street lamps were nearly all out; and as 
 we were not expected, no billets had been pro- 
 vided ; and, cold as the night was, most of the 
 men took out their great coats, and laid down 
 on the pavement. An intimation was given 
 us, that if we could prevail on the persons on 
 whom we had been billeted, when we were last 
 here, to open the door to us, we might do so ; 
 but we were strictly prohibited from making 
 use of force or intimidation. As I had been 
 on exceedingly good terms at my quarters, I 
 thought I would try the experiment. Groping 
 my way therefore, in the dark, I reached the 
 place alone, just as the clock struck two, and 
 rang at the bell. Presently the servant came, but 
 not being thoroughly awake, I was some time 
 in making her understand who I was; when 
 I did do so, she uttered an exclamation of sur- 
 H 5 
 
154 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 prise; but went and acquainted her master 
 and mistress of the circumstance, and by the 
 time I was admitted, the whole establishment 
 was up. Even the children came running 
 round me, almost in a state of nudity. I was 
 always kind to the children, and that some- 
 times made me a favourite with the parents. 
 After the gratulations were over, I took some 
 little refreshment, and went to my old bed, 
 completely worn out with the day's journey. 
 After breakfast, next morning, they insisted 
 that I should not seek another' billet, but 
 come and live with them, without one ; but I 
 never saw them afterwards, as we left the town 
 immediately. 
 
 We proceeded directly to Ath, another 
 strongly fortified place, on the borders of 
 France; where we obtained information of 
 the return of Napoleon. Nothing was known 
 as to his future movements; but it was con- 
 sidered most likely, that his first attempt 
 would be to drive the British from Belgium, 
 when the inhabitants and troops would no 
 doubt join him. 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 155 
 
 The circumstances attending the return of 
 Buonaparte, were of such an extraordinary 
 character, that a brief narrative of the facts 
 cannot be altogether irrelevant to a work of 
 this description. I shall therefore devote the 
 next chapter thereto. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 " But now the trumpet, terrible from far, 
 In shriller clangours animates the war, 
 Confederate drums in fuller concert beat, 
 And echoing hills the loud alarm repeat : 
 Methinks I hear the drums' tumultuous sound. 
 The victors' shout and dying groans confound, 
 The dreadful burst of cannon rend the skies, 
 And all the thunder of the battle rise." 
 
 Proclamation of Napoleon, on landing in 
 France. 
 
 " To the Army. 1st of March, 1815. 
 
 " Napoleon ! by the Grace of God, and the 
 Constitution of the Empire, Emperor of the 
 French, &c. &c. &c. 
 
 " To the French People* 
 " Soldiers 1 
 
 " We were not conquered ; two men, raised 
 from our ranks, betrayed our laurels their 
 Country their Prince their Benefactor. 
 
 " Those, whom during twenty-four years, 
 we have seen traversing all Europe, to raise 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 157 
 
 up enemies against us ; who have passed their 
 lives in fighting against us in the ranks of 
 foreign armies, cursing our beautiful France ! 
 shall they pretend to command and control 
 our Eagles, on which they have not dared 
 even to look? Shall we endure that they 
 should inherit the fruits of our glorious 
 labours ? That they should clothe themselves 
 with our honour and our goods ? That they 
 should calumniate our glory ? If their reign 
 should continue, all would be lost ; even the 
 memory of those immortal days. With what 
 fury do they pervert their very nature ? They 
 seek to poison what the world admires : and 
 if there still remain any defenders of our 
 glory, it is among those very enemies whom 
 we have fought on the field of battle. 
 
 " Soldiers ! in my exile I heard your voices. 
 I have arrived through all obstacles and perils. 
 Your General, called to the throne by the 
 choice of the people, and educated under your 
 banners, is restored to you : come, and join 
 him. Tear down those colours which the 
 nation has proscribed ; and which, for twenty- 
 
158 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 five years, served as a rallying signal to all 
 the enemies of France. Mount the tri- 
 coloured cockade ; you bore it in the days of 
 your greatness ! "We must forget that we 
 have been masters of nations; but we must 
 not suffer any to intermeddle in our affairs. 
 
 " Who shall presume to be masters over us ? 
 Who would have the power? Recover those 
 Eagles which you had at Ulm ; at Austerlitz ; at 
 Jena ; at Eylau ; at Friedland ; at Tudela ; at 
 Eckmuhl; at Essling; atWagram; at Smo- 
 lensk ; at Moscow ; at Lutzen ; at Wurtchen ; 
 Montmerail. Do you think that the handful 
 of Frenchmen, who are now so arrogant, will 
 endure to look at them ? They shall return 
 whence they came ; and there, if they please, 
 they shall reign, as they pretend to have 
 reigned during nineteen years. Your posses- 
 sions, your rank, your glory ; the possessions, 
 the rank, the glory of your children, have no 
 greater enemies than those princes whom 
 foreigners have imposed upon us. They are 
 the enemies of our glory; because the recital 
 of so many heroic actions which have glorified 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 159 
 
 the people of France, fighting against them, 
 to withdraw themselves from their yoke, is 
 their condemnation. The veterans of the 
 Armies of the Sambre and the Meuse; of the 
 Rhine; of Italy; of Egypt; of the West; of 
 the Grand Army are all humiliated ! their 
 honourable wounds are disgraced; their suc- 
 cesses were crimes; those heroes were rebels, 
 if, as the enemies of the people pretend, the 
 legitimate sovereigns were in the midst of the 
 foreign armies. Honours, rewards, affection, 
 are given to those who have served against the 
 country and us. 
 
 f( Soldiers ! Come and range yourselves 
 under the standard of your chief : his existence 
 is only composed of yours; his rights are 
 only those of the people, and yours; his in- 
 terest, his honour, his glory, are no other than 
 your interest, your honour, and your glory. 
 Victory shall march at the charge step. The 
 Eagle, with the national colours, shall fly from 
 steeple to steeple even to the towers of Notre 
 Dame. Then you will be able to show your 
 scars with honour : then you will be able to 
 
160 RECOLLECTIONS OP 
 
 glory in what you have done ; yon will be 
 the deliverers of the country. 
 
 " In your old age, surrounded and esteemed 
 by your fellow-citizens, they will hear you with 
 respect, while you recount your high deeds. 
 You will be able to say with pride ' And I 
 too, was part of that Grand Army, which en- 
 tered twice the walls of Vienna, those of Rome, 
 of Berlin, of Madrid, of Moscow : and which 
 delivered Paris from the foul blot which treason 
 and the' presence of the enemy imprinted on it.' 
 Honoured be those brave soldiers, the glory of 
 the country ! and eternal shame to those 
 guilty Frenchmen, in whatever rank fortune 
 caused them to be born, who fought, fought for 
 twenty-five years with the foreigner, to tear 
 the bosom of the country ! 
 
 " By the Emperor, 
 (Signed) " NAPOLEON ." 
 
 " The Grand Marshal, performing the function 
 of Major General of the Grand Army. 
 
 " BERTRAND." 
 
 Other proclamations, in a similar strain, 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 161 
 
 were addressed to the people, who flocked 
 round him with the greatest enthusiasm. 
 
 On his advance from Corps, on the morning 
 of the 7th, General Marchand detached six 
 thousand men from the garrison to attack him ; 
 and Buonaparte, finding the officer at their 
 head would not listen to the parley of the 
 officer whom he sent to meet him, resolved 
 to try himself what influence he possessed 
 with the soldiers. He therefore dismounted, 
 and ordering about fifty of his Grenadiers to 
 advance, with arms reversed, walked quietly 
 towards the troops, the officer commanding 
 whom, crying out, " It is not the Emperor," 
 ordered his men to fire : the troops were 
 silent and motionless. For an instant, they 
 appeared about to raise their muskets, when 
 Buonaparte, ordering his grenadiers to halt, 
 walked calmly up to them, and throwing open 
 his great coat, exclaimed, " It is I ; recognise 
 me. If there be among you one soldier who 
 would kill his Emperor, now is the time ! " 
 This manoeuvre, so truly in the French style, 
 and practised by a man who knew the troops 
 
162 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 he was addressing, was completely successful. 
 They raised repeated shouts of "Vive PEm- 
 pereur ! " rushed forward to embrace the 
 guard, and enthusiastically mounted the tri- 
 colour ed cockade. 
 
 Delighted with this success, Napoleon formed 
 the troops into a square, and harangued them 
 to the following effect : 
 
 " Soldiers ! I come with a handful of men, 
 to deliver you from the Bourbons, from trea- 
 son, from feudal tyranny, and from the abuses 
 which they have brought with them. The 
 throne of the Bourbons is illegitimate, be- 
 cause it is contrary to the will of the nation. 
 It exists only in the interests of a few families. 
 Is not this true, comrades ?" " Yes, Sire," re- 
 plied a grenadier ; " You are our Emperor ; 
 and we will march with you, to victory or to 
 death ! " Napoleon then marched on to Gre- 
 noble, where he was immediately joined by 
 Colonel Labedoyere, with the 7th regiment of 
 the line. 
 
 After some little delay, occasioned by the 
 loyalty of Generals Marchand and Devilliers, 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 163 
 
 who endeavoured, but in vain, to keep the 
 soldiers to their duty, the troops all mounted 
 the tri-coloured cockade, and professed their 
 willingness to follow the Emperor. The muni- 
 cipal authorities also presented an address, de- 
 claratory of their attachment to him. 
 
 With the reinforcement thus obtained, and 
 which made his army amount to ten thousand 
 men, with a considerable train of artillery, the 
 friends of Louis now became alarmed at the 
 defection of the troops and the rapid advance 
 of Napoleon's ; and the following proclamation 
 was issued to the army. 
 
 " Louis, by the Grace of God, King of 
 France and Navarre. To our brave armies 
 greeting. 
 
 " Brave Soldiers ! 
 
 " The glory and force of our kingdom ! It 
 is in the name of honour, that your King orders 
 you to be faithful to your colours : you have 
 sworn fidelity to him, you will not perjure 
 yourselves. A general, whom you would have 
 defended to the latest moment, if he had not 
 
164 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 released you by a formal abdication, restored 
 to you your legitimate sovereign. A part of 
 the great family of which I am the father, and 
 among which you will distinguish yourselves, 
 only by more illustrious services, you are be- 
 come my children. You are deeply rooted in 
 my affections. I associated myself in the glory 
 of your triumphs even when they were not 
 obtained in my cause. Called to the throne of 
 my ancestors, I congratulated myself on seeing 
 it supported by that brave army so worthy to 
 defend it. 
 
 " Soldiers ! I invoke your affection, I claim 
 your fidelity. Your ancestors once rallied 
 round the Great Henry: it is his lineal de- 
 scendeiit that I have placed at your head. 
 
 " Follow him, faithfully, in the paths of 
 honour and duty. Defend, with him, the 
 public liberty which is attacked the consti- 
 tutional charter which it is attempted to de- 
 stroy. Defend your wives, your parents, your 
 children, your property, against the tyranny 
 by which they are menaced. Is not the enemy 
 of the country also yours ? Has not he specu- 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 165 
 
 lated on your blood ; and made a cruel traffic 
 of your fatigues and wounds ? Was it not to 
 gratify his insatiable ambition, that he led you 
 through a thousand dangers to useless and 
 sanguinary victories ? Our fine country not 
 being sufficient for him, he would again ex- 
 haust its population, to proceed to the extre- 
 mities of the world, and acquire new conquests 
 at the expense of your blood. Distrust his 
 perfidious promises : your King calls you : the 
 country claims you. Let honour fix you per- 
 manently under your banners. It is I who 
 undertake to recompense you: it is in your 
 ranks it is among the chosen of the faithful 
 soldiers, that I will select officers. Public 
 gratitude will remunerate all your services. 
 Make one effort more, and you will speedily 
 acquire glory, and_ the repose you will have 
 merited. 
 
 "March, then, without hesitation, brave 
 soldiers ! at the call of honour : apprehend the 
 first traitors who may attempt to seduce you. 
 If any among you, have already listened to the 
 perfidious suggestions of rebels, such are still 
 
166 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 invited to return to the path of duty. The 
 door is still open to repentance. It is in this 
 way that several squadrons of cavalry, whom a 
 guilty chief wished to lead astray near La Fere, 
 voluntarily forced him to withdraw himself. 
 
 " Let the whole of the army profit by this 
 example. Let the great number of corps 
 which have not been seduced, and who have 
 refused to join the rebels, close their battalions 
 to attack and repel the traitors. 
 
 " Soldiers ! You are Frenchmen I am your 
 king. It is not in vain that I confide to your 
 courage and to your fidelity, the safety of our 
 beloved country. 
 
 " Dated at the Thuilleries, the 12th of 
 March, 1815. and the twentieth year 
 
 of our reign. 
 
 " Louis." 
 
 These proclamations of the king, had no 
 effect on the army. The garrisons and towns 
 before which Napoleon presented himself, 
 immediately opened their gates to him, and 
 joined his ranks. One last effort was to be 
 made, to prevent his advance to Paris. Up- 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 167 
 
 wards of one hundred thousand men were 
 collected at Melun, composed of National 
 Guards, volunteers, and others, all apparently 
 actuated by the best feelings towards the King, 
 and eager to meet and repel his antagonists. 
 A powerful artillery strengthened their po- 
 sition. Relying on their numbers, they had 
 left the town, the rock, and the forest of 
 Fontainbleau, unguarded, preferring the flat 
 plains of Melun, where the whole of their 
 army might act at once, against the compara- 
 tively small band of invaders. 
 
 On the 19th, Buonaparte reached and oc- 
 cupied Fontainbleau, without the least oppo- 
 sition. He had, at that time with him, only 
 fifteen thousand veterans ; but other divisions 
 were either following him, or advancing to 
 support his right and left flanks, on parallel 
 lines of march. 
 
 Marshal Ney, whose division exceeded thirty- 
 thousand men notwithstanding his previous 
 warm professions of attachment to the King 
 not only joined the ranks of the Emperor, but 
 also forwarded to the court a declaration, 
 
168 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 signed by the whole army under his command, 
 both officers and privates, in which they 
 stated "That they respected him too much 
 to deceive him ; that they would not fight for 
 Louis the Eighteenth; but that they would 
 shed all their blood for Napoleon the Great \" 
 
 The friends of the King still, however, re- 
 lied on the loyalty of the troops at Melun ; and 
 deceived by the professions of loyalty, for- 
 warded from many of the garrisons, at the 
 very moment of their defection, they still 
 thought the nation would take up their cause 
 as its own. 
 
 Early on the morning of Monday, the 20th, 
 preparations were made on both sides, for the 
 encounter which was expected to take place. 
 
 The French army was drawn up in three 
 lines, the intervals and flanks being armed 
 with batteries. The centre occupied the Paris 
 road. The ground from Fontainbleau to Me- 
 lun, is a continual declivity, so that, on emerg- 
 ing from the forest, a clear view of the country 
 presents itself; whilst, on the other hand, 
 those below can easily descry whatever appears 
 on the eminence. 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 169 
 
 An awful silence, broken only at times by 
 peals of martial music, intended to confirm 
 the loyalty of the troops, by repeating the 
 loyal air of "Vive Henri Quatre," and "La 
 Belle Gabrielle," or by the voice of the com- 
 manders, and the march of divisions to their 
 appointed ground, pervaded the King's army. 
 
 All was now anxious expectation : the chiefs, 
 conscious that a moment would decide the fate 
 of the Bourbon dynasty; and the troops, 
 perhaps, secretly awed at the thought of meet- 
 ing in hostility the man whom they had been 
 accustomed to obey. On the side of Fontain- 
 bleau, no sound was heard, as of an army 
 rushing to battle. If the enemy were advan- 
 cing, his troops evidently moved in silence. 
 Perhaps his heart had failed him, and he had 
 retreated during the night. If so, France was 
 saved and Europe free. At length a slight 
 trampling of horses became audible. It ap- 
 proached : an open carriage, attended by a few 
 hussars and dragoons, appeared on the skirts 
 of the forest. It drove down the hills with 
 the rapidity of lightning; it reached the 
 i 
 
170 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 advanced posts. " Vive PEmpereur !" burst 
 from the astonished soldiers ; " NapoleonJ 
 Napoleon the Great 1" spread from rank to 
 rank : for, bare-headed, Bertrand seated at his 
 right and Drouet at his left, Buonaparte con- 
 tinued his course, now waving his hand, now 
 opening his arms to his soldiers, whom he 
 called " his friends, his companions in arms, 
 whose honour, whose glory, whose country, he 
 came to restore." All discipline was forgotten ; 
 disobeyed and insulted, the commanding offi- 
 cers took to flight : thousands rushed on his 
 passage ; acclamations rent the sky. At that 
 moment, his own Guard descended the hill 
 the imperial march was played the eagles 
 were once more exhibited ; and those, whose 
 deadly weapons were to have aimed at each 
 other's life, embraced as brothers, and joined 
 in universal shouts. In the midst of these 
 greetings, Napoleon passed through the whole 
 of the royal army, pursuing his course to Paris. 
 Nothing now remained for Louis, but an 
 immediate and precipitate flight ; the entrance 
 of Buonaparte into Paris, and the joy and en- 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 171 
 
 thusiasm of the majority of the people, are mat- 
 ters of history so generally known, that I need 
 not trouble myself, nor tire my reader, by a 
 repetition of them. But as Buonaparte has 
 been accused of a flagrant breach of faith, 
 after the liberal provisions made for his sub- 
 sistence and comfort, at the island of Elba, 
 under the guarantee of the Allied Sovereigns, 
 it is only an act of justice to record the de- 
 fence of Napoleon contained in the following 
 statement. 
 
 " First : The Empress, Maria Louisa, and 
 her son, were to obtain passports, and an escort, 
 to repair to the Emperor ; but, far from per- 
 forming this promise, the husband and wife, 
 father and son, were separated under painful 
 circumstances, when the firmest mind has oc- 
 casion to seek consolation and support, in 
 family and domestic aifections. 
 
 " Second : The security of Napoleon, of his 
 imperial family, and their sister, were gua- 
 ranteed (Art. 14 of the Treaty) by all the 
 Powers ; yet, bands of assassins were organized 
 in France, under the eyes of the French govern- 
 i 2 
 
172 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 ment, and even by its orders, as will soon be 
 proved, by the solemn proceedings against 
 Sieur Demonbieuil, for attacking the Emperor, 
 his brothers and their wives. In default of 
 the success hoped for from the first part of 
 the plot, an insurrection was prepared at 
 Orgon, on the Emperor's route, in order that 
 an attempt might be made on his life by some 
 brigands. The Sieur Builart, an associate of 
 Georges, had been sent as governor to Corsica, 
 in order to prepare and make sure of the 
 crime ; and, in fact, several detached assassins 
 attempted, while in the isle of Elba, to gain 
 by the murder of the Emperor, the base re- 
 ward which was promised them. 
 
 "Third: The duchies of Parma and Pla- 
 centia were given, in full property, to Maria 
 Louisa, for herself, her son, and their de- 
 scendants. After a long refusal to put her 
 in possession, the injustice was finished by a 
 complete spoliation, under the illusory pre- 
 text of an exchange, without valuation, propo- 
 sition, or sovereignty, and without her consent ; 
 and the documents in the office for foreign 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 173 
 
 affairs, prove that it was on the solicitations, 
 and by the intrigues of the Prince of Bene- 
 vento (Talleyrand), that Maria Louisa and her 
 son were despoiled. 
 
 " Fourth : Eugene, the adopted son of Na- 
 poleon, was to have obtained a suitable 
 establishment out of France ; but he has had 
 nothing. 
 
 " Fifth : The Emperor had stipulated for 
 the army, the preservation of their rewards, 
 given them on Monte Napoleon. He had 
 reserved to himself first, to recompense his 
 faithful followers. Every thing has been taken 
 away, but reserved by the ministers of the 
 Bourbons. M. Brasson, an agent from the 
 army, was despatched to Vienna, to assert 
 their claims, but in vain. 
 
 " Sixth : The preservation of the property 
 moveable and immoveable belonging to the 
 Emperor's family, was provided for; but all 
 was robbed in France, by commissioned 
 brigands in Italy, by the violence of the 
 military chiefs. 
 
 " Seventh : Napoleon was to have received 
 
174 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 two millions, and his family, two millions five 
 hundred thousand francs, per annum. The 
 French government has constantly refused to 
 discharge its engagements ; and Napoleon 
 would have soon been obliged to disband his 
 faithful Guards, for want of the means of pay- 
 ing them, had he not found an honourable 
 resource in the conduct of some bankers and 
 merchants, at Genoa and Italy, who advanced 
 twelve millions, which they had offered him. 
 
 " Eighth : In fine, it was not without a cause 
 that it was desirable, by every means, to re- 
 move from Napoleon the companions of his 
 glory unshaken sureties of his safety and his 
 existence. The island of Elba was assigned 
 to him in perpetuity; but the resolution of 
 robbing him of it, was at the instigation of 
 the Bourbons, fixed upon by the Congress. 
 Had not Providence prevented it, Europe 
 would have seen an attempt made on the per- 
 son and liberty of Napoleon; left, hereafter, 
 at the mercy of his enemies, and transported 
 far from his friends and followers, either to St. 
 Lucie or St. Helena, which had been pointed 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 175 
 
 out as his prison. And when the Allied 
 Powers, yielding to the imprudent wishes 
 to the cruel instigation of the House of Bour- 
 bon condescended to violate the solemn con- 
 tract, on the faith of which Napoleon liberated 
 the French nation from its oath; when he, 
 himself, and all the members of his family, 
 saw themselves menaced, attacked in their 
 persons, in their properties, in their affections, 
 in all the rights stipulated in their favour as 
 princes, in those even secured by the laws to 
 private citizens what was Napoleon to do ? 
 
 " Was he, after enduring so many offences, 
 supporting so many acts of injustice, to con- 
 sent to the complete violation of the engage- 
 ments entered into with him, and resigning 
 himself, personally, to the fate prepared for 
 him to abandon, also, his spouse, his son, 
 his family, his faithful servants, to their fright- 
 ful destiny ? 
 
 " Such a resolution seems beyond the en- 
 durance of human nature ; and yet, Napoleon 
 would have embraced it, if the peace and hap- 
 piness of France had been the price of the new 
 
176 RECOLLECTIONS OP 
 
 sacrifice. He would have devoted himself for 
 the French people; from whom, as he will 
 declare in the face of Europe, it \A his glory 
 to hold every thing whose good shall be the 
 object of all his endeavour s, and to whom, 
 alone, he will be answerable for his actions, 
 and devote his life. 
 
 " It was for France alone, and that it might 
 avoid the evils of intestine war, that he abdi- 
 cated the crown in 1814. He restored to the 
 French people the rights which he held from 
 them; he left them at liberty to seek new 
 masters, and to found their liberty and their 
 happiness on institutions for the protection 
 of both. He hoped for the nation, the pre- 
 servation of all that it had acquired in twenty- 
 five years of combat and glory the exercise 
 of its sovereignty in the choice of a dynasty, 
 and in the stipulation of the conditions on 
 which that dynasty would be called to reign. 
 
 "He expected from the new government, 
 the respect for the glory of the armies, the 
 rights of the brave, the guarantee of all the 
 new interests which have been in existence, 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 177 
 
 and supported for half a century, resulting 
 from all the political and civil laws observed 
 and revered during that time, because they 
 are identified with the manners, the habits, 
 and the wants of the nation. Far from this ; 
 every idea of the sovereignty of the people was 
 set aside. The principle on which the whole 
 political and moral legislation has rested since 
 the revolution, has equally been set aside. 
 
 " France has been treated by the Bourbons 
 as a revolted country, re-conquered by the 
 armies of its ancient masters, and subjected 
 anew to a feudal domination. 
 
 " Louis Stanislaus Xavier has misunderstood 
 the treaty which alone rendered the throne 
 of France vacant ; and the abdication of which, 
 alone, entitled him to ascend it. He pre- 
 tended to have reigned nineteen years, insult- 
 ing, in this manner, the governments esta- 
 blished since that time the people who 
 consecrated them by their suffrages the 
 army which defended them, and even the 
 sovereigns who acknowledged them in their 
 numerous treaties. 
 
 i 5 
 
178 
 
 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 " A charter, drawn up by the senate, im- 
 perfect, as it was, has been consigned to 
 oblivion. They imposed upon France a pre- 
 tended constitutional law, as easy to be 
 eluded as revoked ; and in the form of simple 
 royal ordonnances, without consulting the 
 nation ; without even listening to those illegal 
 bodies the phantoms of the national repre- 
 sentation. And as the Bourbons have issued 
 ordonnances without rights, and promises 
 without any guarantee, they have eluded them 
 without sincerity, and executed them without 
 fidelity. 
 
 "The violation of that pretended charter, 
 was restrained only by the timidity of the 
 government : the extent of the abuse of 
 authority was only limited by its weakness. 
 The dislocation of the army, the dispersion 
 of its officers, the exile of several, the degra- 
 dation of the soldiers, the suppression of their 
 endowments, the depriving them of their pay 
 or their pensions, the reduction of the allow- 
 ances to the Legion of Honour, the spoil of 
 their honours, the pre-eminence of the deco- 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 179 
 
 rations of the feudal monarchy, the contempt 
 for the citizens designated of new under the 
 name of f Tiers-Etat/ the spoliation prepared 
 and already commenced of the purchasers 
 of the national estates, the actual depreciation 
 of the value of those which were brought to 
 the market, the reinstatement of feudality 
 into its titles, its privileges, its available rights, 
 the re-establishment of ultra-montane prin- 
 ciples, the abolition of the liberties of the 
 Gallican church, the annihilation of the con- 
 cordat, the re-establishment of tithes, the 
 reviving intolerance of an exclusive worship, 
 the domination of a handful of nobles over 
 a people accustomed to equality this is what 
 the Bourbons have done, or wished to do, for 
 France. 
 
 " It was under such circumstances, that the 
 Emperor Napoleon quitted the island of Elba; 
 such are the motives of the determination 
 taken by him, and not the consideration of 
 his personal interests, which weigh little with 
 him, compared to the interests of the nation, 
 to whom he has consecrated his existence. 
 
180 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 " He lias not carried war into the bosom 
 of France; he has, on the contrary, extin- 
 guished the war which the proprietors of 
 national estates, forming four-fifths of the 
 French proprietors, would have been forced 
 to carry on with their spoliators ; the war 
 which the citizens oppressed, degraded, and 
 humiliated by the nobles would have been 
 forced to declare against their oppressors; 
 the war which the Protestants, the Jews, and 
 men of different religious professions, would 
 have been forced to maintain against their 
 persecutors. 
 
 " He has come to deliver France ; and as a 
 deliverer, he has been every where received. 
 
 " He arrived almost alone ; he advanced 
 for two hundred and twenty leagues without 
 obstacles, without combats, and has resumed 
 without resistance, in the midst of the capital, 
 and of the acclamations of the immense ma- 
 jority of the citizens, the throne abdicated by 
 the Bourbons ; who, in the army, in their 
 household, in the National Guards, in the 
 people, could not arm a single person, to en- 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 181 
 
 deavour to maintain them in it. And now, 
 replaced at the head of the nation, which had 
 thrice already made choice of him, and which 
 has a fourth time designated him by the re- 
 ception which it has given him, in his rapid 
 and triumphant march and arrival ; what does 
 Napoleon wish from the nation by which, 
 and for the interest of which, he desires to 
 reign ? What the French people desire 
 the independence of France, internal peace, 
 peace with all nations, and the execution of 
 the treaty of Paris of the 30th of March, 1814. 
 
 " What is the change, then, which has taken 
 place in the state of Europe, and in the hope 
 of repose which was promised to it? What 
 voice is raised to demand assistance, which, 
 according to the declaration, ought only to be 
 given when called for ? 
 
 " Nothing has been changed : if the Allied 
 Powers return, as it is expected they will do, to 
 just and moderate sentiments : if they acknow- 
 ledge, that the existence of France in a re- 
 spectable and independent state, as far from 
 conquering as being conquered, from domi- 
 
182 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 nating, as from being subjugated, is necessary 
 to the balance of great kingdoms, and to the 
 guarantee of small states. 
 
 " Nothing has been changed : if, respecting 
 the rights of a great nation, which wishes to 
 respect the rights of others ; which, high-minded 
 and generous, has been lowered but never de- 
 graded ; they allow it to retake a monarch, and 
 give itself a constitution, and laws, suitable to 
 its manners, its interests, its habits, and its 
 new wants. 
 
 " Nothing has been changed: if they do not 
 endeavour to constrain France to submit again 
 to a dynasty which she dislikes, to the feudal 
 chains which she has thrown off to the seigno- 
 rial or ecclesiastical prostration from which she 
 has liberated herself : if they do not wish to 
 impose lords on her, to interfere with her in- 
 ternal affairs ; to assign a form of government 
 to her ; to give masters to her, to satisfy the 
 pleasures or the passions of her neighbours. 
 
 " Nothing has been changed : if, when 
 France is occupied with preparing the new 
 social pact which shall guarantee the liberty 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 183 
 
 of her citizens, the triumphs of the generous 
 ideas which prevail in Europe, and which can 
 no longer be suppressed, they do not force her 
 to withdraw herself for hostilities from those 
 pacific thoughts and means of internal pros- 
 perity, to which the people and the chief wish 
 to consecrate themselves in a happy accordance. 
 " Nothing has been changed : if, when the 
 French nation only demands to remain at 
 peace with all Europe, an unjust coalition does 
 not force it to defend, as it did in 1792, its 
 will, and its rights, and its independence, and 
 the sovereign of its choice. 
 
 (Signed) "The Minister of State, 
 
 "President of the Section of Finance, 
 " The COUNT DE FERMON." 
 
 Although there may be a great deal of ex- 
 aggeration in the foregoing statement, yet, 
 there is no doubt a great deal of truth in it 
 likewise ; indeed, it was admitted by Lord 
 Castlereagh in the House of Commons on the 
 7th of April, 1815, that from the moment of 
 Buonaparte's arrival at Elba, neither the Allied 
 
184 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 S overeigns nor the Bourbons took any steps to 
 fulfil the articles of the treaty of Fontain- 
 bleau. 
 
 Shorn of his power, Buonaparte was consi- 
 dered as politically defunct. The allowance 
 guaranteed to him was never paid : and to such 
 pecuniary distress was he reduced, that he was 
 compelled to sell his cannon and his stores for 
 his support. This situation affected his bit- 
 terest enemies; for Lord Castlereagh acknow- 
 ledges, that hearing of it when he was in Paris, 
 he was induced to make the most urgent repre- 
 sentation to the French government on his 
 behalf: but it does not appear with much ef- 
 fect. Surrounded by priests and ministers, the 
 unfortunate Louis was compelled to be a prin- 
 cipal in an act of injustice, to which, without 
 doubt, may be traced the steps pursued by 
 Napoleon. 
 
 As soon as the Allied Sovereigns were made 
 acquainted with Buonaparte's arrival in Paris, 
 they issued a declaration ; and entered into a 
 fresh treaty, whereby they bound themselves 
 to furnish against France the following amount 
 of troops, viz. : 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 185 
 
 Austria 300,000; Russia 225,000; Prussia 
 336,000; Minor States, including 60,000 Bava- 
 rians, 150,000; the King of Holland 50,000; 
 troops in British pay 50,000 ; making a total 
 of one million and eleven thousand ; an im- 
 mense force on paper, but not so easily brought 
 into the field. And, though they were able to 
 find the men, they candidly stated to the Bri- 
 tish government their total inability to move, 
 for want of funds; and, in order to provide 
 them with the " sinews of war," the income 
 tax in England was renewed, and a vast 
 amount of money was raised, by way of loan, 
 and five millions sterling were forwarded to the 
 parties, (Austria, Russia and Prussia.) Eng- 
 land also bound herself to provide one hundred 
 and fifty thousand men, or an equivalent in 
 money, for so many as might be deficient of 
 that number; so that, after all, this short 
 affair was rather an expensive one to England, 
 as she was too magnanimous to require, from 
 the foreign powers, the repayment of the loans, 
 which they from time to time received from 
 this country. Austria, indeed, some years 
 
186 RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 afterwards, declaring itself insolvent, offered 
 the British ministry three millions, in lieu of 
 the thirty millions which they had at different 
 times borrowed of us, and my Lord Castle- 
 reagh (considering the loss of a few millions 
 no object to England) generously accepted the 
 composition. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 " How quick the changes of the soldier's fame, 
 The bold, the vaunting Corsican will name ; 
 He feels no pleasure but in war's alarms, 
 The trumpet's clangor, and the din of arms, 
 Cheering his partners of the tented field, 
 ' Nor sheathe your swords ! (he cries) till all shall 
 yield.' " 
 
 DURING the months of April and May, the 
 British were leaving the distant towns, and 
 gradually concentrating as near as possible to 
 the Belgian frontiers. The most impenetrable 
 mystery seemed to be observed in reference to 
 Napoleon's future movements : that he was 
 preparing for some daring enterprize, there was 
 no doubt ; but while waiting the development 
 of his plans, we were placed in quarters, with 
 such arrangements that the division could con- 
 centrate at a very short notice. 
 
 Our regiment, with the 30th second bat- 
 
188 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 talion, (ours also was a second battalion,, the 
 first battalions of both regiments being at the 
 time in the East Indies) were quartered on a 
 sweet village, three miles from the town of 
 Soignes; the latter place was the rallying 
 point for the whole of our divisions. 
 
 Our situation here was pleasant in the ex- 
 treme, as we had little duty to perform. I 
 was quartered, with my comrade, on a miller, 
 about a mile and a-half from the village. The 
 family consisted of the miller, his wife, and 
 two daughters of the ages of sixteen and seven- 
 teen ; and, as we were both young men and 
 tolerably good-looking, both the miller and 
 his wife were rather shy of us at first, keeping 
 the girls always away from us in the day time, 
 and carefully locking them in their chamber 
 at night; but, as they became better acquainted 
 with us, this reserve wore off, and they did 
 not even object to the girls strolling with us 
 through the meadows : nor had we any inten- 
 tion of abusing the confidence thus reposed 
 in us. One of the girls was much attached 
 to my comrade, and would not have needed 
 much persuasion to become his wife. 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 189 
 
 In the beginning of June, my old friend 
 Serjeant Burton was commissioned to go to 
 the town of Soignes, to purchase some shoe- 
 leather ; his wife, who was about his own age, 
 and as great an oddity as himself, would of 
 course go with him, and he also requested 
 me to accompany them. We selected the near- 
 est road, across some fields, and reached the 
 town about twelve o'clock, and after looking 
 about us a little, we found a large currier's 
 establishment, the proprietor of which invited 
 us in, and exhibited his stock of leather, which 
 I thought sufficiently large to provide shoes 
 for the whole British army, for two or three 
 years. Sergeant Burton, (who amongst his 
 other professions) had been a shoemaker, and 
 was therefore a judge of leather, after making 
 a careful selection of such materials as he 
 thought proper, had them all placed together, 
 Mrs. Burton, who carried the purse, paid for 
 them (the amount was somewhere about ten 
 or twelve pounds) and directions were given 
 for them to be sent to the sergeant's quarters. 
 Having settled the business matters, the pro- 
 
190 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 prietor, probably well-satisfied with the profits 
 of the transaction, invited us into a small 
 room, and provided some substantial refresh- 
 ment; after which, some excellent hollands 
 was produced, and our worthy host endea- 
 voured to amuse us, by the relation of various 
 anecdotes, referring to his former military 
 service, in the republican army of France, in 
 their excursions through Holland : but, as he 
 could speak but little English and we knew 
 very little French, we did not relish his French 
 half so well as we did his hollands. 
 
 Time passed rapidly on, and the old gentle- 
 man perhaps began to think we had had 
 enough, when he invited us to take coffee, 
 which was very acceptable, especially to Mrs. 
 Burton, who, though accustomed daily to take 
 a small portion of her husband's allowance of 
 spirits, exhibited unequivocal symptoms of hav- 
 ing now taken a little drop too much ; not that 
 she would admit the fact, but attributed her 
 slight indisposition to the heat of the weather. 
 After disposing of the coffee, with a moderate 
 quantity of bread and butter, we had one 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 191 
 
 parting glass with our worthy friend the cur- 
 rier, and then started for home. 
 
 It was near nine o'clock, and we calculated 
 it would take us, even by the shortest cut, at 
 least an hour to reach the village, under the 
 most favourable circumstances; but the sky 
 was darkening rapidly, and exhibited strong 
 symptoms of an approaching storm : and, to 
 make it worse, my companions began to 
 quarrel, and I had much trouble to prevent 
 them from proceeding to blows. During the 
 squabble, we had unfortunately passed the 
 turning by which we had come in the morning, 
 and Burton insisted on going to an inn by the 
 road-side, to take shelter from the rain, which 
 was now coming down in right-earnest. 
 
 We found in the house several Flemish tra- 
 vellers, who looked rather suspiciously on us, 
 until the sergeant called for some hollands, 
 and invited them to drink, which led to further 
 remonstrance on the part of Mrs. Burton, 
 who, like myself, chose rather to battle with 
 the storm than to be absent from our quarters 
 without leave; as our pass only extended to 
 
192 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 nine o'clock in the evening. The sergeant, 
 however, was obstinate, and " would not stir 
 for all the officers in the country." His wife, 
 at last, left the place by herself; and I was 
 trying to prevail on him to follow : when, 
 finding she was really gone, he hurried out in 
 a state of great excitement ; and, before I could 
 overtake them, he had drawn his sword and 
 inflicted a wound on her head, cutting through 
 her bonnet and cap. As soon as I came up, 
 I caught her, fainting, in my arms, and found 
 the blood from the wound trickling down 
 very fast. Burton was instantly sobered, and 
 sorry for what he had done, he assisted me 
 in conveying her back to the inn. 
 
 The landlord, the moment of our departure, 
 had closed the doors, but he let us in, and 
 brought some water. Having had some ex- 
 perience in such matters, I washed the wound, 
 separated the hair from it, and bound it up 
 with a portion of the sergeant's shirt, which I 
 made him tear up for that purpose. As it 
 was impossible (now) to think of going that 
 night, the landlord, as he could not accommo- 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 193 
 
 date us with beds, provided us with two trusses 
 of clean straw, and we laid down together; 
 Burton and his wife soon fell asleep, but the 
 probability of the wound bleeding afresh, kept 
 me awake the greater part of the night. Early 
 in the morning we got up, had breakfast, and 
 started home. 
 
 The sergeant was sadly chagrined at having 
 struck his poor old woman, who had so long 
 been the companion of his journeys, but they 
 made the matter up, and we began to consider 
 what excuse we should offer for our absence ; 
 at last, we agreed to trump up a story, that 
 having been attacked in the fields, Mrs. 
 Burton receiving the blow intended for her 
 husband, had caused the delay. We were not, 
 however, under the necessity of relating this 
 story, as our absence had not been noticed, 
 and nothing further was said about the matter. 
 Although we were so pleasantly situated 
 here, we began to get tired of the monotony, 
 and there was a restlessness, and an anxiety 
 to know what the French were about, and how 
 soon our services would be required, as it was 
 K 
 
194 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 universally believed that Napoleon would make 
 a desperate attempt to drive the Anglo-Prus- 
 sian armies from Belgium, when, if successful, 
 he would not only be at liberty to attack the 
 other troops, as they should successively arrive, 
 but his success would also be the means of 
 inspiring his men with that enthusiasm, which 
 was so necessary to ensure his ultimate success. 
 On the 15th of June, some of the officers 
 and men were playing at ball, against the 
 gablfe-end of a house in the village, when an 
 orderly dragoon brought dispatches from Gene- 
 ral Halket, who commanded a brigade, or- 
 dering us to fall in immediately, and proceed 
 to the town of Soignes. The men were scat- 
 tered about, variously engaged ; but they soon 
 understood, from the roll of the drums, and 
 the tones of the bugles, that their attendance 
 was immediately necessary, in marching order. 
 About four o'clock, the order came, and by six 
 we had fallen in, and were off. On our arrival 
 at Soignes, we found the town filling fast with 
 troops. There was evidently something extraor- 
 dinary in this sudden movement, but no one 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 195 
 
 knew the cause. About nine o' clock that 
 night, we had one day's provision served out, 
 and as the meat was raw, we thought it advis- 
 able to cook it, not knowing how we might be 
 situated next day. At twelve o'clock at night, 
 we fell in ; and in another hour had left the 
 town behind us, and soon entered what is 
 very appropriately called, the " dark wood of 
 Soignes." 
 
 " Thy wood, dark Soignes, holds us now, 
 Where the tall beech's glossy bough, 
 
 For many a league around, 
 With birch and darksome oak between, 
 Spreads deep and far a pathless screen, 
 
 Of tangled forest ground : 
 Stems planted close by stems, defy 
 The advent'rous foot the curious eye, 
 
 For access seeks in vain, 
 And the brown tapestry of leaves, 
 Strewed on the blighted ground, receives 
 
 Nor sun, nor air, nor rain." 
 
 Our superior officer had received some hasty 
 and ill-defined instructions, to take us on this 
 road ; and as it was not known how near the 
 K 2 
 
196 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 enemy might be, it was necessary to throw out 
 an advanced guard, and proceed with caution. 
 The progress we made through the wood was 
 so slow, that by eight o' clock in the morning we 
 had not proceeded more than ten miles. "We 
 then halted for an hour, the general anxiously 
 expecting some instructions of a more definite 
 nature, but the other troops were in motion in 
 the same direction : it was not until twelve 
 o' clock that we were made acquainted with 
 the service on which we were going. 
 
 On reaching the town of Nivells, we were 
 informed of the advance of a large French 
 army, commanded by Napoleon, and that they 
 had been engaged with the Prussians, the day 
 before, at Ligny ; we passed through the town, 
 and halted on an extensive common, and 
 could then distinctly hear the sound of artil- 
 lery. Some commissariat waggons coming up, 
 we received three days' allowance of provisions, 
 consisting of salt beef and ship's biscuit, it 
 being impossible to provide, on the moment, 
 fresh provision for so many. 
 
 We were now ordered to fall in and advance, 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 197 
 
 and we soon heard the firing of musketry, as 
 well as artillery. We were urged forward with 
 the utmost celerity, and about three o'clock, 
 entered the field of battle, at Quatre Bras, 
 notwithstanding our fatigue, having marched 
 about twenty-seven miles, exposed to a burn- 
 ing sun. Our brigade at this time, consisted 
 of the 30th, 33rd, 69th and 73rd, commanded 
 by Major-general Sir Colin Halkett. The 
 ground, for a considerable distance, being 
 covered with rye, and of an extraordinary 
 height, some of it measuring seven feet, pre- 
 vented us from seeing much of the enemy; 
 but, though we could not see them, they were 
 observing us. We continuing to advance, the 
 glittering of the tops of our bayonets, guided 
 towards us a large body of the enemy's cuiras- 
 siers, who, coming so unexpectedly upon us, 
 threw us in the utmost confusion. Having no 
 time to form a square, we were compelled to 
 retire, or rather to run, to the wood through 
 which we had advanced ; and when we rallied, 
 the 69th unfortunately lost their king's colours. 
 We were again led on to the charge, in con- 
 
198 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 junction with the " Black Brunswickers," com- 
 manded by the Duke of Brunswick, and this 
 time we were successful, and drove the enemy, 
 against whom we were pitted, a considerable 
 distance across the plain. In this charge we 
 lost several officers and about thirty men. The 
 brave officer, whom I have before alluded to, 
 on our attack on Merxem, here received a 
 wound of which he soon afterwards died, 
 lamented by all who knew him. 
 
 Not having any enemy immediately before 
 us, at this particular time, we were ordered 
 to lie down, to avoid the shots, which were 
 flying thickly round us The colonel ordered 
 two companies out skirmishing; the light 
 company, and the company to which I be- 
 longed, were detached on this duty, but not 
 together. Our company was unfortunately 
 commanded by a captain, sixty years of age ; 
 who had been upwards of thirty years in the 
 service, but was never before in action. He 
 knew nothing of field movements, and when 
 going through the ordinary evolutions of a 
 parade, the sergeant was obliged to tell him 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 199 
 
 what to say and do. He now led us forward, 
 and we fired a few shots at a portion of the 
 enemy who were within reach. Presently we 
 saw a regiment of cuirassiers making towards 
 us, and he was then at his wits' end, and 
 there is no doubt we should all have been 
 sacrificed, had we not been seen by the ad- 
 jutant of our regiment a fine spirited fellow, 
 who had been our regimental surgeon, but 
 through the interest of the colonel, exchanged 
 to ensign and adjutant. On seeing us in this 
 perilous position, he immediately rode up, and 
 exclaimed, " Captain Robinson, what are you 
 about ? are you going to murder your men ?" 
 He directly ordered us to make the best of 
 our way to the regiment, where we arrived 
 just in time to form square ; and on the cui- 
 rassiers coming up, and finding us so well 
 prepared, they wheeled off to the left, receiving 
 from us a volley as they retired. They then 
 attacked the 42nd, by whom they were again 
 repulsed, and compelled to retire. 
 
 We were no more actively employed; but 
 had an opportunity of looking round, and 
 
200 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 could see the French troops retiring to the 
 wood in their rear. By degrees, the fire 
 slackened, and about eight o'clock ceased 
 altogether, and the field of battle was left in 
 our possession. 
 
 Though it is considered a sort of treason 
 to speak against the Duke, yet, I cannot 
 help making a few observations upon the ex- 
 traordinary fact, that we had neither artillery 
 nor cavalry in the field ; there was a brigade 
 of German artillery, and some few Brunswick 
 horse. The reason given for the absence of 
 our own cavalry and artillery, was, that they 
 were quartered at too "great a distance to be 
 brought up in time. But, should it have 
 been so ? In cantonments, each division 
 should have a portion of cavalry and artil- 
 lery with them, so that they might, upon a 
 small scale, be complete of themselves ; and 
 this arrangement would not at all prevent or 
 impede the concentration of the whole. For- 
 tunately for the Duke, the result was success- 
 ful; had it been otherwise, he would have 
 been deeply censured. 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 201 
 
 As soon as the firing ceased, we piled arms, 
 and lay down among the dead and the dying. 
 Among the occurrences of the day, I may 
 mention the following: On our entrance in 
 the battle, we met a young man, a private of 
 the 92nd regiment, whose arm had been taken 
 off close to the shoulder, by a cannon ball. 
 On passing us, he exclaimed, "Go on, 73rd, 
 give them pepper ! I 've got my Chelsea com- 
 misssion \" Poor fellow ! I should think, from 
 the nature of his wound, he would bleed to 
 death in half an hour, unless he obtained 
 the most prompt and efficient surgical attend- 
 ance, which he was not likely to do, as there 
 were so many wounded waiting their turn to 
 be attended to. I never was struck by a 
 ball; but I have often noticed that those 
 who are, do not always feel it at the time. 
 
 Ensign Deacon, of our regiment, was on 
 my right, close to me, when we were charging 
 the enemy, and a private on my left being 
 killed by a musket-ball, through the temple 
 the officer said, "Who is that, Morris?" I 
 replied, " Sam Shortly ;" and, pointing to the 
 K 5 
 
202 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 officer's arm, where a musket ball had passed 
 through, taking with it a portion of the shirt- 
 sleeve, I said, "You are wounded, Sir. " 
 " God bless me ! so I am, " said he, and 
 dropping his sword, made the best of his 
 way to the rear. After getting his wound 
 dressed, he went in search of his wife, who, 
 with her three children, he had left with the 
 baggage guard. During the whole night, he 
 sought her in vain ; and the exertion he used 
 was more than he could bear, and he was 
 conveyed by the baggage-train to Brussels. 
 
 The poor wife, in the meantime, who had 
 heard from some of the men that her husband 
 was wounded, passed the whole night in 
 searching for him among the wounded, as 
 they passed. At length, she was informed 
 that he had been conveyed to Brussels, and 
 her chief anxiety then, was how to get there. 
 Conveyances, there were none to be got ; and 
 she was in the last state of pregnancy: but, 
 encouraged by the hope of finding her hus- 
 band, she made the best of her way on foot, 
 with her children, exposed to the violence of 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 203 
 
 the terrific storm of thunder, lightning, and 
 rain, which continued unabated, for about 
 ten hours. Faint, exhausted, and wet to the 
 skin, having no other clothes than a black 
 silk dress, and light shawl, yet, she happily 
 surmounted all these difficulties ; reached 
 Brussels on the morning of the 18th, and 
 found her husband in very comfortable quar- 
 ters, where she also was accommodated; and 
 the next day gave birth to a fine girl, which 
 was afterwards christened " Waterloo Deacon." 
 He never joined us again, but went out with 
 his family, to the first battalion, in the East 
 Indies. 
 
 On our last charge, the Duke of Bruns- 
 wick was killed, at the head of his troops. He 
 had been wounded twice before, but would not 
 leave the field. Influenced by feelings of the 
 most deadly hatred to the French, he had 
 clothed his troops in black, with the skull 
 and cross-bones on their caps ; and they were 
 all sworn neither to give nor take quarter 
 from the French. The Duke, and his men 
 too, kept their oaths inviolate ; they fought 
 bravely, and suffered severely. 
 
204 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 During the operations of the afternoon, we 
 suffered much from thirst. There was a 
 stream of water near the wood, in our rear, 
 which would have been sufficient for us, but 
 it was unfortunately rendered useless to the 
 larger number, from the circumstance that 
 a great many of the men who had been killed 
 on its banks, had been thrust into it ; this, 
 however, did not prevent some of the men 
 from filling their canteens with it, though 
 tinged with human blood. In the evening 
 we obtained a plentiful supply of pure water ; 
 and having sent out some pickets to prevent 
 surprise, we sought that repose which we 
 so much needed, after the excessive fatigue 
 of such a long day. 
 
 I was awakened about midnight, and was 
 sitting meditating on the occurrences of the 
 past day, and thinking of the poor fellows we 
 had lost, and wondering whose turn it would 
 be on the morrow. The corn, which had 
 covered the field in the day-time, was now all 
 trodden down, and we had an uninterrupted 
 view across the plain; and such a scene by 
 moonlight, was grand but awful ! Near me, 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 205 
 
 was a group of our officers, with the colonel, 
 who had formed a circle round an officer who 
 had just arrived from England Lieutenant 
 Strahan. 
 
 On his arrival at Ostend, he learned there 
 was a probability of an engagement, and, 
 anxious to have a share in it, he had, by 
 paying liberally, travelled post-haste, and 
 joined us on the field of battle by moonlight, 
 at midnight. He expressed his regret that 
 he had not arrived earlier, to have shared in 
 the glories of the fight. " Oh \" said the 
 colonel, "if you are fond of. such glory, you 
 will have plenty of it to-morrow." " I hope 
 so/' was the reply. The officers drew their 
 cloaks around them, and lay down to obtain 
 some sleep, the newly-arrived lieutenant closing 
 the conversation by observing, " Good night, 
 gentlemen : I hope those French fellows will 
 not give us the slip before morning : I should 
 feel greater disappointment at my delay, if 
 I thought we should not have the opportunity 
 of a brush with them to-morrow !" 
 
 Poor fellow ! how little did he then suppose 
 
206 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 that even long before we should be engaged 
 with the enemy, on the morrow, he would be 
 in his grave ; yet, such was the case. 
 
 About six o' clock, on the morning of the 
 17th, some of the outline sentinels began 
 firing on each other. It was taken up by the 
 pickets, and the whole line was soon in motion, 
 and for a couple of hours were employed in 
 cleaning their arms, and preparing for the 
 renewal of the fight. Only a few of the 
 enemy's advanced posts were to be seen. The 
 main body, we were informed, had during the 
 night been joined by Napoleon, in person, 
 with a very large reinforcement. We, also, 
 had been reinforced, and having now some 
 cavalry and artillery, we assumed rather a 
 formidable appearance, mustering, probably, 
 about twenty thousand men. 
 
 Our first movement, was to retire in line, 
 and the word was given, " Right about face, 
 march \" the muskets, instead of being 
 shouldered as they . generally are, were at the 
 trail, that is, the middle of the firelock is 
 grasped by the right hand, and carried hori- 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 207 
 
 zontally, the muzzle in front ; the officer, who 
 had so recently joined us, was attached to our 
 company. The men were surprised to see him, 
 being most of them asleep when he arrived. 
 He was in the rear before the line changed 
 front, and, instead of going to what then be- 
 came the rear, he merely faced to the right- 
 about, and marched on five or six paces in 
 front of the line. The firelock of the man im- 
 mediately behind him, going off, by accident, 
 the ball entered the officer's back, and passed 
 through his heart ; the surgeon examined, 
 and immediately pronounced him dead. His 
 purse, sword, and epaulettes, were taken care 
 of, the loose earth was removed with swords, a 
 rude grave was formed, the body was placed in 
 it, covered over ; and the line, which had halted 
 when the accident took place, now resumed 
 its march. He, who had travelled with such 
 extraordinary haste in pursuit of honour and 
 glory, died by the hand of one of his own 
 men, and became the inhabitant of a solitary 
 inglorious grave ! Some little enquiry was made, 
 and it appeared the accident had been caused 
 
208 
 
 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 by a portion of the corn, which had, here and 
 there, resumed its upright position, had got 
 entangled with the trigger, and caused the ex- 
 plosion. 
 
 By eleven o'clock, the army commenced its 
 retreat to Waterloo. The reason, we supposed, 
 at the time, was that the enemy had now too 
 great a superiority in numbers, to give us any 
 chance of success ; our retiring therefore, to 
 take up a fresh position, would give us the 
 double advantages of effecting a junction with 
 the whole of our forces, and being near to our 
 supplies. 
 
 Some of the troops retired by the Brussels 
 road, others to all roads to the right and left, 
 as near as possible, on parallel lines of march. 
 We were on the right of the main road, and 
 were urged on with the utmost celerity, as 
 there was no doubt the French would pursue 
 us, as soon as they should discover our retreat. 
 
 The road we took was circuitous, and very 
 fatiguing, having many steep hills to get up. 
 About noon we halted at a small village, for 
 half an hour's rest ; and I had the good for- 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 209 
 
 tune to get my canteen filled with some malt 
 liquor, which had been found in the cellar of 
 a gentleman's house. That it might be got 
 at with the greater facility, the heads of the 
 barrels were driven in, and the liquor running 
 about the floor, the men went in knee-deep 
 and filled their canteens ; and by this mode, a 
 greater number were able to obtain a supply, 
 than if they had waited to draw it off. 
 
 Having resumed our march, the sky sud- 
 denly darkened ; and as we were going over a 
 very high hill, we appeared to be enveloped in 
 clouds, densely charged with the electric fluid. 
 The rain descended literally in torrents. At 
 no great distance, we heard the booming of 
 artillery, and we judged the French advanced 
 parties had overtaken our rear. Our journey 
 hitherto had been up hills, and now we had 
 some very steep hills to descend; and the 
 rapidly accumulating water came down with 
 such inconceivable force, that it was with the 
 utmost difficulty we could keep our feet. 
 
 On emerging from this obscure road to the 
 main road to 1 Brussels, at the village of Ge- 
 
210 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 nappe, the scene was grand, but of the most 
 fearful description. On our right was the 
 rear of our troops, on their way to Waterloo. 
 On the hills, to the left, the main body of 
 the French were rapidly advancing; in Ge- 
 nappe, was a body of the enemy's cuirassiers, 
 whose advance the 7th British hussars vainly 
 endeavoured to check, when the Earl of Ux- 
 bridge brought up the Oxford Blues and the 
 Life Guards, and drove the cuirassiers back. 
 I had an opportunity of witnessing the whole 
 of this affair, as our regiment was in the rear, 
 and I was compelled, at this time, to stop, 
 to remove some gravel which had got into 
 my boots. 
 
 The French flying artillery were close upon 
 us, and their continual discharges, the crack- 
 ing of the thunder, the vivid flashes of light- 
 ning, and the " pelting of the pitiless storm," 
 presented, altogether, a spectacle which few 
 who witnessed will ever forget while living. 
 
 As soon as the troops reached that part of 
 the Brussels road, nearest to the farm-house 
 of La Haye-Sainte, the different brigades 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 211 
 
 filed off to the right or left, to take up their 
 respective positions ; and it was now under- 
 stood that this was to be our battle-field, if 
 the enemy should think proper to engage us. 
 
 Our brigade was placed about midway be- 
 tween La Haye-Sainte and Hugamont; the 
 Foot Guards were on our right ; the whole of 
 the ground was covered with corn, and the 
 soil of so loose a nature, that, owing to the 
 heavy rain, which continued to fall, we were 
 literally knee-deep in mud. We could per- 
 ceive the enemy taking up their position 
 opposite to us, at the distance of about a mile 
 and a-half. Their artillery began to play on 
 us, and did some, but not much, damage. 
 One of their large shot killed two of our light 
 company ; it struck one of them in the cheek, 
 and the other was killed with the wind of the 
 passing ball, as effectually as if he had been 
 struck by it. 
 
 As the storm continued, without any signs 
 of abatement, and the night was setting in, 
 orders were given to pile arms, but no man 
 was on any account to quit his position. Un- 
 
212 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 der such circumstances our prospect of a 
 night's lodging was anything but cheering ; 
 the only provision we had, being the remnant 
 of the salt provision, served out on the 16th. 
 Having disposed of that, we began to consider 
 in what way to pass the night; to lie down 
 was out of the question, and to stand up all 
 night was almost equally so. We endeavoured 
 to light some fires, but the rain soon put them 
 out, and the only plan we could adopt was, to 
 gather arms-full of the standing corn, and, 
 rolling it together, made a sort of mat, on 
 which we placed the knapsack ; and sitting on 
 that, each man holding his blanket over his 
 head to keep off the rain, which was almost 
 needless, as we were so thoroughly drenched : 
 however, this was the plan generally adopted 
 and maintained during the night. 
 
 Some outline pickets were sent out, and we 
 could both see and hear the French, who, 
 regardless of the weather, appeared to be veiy 
 active during the night, in making their 
 arrangements for the next day ; and as sleep 
 was altogether not to be expected, we passed 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 213 
 
 the time in discussing the occurrences of the 
 last two days, and the probable issue of the 
 next day's contest, which we had every reason 
 to suspect would be a most desperate one. 
 
 Our position was an extremely good defen- 
 sive one, and this was not the first time it had 
 been selected as such, for the French army 
 occupied the very same ground, in 1705, when 
 they were attacked and beaten by the con- 
 federate army, under the Duke of Marl- 
 borough; and again, the Prince of Orange, 
 in 1794-5, availed himself of the same position, 
 to cover Brussels against the advancing French 
 Republican forces, but he was driven from it 
 that time by the impetuosity of the enemy : 
 so that, as far as the selection of ground went, 
 we were very favourably circumstanced. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 " But see, the haughty Cuirassiers advance, 
 The dread of Europe and the pride of France ! 
 The war's whole art each private soldier knows, 
 And with a general's love of conquest glows ; 
 Contempt and fury fire their souls by turns, 
 Each nation's glory in each warrior burns, 
 Each fights, as in his arm the important, day, 
 And all the fate of his great monarch lay." 
 
 ABOUT daybreak, on the morning of the 18th, 
 the rain subsided, and we began to light fires 
 with such materials as we could get from the 
 forest,, and with the straw of the corn, which 
 was still standing in considerable quantities. 
 By six o'clock we had a cloudless sky and a 
 powerful sun, under the cheering influence of 
 which, we began to clean our muskets for the 
 coming strife. Having shaved myself and put 
 on a clean shirt, I felt tolerably comfortable, 
 though many around me were complaining 
 much of cramps and agues. 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 215 
 
 I went as far as the farm-house of La Haye- 
 Sainte, and obtained some water, and on re- 
 turning had an excellent view of the arrange- 
 ments made by the antagonist forces. As the 
 morning wore on, brigade-majors and aides-de- 
 camps were riding about, with instructions 
 from the Duke, to each division and brigade, 
 to take up its proper position for the day. 
 
 The Foot Guards were on the right of the 
 line, and a portion of them were detached to 
 occupy and defend the chateau of Hugamont, 
 a post of the utmost importance, as the 
 possession of that by the enemy would have 
 enabled them to turn our right flank; next 
 jthe Guards, was the 33rd and 69th, which 
 formed one square together, then the 30th and 
 our regiment, the 73rd, formed the next 
 square. Sufficient room was of course left 
 between the squares, to enable the troops to 
 deploy into line when necessary. Immediately 
 on our left was a regiment of Dutch infantry ; 
 next to them were other regiments of British 
 infantry. The farm-house was occupied by a 
 strong body of Hanoverians ; the left of our 
 
216 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 line was formed on the other side of the 
 Brussels road, and the whole extended about 
 a mile and a-half. 
 
 Our artillery, which was strong and effective, 
 was very judiciously placed, and did great ex- 
 ecution. A brigade of German artillery formed 
 on the ridge, just in front of our brigade, and 
 was taken on the first advance of the cuiras- 
 siers. Two divisions of the British, and most 
 of the Nassau troops, were placed in the rear, 
 forming another line; and it was supposed 
 that more than ten thousand of these were 
 killed or wounded, without having the oppor- 
 tunity of firing a shot. The Life Guards and 
 Oxford Blues were in the rear of the squares, 
 and B the rest of the cavalry were disposed of 
 in the same way along the lines. The light 
 companies of the different regiments were 
 ordered in front, to co-operate with the 
 Rifles, in skirmishing with the enemy. 
 
 As my brother was going on this duty, we 
 shook hands, not supposing it likely that we 
 should both be preserved through such a battle 
 as this promised to be. EJrom this time we 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 217 
 
 had no opportunity of seeing each other until 
 the close of the action. 
 
 By twelve o'clock the artillery on both sides 
 were busily engaged. Some commissariat 
 waggons came into the field, with a supply of 
 salt provisions and spirits, and two men from 
 each company were sent for them. I was one of 
 these. It was some time before I got our 
 allowance of hollands; and we had scarcely 
 received it, when a cannon-shot went through 
 the cask, and man too. While waiting here, 
 Shaw, the fighting-man, of the Life Guards, 
 was pointed out to me ; and we little thought 
 then, that he was about to acquire such 
 celebrity. He drank a considerable portion 
 of the raw spirit; and, under the influence 
 of that, probably, he soon afterwards left his 
 regiment, and running ' a-muck' at the enemy, 
 was cut down by them as a madman. 
 
 I admire, as much as any man can do, in- 
 dividual acts of bravery, but Shaw certainly 
 falls very far short of my definition of the term 
 hero. The path of duty is the path of safety; 
 and it is quite likely that Shaw, if he had 
 L 
 
218 , RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 remained with his regiment, might have ex- 
 ercised his skill, courage, and stamina, quite 
 as effectively against the foe, without the 
 certainty of losing his own life; and to rush, 
 in such a way, on to certain death, was, in 
 my opinion, as much an act of suicide, as if 
 he had plunged with his horse from the cliffs 
 of Dover. In " union there is strength ;" but 
 if every man were to follow Shaw's example 
 quit his regiment and seek distinction for 
 himself there would be an end to all dis- 
 cipline, and, consequently, to all chance of 
 success. 
 
 I am glad to have it in my power to record 
 acts of heroism, on the part of some of the 
 Life Guards, who were satisfied with doing 
 their duty, without madly throwing their own 
 lives away. 
 
 Having returned to our regiment, and dis- 
 tributed the usual allowance of spirits to the 
 company, I had three canteens full left ; being 
 the allowance for those men who had been 
 placed hors-de-combat. I took an extra drop 
 with my old friend Sergeant Burton ; and he 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 219 
 
 ordered me to keep some to drink together 
 after the battle. I told him, I thought very 
 few of us would live to see the close of that 
 day : when he said " Tom, I'll tell you what it 
 is ; there is no shot made yet for either you or 
 me." 
 
 As the enemy's artillery was taking off 
 a great many of our men, we were ordered to 
 lie down, to avoid the shots as much as possi- 
 ble ; and I took advantage of this circumstance 
 to obtain an hour's sleep, as comfortably 
 as ever I did in my life, though there were at 
 that time upwards of three hundred cannon in 
 full play. But our services were now soon to 
 be required. A considerable number of the 
 French cuirassiers made their appearance, on 
 the rising ground just in our front, took the 
 artillery we had placed there, and came at a 
 gallop down upon us. Their appearance, as 
 an enemy, was certainly enough to inspire a 
 feeling of dread, none of them under six feet; 
 defended by steel helmets and breastplates, made 
 pigeon-breasted to throw off the balls. Their 
 appearance was of such a formidable nature, 
 L 2 
 
220 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 that I thought we could not have the slightest 
 chance with them. They came up rapidly, 
 until within about ten or twelve paces of the 
 square, when our rear ranks poured into them 
 a well-directed fire, which put them into con- 
 fusion, and they retired; the two front ranks, 
 kneeling, then discharged their pieces at them. 
 Some of the cuirassiers fell wounded, and seve- 
 ral were killed ; those of them that were dis- 
 mounted by the death of their horses, imme- 
 diately unclasped their armour to facilitate 
 their escape. The next square to us, was 
 charged at the same time, and were unfortu- 
 nately broken into, and retired in confusion, 
 followed by the cuirassiers; but the Life Guards 
 coming up, the French in their turn, were 
 obliged to retrograde, and the 33rd and 69th 
 resumed their position in square, on our right, 
 and maintained it during the rest of the day. 
 
 The Duke of Wellington came up to us, 
 after this, and while speaking to General Hal- 
 ket, the cuirassiers again advanced. The 
 Duke rode into the square, and we again sent 
 them to the right-about ; and the Horse Guards 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 221 
 
 came out at the intervals, and followed the 
 cuirassiers some distance : but did not then 
 come actually in contact with them. The 
 Duke rode out of the square, and paid a visit 
 to the Guards, on the right, after expressing 
 himself perfectly satisfied with our conduct. 
 My comrade, whom I have already spoken of, 
 as being quartered with me at the village near 
 Soignes, was on my right hand, in the front 
 face of the square in the front rank, kneeling; 
 he had a trifling defect in his speech ; at every 
 charge the cavalry made, he would say " Tom, 
 Tom, here comes the calvary" 
 
 The same body of the enemy, though baffled 
 twice, seemed determined to force a passage 
 through us ; and on their next advance, they 
 brought some artillery-men, turned the cannon 
 in our front upon us, and fired into us with 
 grape-shot, which proved very destructive, 
 making complete lanes though us ; and then 
 the horsemen came up to dash in at the open- 
 ings. But before they reached, we had closed 
 our files, throwing the dead outside, and 
 taking the wounded inside the square; and 
 
222 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 they were again forced to retire. They did 
 not, however, go further than the pieces of 
 cannon waiting there to try the effect of some 
 more grape-shot. We saw the match applied, 
 and again it came thick as hail upon us. On 
 looking round, I saw my left hand man falling 
 backwards, the blood gushing from his left eye ; 
 my poor comrade on my right, also by the same 
 discharge, got a ball through his right thigh, 
 of which he died a few days afterwards. 
 
 Our situation, now, was truly awful; our 
 men were falling by dozens every fire. About 
 this time, also, a large shell fell just in front 
 of us, and while the fuze was burning out, 
 we were wondering how many of us it would 
 destroy. When it burst, about seventeen men 
 were either killed or wounded by it ; the por- 
 tion which came to my share, was a piece of 
 rough cast-iron, about the size of a horse- 
 bean, which took up its lodging in my left 
 cheek ; the blood ran copiously down inside my 
 clothes, and made me rather uncomfortable. 
 Our poor old captain was horribly frightened ; 
 and several times came to me for a drop of 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 223 
 
 something to keep his spirits up. Towards 
 the close of the day, he was cut in two by a 
 cannon shot. 
 
 The next charge the cavalry made, they 
 deliberately walked their horses up to the 
 bayonet's point ; and one of them, leaning 
 over his horse, made a thrust at me with his 
 sword. I could not avoid it, and involuntarily 
 closed my eyes. When I opened them again, 
 my enemy was lying just in front of me, 
 within reach, in the act of thrusting at me. 
 He had been wounded by one of my rear rank 
 men, and whether it was the anguish of the 
 wound, or the chagrin of being defeated, I 
 know not; but he endeavoured to terminate 
 his existence with his own sword : but that 
 being too long for his purpose, he took one 
 of our bayonets, which was lying on the 
 ground, and raising himself up with one hand, 
 he placed the point of the bayonet under his 
 cuirass, and fell on it. 
 
 The cuirassiers now transferred their favours 
 to some other quarter, and left us at liberty to 
 contemplate the havock they had made ; and 
 
224 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 the Duke of Wellington riding by, again ad- 
 dressed our general with, " Well, Halket, how 
 do you get on ?" The general replied, " My 
 Lord, we are dreadfully cut up ; can you not 
 relieve us for a little while?" " Impossible," 
 said the Duke. "Very well, my Lord," said 
 the general; " we '11 'stand till the last man 
 falls !" 
 
 The next time the cuirassiers made their 
 appearance in our front, the Life Guards 
 boldly rode out from our rear to meet them, 
 and in point of numbers, they seemed pretty 
 well matched. The French waited, with the 
 utmost coolness, to receive them, opening their 
 ranks to allow them to ride in. As they were 
 so close, and we had nothing to do at the 
 time, we had a fine opportunity of seeing 
 them, and were much pleased to find the 
 Life Guards so good a match for them ; and 
 we wondered why they had not been led 
 against them earlier in the day. 
 
 It was a fair fight, and the French were 
 fairly beaten and driven off. I noticed one 
 of the Guards, who was attacked by two cui- 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 225 
 
 rassiers, at the same time; he bravely main- 
 tained the unequal conflict for a minute or 
 two, when he disposed of one of them by a 
 deadly thrust in the throat. His combat with 
 the other one lasted about five minutes, when 
 the guardsman struck his opponent a slashing 
 back-handed stroke, and sent Ids helmet some 
 distance, with the head inside it. The horse 
 galloped away with the headless rider, sitting 
 erect in the saddle, the blood spouting out of 
 the arteries like so many fountains. 
 
 Hitherto, we had acted only against cavalry, 
 'but now Napoleon was leading up his infantry, 
 in masses; and as our brigade was literally 
 cut to pieces, the remnant was formed into 
 line four-deep. But the French infantry, that 
 were now advancing, were so overwhelming 
 in numbers, that we were forced to retire; 
 while doing so, General Halket received a 
 musket ball through his cheek, and falling 
 from his horse, was taken to the rear. 
 
 The fire from the French infantry was so 
 tremendous, that our brigade divided, and 
 sought shelter behind some banks ; and I here 
 L 5 
 
RECOLLECTIONS OP 
 
 again met my brother. He had been taken 
 prisoner in the early part of the day, but 
 released himself, and made good his retreat 
 to the square of the Guards, where he remained 
 during one charge of the cavalry, and then he 
 joined his own regiment ; but as his company 
 was in a different face of the square to mine, 
 we had not, till now, had an opportunity of 
 seeing each other. 
 
 The only captain we now had left, invited 
 us from the shelter of the bank, to follow him 
 in an attack on about three thousand of the 
 French infantry. About a dozen of us ac- 
 cepted the invitation; and such was the de- 
 structive fire to which we were opposed, that 
 we had not advanced more than six or seven 
 paces, before every one of the party, except 
 me and my brother, was either killed or 
 wounded. We carried the captain back to 
 the shelter of the bank, where we found our 
 first major, who had not been with us during 
 the day, having been attached to the staff. 
 He ordered the captain to be taken to the 
 rear, and then caused us to be mustered. 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 227 
 
 We numbered two officers and seventy men ; 
 the battalion, when we entered the field the 
 first day, had twenty-nine officers and five 
 hundred and fifty men. My worthy friend, 
 Burton, gave me a hearty slap on the back, 
 and said, "Out with the grog, Tom; did I 
 not tell you there was no shot made for you 
 or me ?" 
 
 At this time, the old French Guard having 
 been driven back, the welcome news spread 
 like wildfire along the line, that the Prussians 
 had arrived; and orders were given for a 
 general charge along the whole line. While 
 we were forming four deep for this purpose, 
 Major Kelly ordered our colours (which had 
 been completely riddled, and almost separated 
 from the staff,) to be taken from the staff, and 
 they were rolled round the body of a trusty 
 sergeant (Weston), with instruction to take 
 them to Brussels for safety, as we no longer 
 had any officer to carry them. We then 
 advanced with the line ; but not far, as the 
 Prussians took upon themselves the task of 
 pursuing the enemy : so we returned to within 
 
228 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 about fifty yards of the spot we had been fight- 
 ing on all day. 
 
 We regretted much the loss of our second 
 Major, McLean, who - had joined us some 
 months before, from the first battalion in the 
 East Indies, where he had been sixteen years. 
 He was a Scotchman, and was most deservedly 
 popular with the men, for his urbanity and 
 humanity. His servant, Duncan Campbell, also 
 a Scotchman, had been with him during the 
 whole of his Indian service, and obtained 
 permission to join the 2nd battalion with the 
 major, and he was killed nearly at the same 
 time with his beloved master. 
 
 Our sergeant-major was a brave soldier, and 
 had been through the whole of the engage- 
 ments in the Peninsula, with the 43rd regi- 
 ment. During the day, when our men were 
 falling so very fast, he turned deadly pale, and 
 said to the colonel " We had nothing like this 
 in Spain, Sir." The worst fault he had, was 
 an inveterate habit of swearing, which he could 
 not avoid, even under these awful circum- 
 stances. Noticing one of the men, named 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 229 
 
 Dent., stooping every now and then, as the 
 shots came whizzing by, he said, " D n you, 
 Sir, what do you stoop for ? You should not 
 stoop, if your head was off \" He had scarcely 
 spoken the word, when a musket-ball struck 
 him full on the nose, killing him on the spot. 
 Dent immediately turned round, and said, 
 " D n you, Sir ; what do you lie there for ? 
 You should not lie down if your head was off !" 
 
 When we were ordered to retire from the 
 French infantry, a young man belonging to 
 us, named Steel, a lad of rare courage, was in 
 the act of firing, when a cannon shot, in roll- 
 ing along the ground, took his foot off at the 
 ankle. He did not fall, but advancing a step 
 on his shattered stump, said, " D n you, I '11 
 serve you out for that !" and fired his piece 
 among the enemy. 
 
 While we were retiring, Sergeant Mure, 
 of the Grenadiers, a very brave and good 
 soldier, in turning round to have a look at 
 the enemy, received a musket ball in the fore- 
 head, and fell on his back, a corpse. A cousin 
 of his, named Morrison, on hearing of his 
 
230 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 death, ran back in the face of a most destruc- 
 tive fire, to where his cousin lay, kissed his 
 cheek, let fall a tear or two, and then joined 
 us again. 
 
 Of one of the officers of the 30th, who, when 
 we were laying together at the village near 
 Soignes, I recollected one of our men observing 
 that " he would be a decent-sized fellow, if 
 his legs were taken off." I thought of the 
 remark, when I saw the officer lying with 
 both legs broke, just below the knees, by a 
 cannon ball. He requested me to cut off his 
 legs, but I had not the heart to do it, though 
 it would have been an act of mercy ; for when 
 I saw him next morning, he was in the same 
 situation, having had no assistance. 
 
 While we had any daylight left, I went 
 among my wounded comrades, rendering all 
 the assistance in my power, binding up some 
 of their wounds, and placing them in more 
 easy positions. All their cry was for " Water " 
 but alas ! we had none to give them ; we were 
 ourselves suffering the most intolerable thirst, 
 from the heat of the weather, the exertion, 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 231 
 
 and the salt provisions. The cries and shrieks 
 of the poor creatures would have been dread- 
 ful in the night, if we could have heard them ; 
 but the continued discharges of the artillery, 
 during the battle, had so affected the drums 
 of the ears, that we could scarcely hear any- 
 thing for two or three days afterwards, but 
 the roaring of cannon. 
 
 We lay on the ground that night. I fell 
 asleep, but awoke again about midnight, almost 
 mad, for want of water, and I made up my 
 mind to go in search of some. By the light 
 of the moon, I picked my way among the bodies 
 of my sleeping, as well as of my dead comrades ; 
 but, the horrors of the scene created such a 
 terror in my mind, that I could not muster 
 courage to go by myself, and was turning back 
 to get my brother along with me, when on 
 passing where a horse was lying dead, on its 
 side, and a man sitting upright with his back 
 against the horse's belly, I thought I heard the 
 man call to me, and the hope that I could 
 render him some assistance, overcame my ter- 
 ror. I went towards him, and placing my 
 
232 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 left hand on his shoulder, intended to lift him 
 up with my right ; my hand, however, passed 
 through his body, and I then saw that both 
 he and his horse had been killed by a cannon 
 ball. 
 
 I now fairly ran back again to my resting- 
 place, and arousing my brother, begged of 
 him to go with me for water. The thought 
 struck us that we might find some among our 
 comrades, who were sleeping around. We 
 came at last to a man named Smith, who, 
 for his foraging propensities, was called " Cos- 
 sack Smith," the man I have before alluded 
 to, as refusing some potatoes to an officer in 
 Germany. Well, on sounding his canteen, 
 we found it full of water, and he was sleeping 
 with his head upon it, and the strap passed 
 round his body. The strap we unbuckled; 
 and gently raising his head, we substituted an 
 empty canteen for the full one, and retired 
 to the spot where we had been previously 
 lying. 
 
 We, between us, emptied the canteen, and 
 flung it from us ; and then laid down and 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 233 
 
 slept till sunrise, when the first sound we heard 
 was Smith, blustering and swearing about the 
 loss of his water ; and threatening, if he knew 
 who had taken it, he would run him through ; 
 and I knew sufficiently of the man, to believe 
 he would do so. In order to satisfy my own 
 conscience about the matter, I offered him a 
 portion of the spirits, out of my canteen ; he 
 took it, but observed, that spirits then was not 
 like water. As he was of a very revengeful 
 disposition, we thought it prudent to keep him 
 in the dark, as to who the thieves were. 
 
 I passed some time, in the morning, in look- 
 ing for my wounded comrade, and not finding 
 him, I was in hopes that he had been conveyed 
 to Brussels; but I was sorry afterwards to 
 learn, that he lay for a day and a night, with- 
 out having his wound dressed, and that, when 
 he was removed to Brussels, mortification had 
 taken place, and he died raving mad. 
 
 Among the list of the killed, on the 18th, 
 was poor Jack Parsons, one of the best-hearted, 
 good-humoured, generous, fellows, that I ever 
 met with. He was a native of Staffordshire, 
 and invariably carried with him, in his knap- 
 
234 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 sack, the last gift of his poor old mother, con- 
 sisting of a piece of bacon, which he preserved 
 with as much care as if it had been the most 
 valuable relic. 
 
 Poor Jack was so fond of drink, that he was 
 always getting into some scrape, and passed a 
 great deal of his time in the guard-room, as a 
 prisoner. His frolics, however, when inebri- 
 ated, were of so perfectly good-humoured and 
 harmless a nature, that he never received any 
 more severe punishment than confinement to 
 the guard-room, with extra guards, drills, and 
 stoppage of grog the last, to him the worst 
 punishment of all. 
 
 When any of the men were to be deprived 
 of their grog, it was generally spilt in the 
 front of the company ; and on one occasion, as 
 the officer was in the act of turning out Jack's 
 allowance from a canteen, the poor fellow cast 
 an anxious glance at the precious liquid, as it 
 trickled on the ground, and adopted the follow- 
 ing expedient, to save, at least a portion of it. 
 Turning his eyes in a direction behind the offi- 
 cer, he said " Here 's the general coming, Sir ;" 
 the officer turned sharply round, to see where, 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 235 
 
 and in the mean time Jack had both hands 
 under the canteen, receiving as much as they 
 would contain, and conveying it to his mouth. 
 The officer could not help laughing at the in- 
 genuity of the trick, and generously returned 
 him the canteen, with a portion of the spirit 
 remaining in it. 
 
 On another occasion, when marching through 
 Germany, we were for some day's without our 
 usual supply of spirits, from the utter inability 
 of the quarter-master to obtain it. Some Ger- 
 man Hussars were marching in the same di- 
 rection with us, and as is usual with them 
 on the line of march, were singing in chorus. 
 Our colonel not being acquainted with the 
 German language, said to an officer, with 
 whom he was riding, " I wonder what they are 
 singing about ?" Jack immediately replied, in 
 the hearing of the colonel, " I know what they 
 are singing about V 3 " Well, Jack," said the 
 colonel, " let 's hear what it is." " Why," said 
 Jack " they are singing 
 
 1 We have got schn-a-a-ps, 
 And the 73rd have got no-o-one.' " 
 
236 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 The hint was not thrown away, for the 
 colonel said, laughing, " Well Jack, we '11 try 
 and get you some schnaps to-night." 
 
 When we were at Antwerp, Jack formed an 
 acquaintance with a very pretty Flemish girl, 
 to whom he became much attached, and she 
 conducted herself with so much propriety, 
 that the officers suffered her to accompany the 
 regiment, as her companionship with Jack had 
 such a beneficial effect on his conduct. 
 
 On the morning of the 18th, at Waterloo, 
 Jack presented himself before his captain, and 
 requested his signature to his last will and 
 testament simply a request that the arrears 
 of pay due to him, might be given to his 
 " Poor Therese." There was such a marked 
 difference in Jack's countenance, that the 
 officer was induced to enquire the reason, and 
 he stated " that during the night, as he lay on 
 the ground, his poor old mother (recently 
 dead) had appeared, and solemnly assured him, 
 that that day would be his last. The captain 
 could not help smiling at his superstitious 
 fears, but, at the same time, assured him that 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 237 
 
 his request should be attended to, if he fell ; 
 Jack then expressed himself satisfied, but the 
 seriousness of his countenance, so unusual to 
 him, exposed him to the raillery of his com- 
 rades. Jack was no coward, and the impres- 
 sion which the dream had left on his mind, 
 did not prevent him doing his duty. When the 
 roll was called at night, Jack was reported 
 " killed." 
 
 A few days afterwards, poor Therese joined 
 us, on our way to Paris, and went nearly 
 distracted at the loss of her " Dear Jack." 
 She continued to journey with us, and the 
 men treated her very kindly. When we 
 reached Paris, and were at camp, at the Bois 
 de Boulogne, some benevolent Parisian ladies 
 interested themselves in her behalf, and obtained 
 for her a comfortable situation, as servant to a 
 respectable family in Passe ; who, being made 
 acquainted with her history, treated her with 
 the utmost kindness. 
 
 A great deal has been said and written, as 
 to the probable result of the battle of the 
 18th, if the Prussians had not arrived ; and, if 
 
238 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 the opinion of so humble an individual as 
 myself can have any weight, I would say, 
 most decidedly, we could have maintained our 
 ground ; nor would it have been possible for 
 the enemy, unless strongly reinforced, to have 
 driven us from our strong defensive position. 
 
 The expected arrival of Marshal Grouchy, to 
 join Napoleon, or of the Prussians, to aid the 
 English, could have made very little difference 
 in the calculation, as they were in view of each 
 other -, and if Grouchy had joined the French, 
 Blucher would not have been far off, so that it 
 could only have given an accession of numbers 
 to each party, without altering their relative 
 position. The non-arrival of Grouchy in the 
 field, is accounted for, by the fact of his being 
 out-generaled by his vigilant antagonist Blu- 
 cher ; who, leaving a portion of his troops to 
 amuse the French general, pushed on the main 
 body of his army to assist the British, at Wa- 
 terloo, according to a previous arrangement, 
 between him and Wellington. 
 
 But while I thus contend we could not have 
 been beaten, I feel bound, at the same time, 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 239 
 
 to admit that the battle was decided by the 
 Prussians; and but for their prompt arrival, 
 and vigorous pursuit of the enemy, Napoleon 
 would probably have fallen back to join Grou- 
 chy, and to have received some reinforcements 
 from France, when he would have been able 
 to resume offensive operations against us. 
 But, even then, he would have had no chance of 
 ultimate success, considering the vast amount 
 of troops that were pouring into France from 
 every direction. 
 
 In the brief description I have given of the 
 battle, my observations have been limited to 
 the brigade in which I was engaged ; but if 
 any of my readers should feel desirous of more 
 copious information, I would beg to refer them 
 to the accounts furnished by a French officer, 
 which may be found in "Kelly's" history of 
 the battle ; which is, in my opinion, the very 
 best narrative of the transactions extant. The 
 only error I can discover in it, is where he 
 attributes the defeat of Marshal Ney, on 
 the 16th, at Quatre Bras, to the vigorous at- 
 tack of the British cavalry, whereas, it is 
 
240 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 notorious that the English had no cavalry at 
 all in the field that day. 
 
 In the forenoon of the 19th, our brigade was 
 ordered to fall in, and the four regiments did 
 not muster more than six hundred men. The 
 general being wounded, the command of the 
 brigade devolved on Colonel Elphinstone, of 
 the 33rd ; and under his command we imme- 
 diately commenced our march over the field 
 of battle, in the track of the enemy. 
 
 In the field itself, it was supposed there 
 were about forty thousand dead bodies of men, 
 and ten thousand horses ; but on our march, 
 this day, for the distance of about twelve miles, 
 the roads were thickly strewn with the dead 
 and dying. But before I go any further, I 
 shall subjoin a list of the number of officers 
 killed and wounded, in the three days; and, 
 as the loss of officers is generally a criterion of 
 the loss of men, it will be seen, that though 
 no mention has been made of us, either in the 
 Duke's despatches, or in the histories of the 
 battle extant, yet it will from that list be seen, 
 that we actually suffered more than any other 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 241 
 
 corps in the field pretty good evidence that 
 we were sharply engaged. 
 
 In the following list, to which I beg to 
 call the reader's attention, it will be found 
 there are only three regiments who lost more 
 officers than the 73rd, and those three, it must 
 be remembered, were first battalions, and, 
 consequently, stronger than us by one-third. 
 If this circumstance is borne in mind, it will 
 then be evident that, our loss was actually 
 greater than any other corps in the battle, 
 either British or Foreign. The 33rd and 42nd 
 are also first battalions, and their loss was the 
 same as ours. The Foot Guards, who have 
 had the most praise for their bravery, it ap- 
 pears, lost sixty-three officers, but then there 
 were five battalions of them, each stronger 
 considerably than our regiments ; so that their 
 loss averages little more than twelve officers to 
 each battalion, and yet, they were reported to 
 have been cut to pieces. But the household 
 troops are most expensive to the nation, and 
 their superior efficiency must therefore be 
 upheld, though at the expense of truth. 
 M 
 
242 
 
 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 LIST OF OFFICERS KILLED AND WOUNDED 
 IN THE THREE DAYS. 
 
 
 i 
 
 5 
 
 Wounded. 
 
 I 
 
 1 st Regt. of Foot Guards . . 
 1st Guards 
 
 2 
 3 
 
 5 
 4 
 
 10 
 12 
 
 15 
 16 
 
 Royal Scots 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 12 
 
 12 
 
 Coldstream Guards 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 3rd Re-t. of Guards . . 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 9 
 
 12 
 
 1st Foot 
 
 3 
 
 8 
 
 13 
 
 21 
 
 4th Foot 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 9 
 
 14th Foot 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 23rd Foot 
 
 1 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 10 
 
 27th Foot 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 13 
 
 15 
 
 28th Foot 
 
 
 1 
 
 17 
 
 18 
 
 30th Foot 
 32nd Foot 
 
 2 
 1 
 
 6 
 1 
 
 13 
 30 
 
 19 
 31 
 
 33i d Foot 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 17 
 
 22 
 
 40th Foot 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 11 
 
 13 
 
 42nd Foot 
 
 
 3 
 
 19 
 
 22 
 
 44th Foot 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 18 
 
 20 
 
 51st Foot .. 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 52nd Foot 
 
 
 1 
 
 8 
 
 9 
 
 69th Foot 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 7 
 
 11 
 
 71st Foot 
 
 
 1 
 
 14 
 
 15 
 
 73rd Foot 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 16 
 
 22 
 
 79th Foot 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 28 
 
 31 
 
 92nd Foot 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 26 
 
 31 
 
 95th Foot 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 16 
 
 17 
 
 95th Foot 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 14 
 
 14 
 
 95th Foot 
 
 3 
 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 4 
 
 4 
 6 
 
 2nd Life Guards 
 
 
 
 1 
 3 
 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 7 
 
 1st Royal Dragoons 
 
 
 4 
 
 9 
 
 13 
 
 2nd or R.N.B. Dragoons. . 
 1st Light Dragoons ...... 
 xnd Light Dragoons . . 
 
 
 
 6 
 3 
 2 
 
 8 
 11 
 5 
 
 14 
 14 
 
 7 
 
 1 1th Li"ht Dragoons 
 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 12th Light Dragoons 
 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 5 
 
 13th Light Dragoons .... 
 16th Light Dragoons .... 
 
 
 1 
 2 
 
 9 
 4 
 
 10 
 6 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 
 
 243 
 
 
 Battalion. 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 6th Dragoons 
 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 3rd Hussars 
 
 
 4 
 
 8 
 
 12 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 7 
 
 7 
 
 10th Hussars 
 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 7 
 
 9 
 
 18th Hussars 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 Royal Regiment Horse 
 Guards (Blue) 
 
 .- 
 
 1 
 4 
 
 4 
 8 
 
 5 
 12 
 
 F. G, L 
 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 Royal Artillery, British 
 Royal Engineers 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 12 
 1 
 
 12 
 1 
 
 Royal Staff Corps 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 M 2 
 
244 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 I think I need not apologize to my readers, 
 for introducing here a portion of Sir Walter 
 Scot's beautiful poem of Waterloo : 
 
 On came the whirlwind like the last 
 
 But fiercest sweep of tempest blast ; 
 
 On came the whirlwind steel gleams broke 
 
 Like lightning through the rolling smoke 
 The war was wak'd anew. 
 
 Three hundred cannon mouths roared loud, 
 
 And from their throats with flash and cloud, 
 Their showers of iron threw. 
 
 Beneath their fire, in full career, 
 
 Rushed on the ponderous Cuirassier ; 
 
 The Lancer couch'd his ruthless spear ; 
 
 And hurrying as to havoc near, 
 The Cohorts' eagle flew. 
 
 In one dark torrent, broad and strong, 
 
 The advancing onset rolled along, 
 
 Forth harbinger 'd by fierce acclaim, 
 
 That from the shroud of smoke and flame 
 
 Peal'd wildly the Imperial name. 
 
 But on the British hearts were lost, 
 
 The terrors of the charging host, 
 
 For not an eye the storm that viewer!, 
 
 Chang'd its proud glance of fortitude ; 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 245 
 
 Nor was one forward footstep staid, 
 
 As dropp'd the dying and the dead. 
 
 Fast as the ranks the thunders tear, 
 
 Fast they renew'd each serried square, 
 
 And on the wounded and the slain, 
 
 Closed their diminished files again, 
 
 Till from their line scarce spears-lengths three, 
 
 Emerging from the smoke they see, 
 
 Helmet, and plume, and panoply ; 
 
 Then wak'd their fire at once ! 
 Each musketeer's revolving knell, 
 As fast, as regularly, fell, 
 As when they practise to display 
 Their discipline on festal day : 
 
 Then down went helm and lance, 
 Down were the eagle banners sent, 
 Down reeling steeds and riders went, 
 Corslets were pierced, and pennons rent ; 
 
 And to augment the fray, 
 WheePd full against their staggering flanks, 
 The English horsemen's foaming ranks, 
 
 Forced their resistless way. 
 Then to the musket knell succeeds 
 The clash of swords the neigh of steeds. 
 As plies the smith his clanging trade, 
 Against the cuirass rang the blade. 
 And while amid their close array, 
 The well-served cannon rent their way ; 
 
246 RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 And while amid their scattered band, 
 Raged the fierce rider's bloody brand, 
 Recoil'd in common rout and fear, 
 Lancer, and Guard, and Cuirassier 
 Horsemen and Foot a mingled host, 
 Their leader fall'n their standard lost 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 " So now the business of the field is o'er, 
 The trumpets sleep, and cannons cease to roar, 
 When every dismal echo is decay'd, 
 And all the thunder of the battle laid." 
 
 ON the 19th, we proceeded about sixteen miles 
 towards France, and entered a town, the name 
 of which I have forgotten. We were billeted 
 on the inhabitants, and obtained from our 
 commissariat a supply of fresh provisions. I 
 here got my wounded cheek dressed, and the 
 piece of iron extracted; I kept it for some 
 time, and intended to have preserved it, as a 
 momento of the battle, but I lost it afterwards 
 at Paris. After a good night's rest, which to 
 us was quite a luxury, we proceeded next day 
 on our march. On entering France, an order 
 was issued, by the Duke, strictly prohibiting 
 
248 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 the British from taking anything from the 
 inhabitants, without paying for it. 
 
 Our progress through France, was of the 
 most rapid nature, as it was important to reach 
 Paris, before the scattered French troops could 
 rally. Our brigade obtained no more Quarters 
 on the road, but were taken, on an average, 
 about thirty miles a-day, which was tolerably 
 good travelling, considering the heat of the 
 weather and the weight we had to carry, viz. 
 musket, accoutrements, knapsack, canteen, 
 camp-kettle, blankets, great coat, haversack, 
 with provisions, and about 120 rounds of ball 
 cartridge; making altogether about GOlbs., 
 which the infantry have each to carry. 
 
 On this march they generally took us as far 
 as we were able to go, and then turned us into 
 a field, or wood, to bivouack for the night, 
 there to remain, like so many sheep, until we 
 were called in the morning to resume the 
 march. It was considered, that a great deal 
 of unnecessary severity was practised towards 
 the men; provost guards were appointed to 
 follow in the rear, and they had orders to flog 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 249 
 
 every man they found behind his regiment, 
 without a written pass from his officer. 
 
 These harassing marches continued from 
 the 19th to the 27th, when we reached the 
 environs of Paris, and opened a communication 
 with Blucher, who had arrived there first, with 
 the Prussian army. It was thought we should 
 still have our work to do, as the strong posts, 
 at Mont Martre, were occupied with a large 
 body of French troops. A summons, however, 
 was sent to the authorities of Paris, requiring 
 them to give up the keys, in three days, or the 
 place would be stormed by the English and 
 Prussian forces. 
 
 The second day was Sunday, and such was 
 the thoughtless, volatile disposition of the 
 Parisians, that every theatre in Paris was 
 literally crammed that evening, by the votaries 
 of pleasure, with the horrors of war suspended 
 over them. The utter hopelessness of any 
 further opposition, induced the ruling powers 
 to surrender, and we entered Paris on the 3rd 
 of July, the British troops marching through, 
 and forming a camp in the Bois de Boulogne* 
 M 5 
 
250 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 No English troops were quartered in Paris; 
 that privilege was reserved for the Prussians. 
 The first week, we had full employment in 
 cutting down trees, fixing tents, and forming 
 parade grounds. We had the pleasure here 
 again to receive our colours, and we were 
 joined by a good many, whose wounds were 
 only of a slight nature. 
 
 I have stated, that on the 1 8th, a man on 
 my left hand, was struck by a ball in the left 
 eye, and fell backwards ; and having thus seen 
 him fall, I, when the roll was called, stated 
 that he was killed; judge then my surprise, 
 when he joined us at Paris ! The ball was still 
 in his head, and could not be extracted; he 
 was not fit for duty, and was sent to England, 
 where he died a few months afterwards. We 
 received here a reinforcement of officers. Our 
 colonel, the present Lord Harris, was badly 
 wounded, and never joined us again. Being 
 joined by a detachment of men from our depot, 
 we began again to assume an appearance of 
 strength. 
 
 The 69th regiment, in order to remove from 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 251 
 
 themselves the disgrace of having lost their 
 king's colour, at Quatre Bras, set their 
 tailors secretly to work and manufactured a 
 new colour, and then contradicted the state- 
 ment of their having lost one. But, unfortu- 
 nately for them, Napoleon, in his dispatches to 
 Paris, had noticed the capture of this colour; 
 and the colour itself was forwarded to Paris 
 and exhibited there. It was a great pity 
 the 69th adopted such a plan, for though it is 
 unfortunate in a regiment to lose its colours, 
 yet, if taken while they are contending with 
 a vastly superior force, as was the case in this 
 instance, it cannot reflect any disgrace on the 
 men. 
 
 We had now a supply of regular canvas 
 tents, quite new, and being regularly arranged 
 in lines, they presented a very pretty appear- 
 ance, and we were visited by thousands of 
 the Parisians, who did not seem to consider it 
 any disgrace, to have a foreign army, at camp, 
 so close to them. The English soldiers were 
 not allowed in Paris at all, except by a written 
 pass, signed by the commanding officer, and 
 
252 RECOLLECTIONS OP 
 
 this was not to be given but tinder special 
 circumstances. 
 
 My brother was on the provost-guard, in 
 the village of Passe, and he had an order to 
 enter Paris. As I had a very strong desire to 
 go also, I contrived to include my name in the 
 pass, with his; and though we were interro- 
 gated by the officer of the guard (Prussians) 
 on entering, the addition was not noticed, and 
 we got in and spent a very comfortable day, 
 examining the palaces and other public build- 
 ings, and drinking during the day about a 
 dozen bottles of wine, for which we paid as 
 many francs ! When night came, and we ought 
 to have been returning to camp, we took it 
 in our heads to go to the theatre, where some 
 of the partizans of Napoleon strove to pick a 
 quarrel with us, and we should have been 
 roughly handled, but for the arrival of some 
 gen-d'armes, who gave us some very good 
 advice, namely, to make the best of our way 
 home ; advice which we thought it would be 
 prudent to follow, as it was getting late, and 
 we were absent without leave. We thought 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 253 
 
 to avoid the patrols, by riding in a hackney 
 coach, as far as the outer gate, but the coach- 
 man refused to take us. We insisted he should, 
 and got in ; the coachman shut the door, and 
 taking out his horses, left us there by ourselves. 
 We were now compelled to make the best of 
 our way on foot ; and in going over one of 
 the bridges, we met a Prussian patrol, who 
 took us prisoners. 
 
 On reaching their guard-room, we were 
 first examined by the officer of the guard, 
 and afterwards by the Commandant of Paris, 
 a Prussian prince. We thought it better 
 to be without a pass, than to exhibit the 
 one we had, so stated we had entered with 
 a pass, but had unfortunately lost it. The 
 prince said, he was sorry to be under the 
 necessity of detaining us till morning. I then 
 requested he would send us to the main-guard, 
 which I recollected had been furnished that 
 day by our own regiment. This he readily 
 complied with ; and sent us directly, under an 
 escort, and we were handed over to the ser- 
 geant of the main-guard ; and lying down on 
 the guard-bed, we soon fell asleep. 
 
254 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 At six o'clock in the morning, the officer 
 of the guard roused us up with his sword, 
 and told us to make the best of our way home, 
 as there was no crime set against us. The 
 Prussians, probably, were not aware of the fact, 
 that an officer, or non-commissioned officer, 
 on guard in the English service, is not bound 
 to detain any man as prisoner more than an 
 hour, unless a written charge is lodged against 
 him ; and our officer, who was friendly to- 
 wards us, took advantage of the circumstance, 
 and set us free. 
 
 My brother, if he could get to Passe, was in 
 no danger; and as soon as I reached the 
 camp, I went to Sergeant Burton, who, I was 
 glad to hear, had not reported my absence : 
 as, he said, he knew I should not get into any 
 scrape. On attending parade that morning, 
 my name, among others, was among the list 
 of promotions ; and the next time I went into 
 Paris, on guard, was as a non-commissioned 
 officer. 
 
 The Bois de Boulogne, in which we were 
 encamped, was, when we first entered, a con- 
 tinuous wood, thickly planted, and extending 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 255 
 
 for miles ; but by the time we had been there 
 a month, so many of the trees had been cut 
 down, for the construction of huts, and for 
 fire-wood, that we had ample space for parade 
 grounds, &c. 
 
 The single men were in the tents, but the 
 married people had huts, in a line parallel 
 with the tents ; and when the boughs of which 
 they were formed, were fresh, they had a very 
 rural, gipsy-like appearance. 
 
 One night, one of these huts occupied by 
 a suttler, being a sort of chandler's shop 
 caught fire, and the flames communicated so 
 rapidly, from one to the other, that within 
 an hour, every hut of that description, on 
 that line, was consumed. The flames, carried 
 by a brisk wind, even penetrated to the tents, 
 which created a great deal of alarm. In- each 
 tent were eighteen men, their arms and ac- 
 coutrements being fastened round the centre 
 pole ; and in each tent, in the cartridge-boxes 
 so hanging, there were not less than two thou- 
 sand ball cartridges; so that when we were 
 awakened by the approach of the flames, we 
 
256 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 were obliged to uproot the tent by main force, 
 carrying it out of the reach of the fire ; and 
 as we did this almost in a state of nudity, it 
 became a matter of some difficulty with us, 
 afterwards, to collect the several portions of 
 our dress and clothing. 
 
 Such a circumstance, occurring in the 
 night, created considerable alarm, not only 
 through the camp, but also in Paris, the fire 
 being strongly reflected in the sky. To pre- 
 vent the recurrence of such fires, no huts were 
 for the future to be erected, within a certain 
 distance of the camp ; and they were then to 
 be built separately. 
 
 About this time, the Duke issued a general 
 order for the whole of the British troops to 
 pass him in review. The day selected was 
 remarkably fine, and presented one of the 
 most imposing spectacles ever witnessed. 
 
 The Duke, on his favourite charger, de- 
 corated, or rather loaded, with the gold and 
 diamond insignia of the whole of the various 
 orders which had been conferred on him, 
 surrounded by the Allied Sovereigns, Princes, 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 257 
 
 Dukes, Generals, and Aide-de-camps, took his 
 position in an open space of ground, near the 
 palace, and the troops marched by in open 
 columns or companies. After passing, we 
 went some distance through the streets of 
 Paris, and then going out of another gate, 
 and passing round the suburbs, came back to 
 the spot we had started from ; and though we 
 had gone, probably, a distance of five miles, 
 we came upon the rear of those who had not 
 yet passed. 
 
 The streets in Paris were densely crowded, 
 and the windows and tops of houses filled with 
 well, but gaudily-dressed females, waving their 
 handkerchiefs, and greeting our troops as they 
 passed with the strongest manifestations of 
 joy. Our regiment was fortunate in passing 
 so soon, as we got back, and were dismissed 
 long before the review terminated. 
 
 In the order-book, next day, the Duke ex- 
 pressed, his perfect satisfaction with the appear- 
 ance of the army. 
 
 The next time I mounted guard in Paris, 
 at the Duke de Berri's establishment ; and I 
 
258 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 had an opportunity of witnessing the removal 
 of the celebrated Group of Horses, of which 
 Napoleon had despoiled the Venetians, and 
 which were now about to be restored. The 
 Horses, which had been placed over the en- 
 trance to the palace, were, with much difficulty 
 and labour, lowered into small waggons or 
 cars, under a strong guard of English and 
 Prussians. 
 
 The Parisians, who had assembled in con- 
 siderable numbers, looked on in gloomy 
 silence; and when the last Horse was safely 
 deposited, one of Napoleon's old veteran's 
 exclaimed, ' ' Now, I have nothing left to give 
 my children, but my eternal hatred of the 
 English !" " And that/' said an English gen- 
 tleman, who was standing by, and understood 
 the language ; ' ' that will do your children no 
 good, and England no harm." 
 
 But their humiliation was not yet complete. 
 The celebrated gallery of pictures, selected by 
 Buonaparte, at the various places he had con- 
 quered, and deposited in the palace of St. 
 Cloud, were claimed by the respective parties 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 259 
 
 from whom they had been plundered, and the 
 restoration of them determined on. I was 
 on duty at the palace of St. Cloud when the 
 removal was going on, and had an opportunity 
 of seeing some of them, but am not connoisseur 
 enough to describe them. 
 
 The satisfaction of Louis, on his restoration, 
 must have been greatly damped by these oc- 
 currences, as well as by the fact, that he was 
 only secure on the throne of his ancestors, so 
 long as he was supported by foreign bayonets. 
 
 In the beginning of September, our camp 
 at the Bois de Boulogne was broken up, and 
 a fresh one formed between the village of St. 
 Cloud and Boulogne, better supplied with 
 water. For several days I was on that dis- 
 agreeable duty a provost-guard, in the village 
 of Boulogne. One night, on perambulating 
 the streets, we met two Hanoverian soldiers, 
 who, on being taken to the guard-room, stated 
 they were servants, and had been on an errand 
 for their masters. This explanation, however, 
 did not serve them ; and one of them was tied 
 to a tree in the yard, and received three or 
 
260 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 four dozen lashes ; as the other one was about 
 being tied up, his master who had by some 
 means heard of his capture arrived, and claim- 
 ing him as his servant, ordered him to be re- 
 leased. " And, pray," said the provost-marshal, 
 ' ' who are you, Sir ?" " I am an officer in 
 the Hanoverian service, bearing His Majesty's 
 commission." "Have you that commission 
 with you ?" said the marshal. " No ; I have 
 not." "Then go about your business, or I 
 shall flog you \" The officer, seeming glad to 
 get away, left his servant, who was imme- 
 diately tied up, and received his allowance. 
 
 Of course, these proceedings were in obedi- 
 ence to orders ; but, they are most disgrace- 
 ful to the service. The non-commissioned 
 officers, who accept the situation of provost- 
 marshal, seldom go back to their own regi- 
 ments, but, generally get promoted in some 
 other corps, where they take especial care, not 
 to mention the particular duty they have been 
 on, or they would be received, in the same way 
 that " Jack Ketch" would probably be, if he 
 were to force himself into any respectable civil 
 society. 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 261 
 
 The troops were ordered one day, for a 
 general parade, to witness the execution of a 
 soldier. I was on guard that morning, and 
 therefore, not present ; but, from a comrade, 
 I learned the following particulars. Three 
 sides of a large square having been formed, by 
 the troops, the prisoner was brought forward 
 by the provost-guard. A coffin was placed 
 near him, and the proceedings of the court- 
 martial having been read over, sentence of 
 death was pronounced, and the man was 
 ordered to prepare for instant execution. The 
 guard, with their loaded muskets, were waiting 
 only for the fatal word, when the officer com- 
 manding, intimated to the prisoner, that the 
 Duke had been graciously pleased to pardon 
 him. This sudden and unexpected announce- 
 ment, had the effect of depriving the poor 
 wretch of his reason, and he left the ground a 
 maniac. For the benefit of such of my readers, 
 as may wish to be informed what crime he 
 had committed, to subject himself to such a 
 sentence, I will relate the following story. 
 
 In the beginning of June, a number of 
 officers and men arrived at Ostend, from vari- 
 
262 RECOLLECTIONS OP 
 
 ous depots, to join their respective regiments. 
 A ship's boat was conveying two officers and 
 twenty men ashore, (they were all in marching 
 order). All were sitting down but one man, 
 and he could not find room. The officer, irri- 
 tated at the man not sitting down when he 
 ordered him, struck him violently with his 
 sword, cutting through his belts, and inflicting 
 a very serious wound on his shoulder ; some of 
 the large veins were divided, and the man lost 
 the use of his arm. 
 
 The soldier, following the advice which was 
 given him, lodged a complaint against the 
 officer, and a general court-martial was held, 
 before whom, he was charged with striking the 
 soldier without provocation. The charge was 
 proved by, at least, a dozen men who were in 
 the boat ; but, when the officer was called on 
 for his defence, he produced the other officer 
 who was with him, who swore, that the man 
 was inciting his comrades to mutiny, that he 
 was very insolent, and that he actually struck 
 the officer first. Full credence being given to 
 this statement, as it was not supposed possible 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 263 
 
 that an officer and a gentleman, would delibe- 
 rately perjure himself, the officer, therefore, 
 was honourably acquitted. The soldier was 
 then brought before another court-martial, 
 and the same evidence being adduced against 
 him, he was found guilty, and sentenced to be 
 shot, subject to the approval of the Duke. 
 The poor fellow was marched, a prisoner, 
 through the country, and when the troops 
 settled at Paris, he was led out to execution, 
 with his wounded arm hanging powerless by 
 his side. His pardon being suddenly an- 
 nounced to him, he was deprived of his reason. 
 The transition was too sudden ; it would 
 have been an act of mercy, to have carried the 
 sentence into effect. The officer who gave 
 evidence against him, was killed at Waterloo. 
 
 Before the final breaking-up of our camp, 
 the sight-loving people of Paris were gratified 
 by the exhibition of a sham fight, upon a large 
 scale, on the ground between Paris and St. 
 Denis. In going through the evolutions, no 
 regard was paid to the nature of the ground ; 
 if we came to a wall, we must surmount it; 
 
264 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 and if we came to a stream of water, we were 
 expected to go through it ; so that by the time 
 the affair was over, the men were so fatigued, 
 that many of them were not able to accompany 
 us home to camp. 
 
 In the month of October, the weather set in 
 very cold, with sharp frost, so that it was not 
 deemed advisable to keep us longer at camp, 
 lying on the cold ground. 
 
 Louis now felt himself tolerably safe, from 
 any further efforts of Napoleon, who was, by 
 this time, approaching St. Helena. May I be 
 excused, for quoting the historical character 
 of Napoleon, as drawn by Mr. Charles Phillips, 
 the late eminent barrister. 
 
 " He is fallen ! We may now pause before 
 that splendid prodigy, which towered amongst 
 us like some ancient ruin, whose frown terri- 
 fied the glance its magnificence attracted. 
 Grand, gloomy, and peculiar, he sat upon the 
 throne, a sceptred hermit, wrapt in the solitude 
 of his awful originality. A mind, bold, in- 
 dependent and decisive ; a will, despotic in its 
 dictates; an energy, that distances expedi- 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 265 
 
 tion, and a conscience pliable to every touch of 
 interest, marked the outline of this extra- 
 ordinary character the most extraordinary, 
 perhaps, that in the annals of this world, ever 
 rose, or reigned, or fell. 
 
 " Flung into life in the midst of a revolution, 
 that quickened every energy of a people who 
 acknowledged no superior, he commenced his 
 career, a stranger by birth, and a scholar by 
 charity ; with no friend but his sword, and no 
 fortune but his talents, he rushed into the 
 lists where rank, and wealth, and genius had 
 arrayed themselves : competition flew from 
 him as from the glance of destiny. He knew 
 no motive but interest he acknowledged no 
 criterion but success he worshipped no god 
 but ambition; and with an eastern devotion, 
 he knelt at the shrine of his idolatry. 
 
 " Subsidiary to this, there was no creed 
 that he did not profess ; there was no opinion 
 that he did not promulgate. In the hope of 
 a dynasty, he upheld the Crescent: for the 
 sake of a divorce, he bowed before the Cross : 
 the orphan of St. Louis, he became the adopted 
 
266 11ECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 child of the Republic; and with a paricidal 
 ingratitude, on the ruins both of the throne 
 and the tribune, he reared the tower of his 
 despotism. A professed catholic, he imprisoned 
 the Pope : a pretended patriot, he impoverish- 
 ed the country : and, in the name of Brutus, 
 he grasped without remorse, wore without 
 shame the diadem of the Caesars ! 
 
 " Through this pantomime of his policy, 
 Fortune played the Clown to his caprices. At 
 his touch, crowns crumbled, beggars reigned, 
 systems vanished : the wildest theories took 
 the colour of his whim; and all that was 
 venerable, and all that was novel, changed 
 places with all the rapidity of a drama. Even 
 apparent defeat assumed the operations of 
 victory. His flight from Egypt confirmed his 
 destiny: ruin, itself, only elevated him to 
 empire. But, if his fortune was great, his 
 genius was transcendent ; decision flashed 
 upon his councils, and it was the same to de- 
 cide and to perform. 
 
 " To inferior intellects, his combinations ap- 
 peared utterly impossible his plans, perfectly 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 267 
 
 impracticable : but in his hands, simplicity 
 marked their developement, and success vin- 
 dicated their adoption. 
 
 " His person partook of the character of 
 his mind : if one never yielded in the cabinet, 
 the other never bent in the field. Nature 
 had no obstacles that he did not surmount 
 space, no opposition that he did not spurn : 
 and whether amid Alpine rocks, Arabian 
 sands, or Polar snows, he seemed proof against 
 peril, and endowed with ubiquity ! The whole 
 continent of Europe trembled at beholding 
 the audacity of his designs, and the miracle 
 of their execution. Scepticism bowed to the 
 prodigies of his performance : romance as- 
 sumed the air of history. Nor was there 
 aught too incredible for belief, or too fanciful 
 for expectation, when the world saw a subal- 
 tern of Corsica waving his imperial flag over 
 her most ancient capitals. All the visions of 
 antiquity became common-place in his con- 
 templation. Kings were his people -Nations 
 were his outposts ; and he disposed of courts, 
 and crowns, and camps, and churches, and 
 N 2 
 
268 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 cabinets, as if they were the titular dignitaries 
 of the chess-board ! 
 
 "Amid all these changes, he stood immu- 
 table as adamant. It mattered little, whether 
 in the field or the drawing-room, with the 
 mob or at the levee ; wearing the Jacobin 
 bonnet or the Iron Crown; banishing a Bra- 
 ganza or espousing a Loraine ; dictating 
 peace on a raft to the Czar of Russia, or con- 
 templating defeat at the gallows at Leipsic 
 he was still the same military despot. Cradled 
 in the camp, he was to the last hour the dar- 
 ling of the army. Of all his soldiers, not 
 one forsook him till affection was useless ; and 
 their first stipulation was the safety of their 
 favourite. They knew well, that if he was 
 lavish of them, he was prodigal of himself; 
 and that if he exposed them to peril, he repaid 
 them with plunder. For the soldier he sub- 
 dued every people to the people he made 
 even pride pay tribute. The victorious veteran 
 glittered with his gains ; and the capital 
 gorgeous with the spoils of art became the 
 miniature metropolis of the universe ! 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 269 
 
 "In this wonderful combination, his affec- 
 tation for literature must not be omitted. 
 The gaoler of the press, he affected the pa- 
 tronage of letters : the proscriber of books, 
 he encouraged philosophy: the persecutor of 
 authors, and the murderer of printers, he yet 
 pretended to the protection of learning ! The 
 assassin of Palm, the silencer of De Stael, 
 and the denouncer of Kotzebue : he was the 
 friend of David, the benefactor of De Lille, 
 and sent his academic prize to the philosopher 
 of England, Sir Humphrey Davy. 
 
 " Such a medley of contradictions, and at 
 the same time, such an individual consistency, 
 were never united in the same character. A 
 royalist, a republican, and an emperor : a 
 Mahometan, a Catholic, and a patron of the 
 Synagogue : a subaltern, and a sovereign : a 
 traitor, and a tyrant : a Christian, and an In- 
 fidel he was, through all his vicissitudes, the 
 same stern, potent, inflexible original the 
 same mysterious incomprehensible self; the 
 man without a model, and without a shadow. 
 
 " His fall, like his life, baffled all specula- 
 
270 RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 tion. In short, his whole history was like a 
 dream to the world ; and no man can tell how 
 or why he was awakened from the reverie. 
 
 " Such is a faint and feeble picture of Na- 
 poleon Buonaparte, the first, and it is to he 
 hoped, the last emperor of the French. That 
 he has done much evil, there is little doubt ; 
 that he has been the origin of much good, 
 there is just as little. 
 
 "Kings may learn from him, that their 
 safest study, as well as their noblest, is the 
 interest of the people. The people are taught 
 by him, that there is no despotism so stupen- 
 dous against which they have no resource. 
 And, to those who would rise upon the ruins 
 of both, he is a living lesson, that if ambition 
 can raise them from the lowest station, it can 
 also prostrate them from the highest." 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 " Now the scene of trouble 's o'er ; 
 And, resting on our native shore, 
 Gay content will sweeter be, 
 Compared with past adversity." 
 
 ON the final breaking up of the camp, some 
 of the regiments took their departure for Eng- 
 land ; others were quartered on the small towns 
 near Paris, and those who were to remain, as 
 the Army of Occupation, were sent to the gar- 
 risons, in which it was intended they should 
 continue. To prevent any further out-break 
 against " Louis le Desire/' as the French King 
 was most inappropriately styled, our regiment 
 was sent to a village called St. Remy, about 
 twenty-five miles from Paris. I had charge 
 of twenty of our men ; and we were quartered 
 at a flour mill, where we were placed in a de- 
 
272 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 tached building, containing a large square 
 room, and kitchen. 
 
 On our first meeting with the proprietor, we 
 found that his feeling towards us was any thing 
 but friendly; nor did he disguise his senti- 
 ments towards us and our country, thinking 
 we did not understand his language. On his 
 denying us wood for firing, a great deal of 
 which he had stacked for his own use, we made 
 free with the branches of his fruit trees, which 
 burned tolerably well; and when the gentle- 
 man found that all his swearing, bouncing, and 
 threatening, was of no use, he kindly informed 
 us that he would provide us with wood from 
 his stack. 
 
 Our duty here was very light, as we had 
 only to furnish a small regimental guard, and 
 a beacon guard; the latter on the top of a 
 very steep hill, thickly studded with trees and 
 bushes, on the sides, but the top presenting a 
 large flat surface, and here the beacon was 
 erected. It consisted of a quantity of dry 
 straw, on which was placed successive layers 
 of dry faggots of wood, to the height of about 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 
 
 twelve or fourteen feet. It was neatly thatch- 
 ed, and presented the appearance of a large 
 beehive, and the guard having charge of this, 
 placed close to it, a sentinel, with strict orders 
 to keep his eye constantly fixed on a hill in 
 the distance, on which another beacon was 
 placed ; and if he saw that one on fire, he was 
 immediately to call out the guard, and the 
 non-commissioned officer was then to fire the 
 one he had charge of, which would have been 
 perceived and answered by some on the other 
 side of us. Any insurrection, or outbreak of 
 the French, would have been thus immediately 
 communicated to the proper authorities* 
 
 During the latter part of* November, and 
 beginning of December, when large quantities 
 of snow descended, and the frost set in in- 
 tensely severe, this guard was certainly the 
 very coldest position I had ever been placed in ; 
 and the journey to and from this place, while 
 the sides of the mountain were covered with 
 snow, was both difficult and dangerous 
 
 About the middle of December, we received 
 the route for England. A day or two before 
 N 5 
 
274 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 we left the mill, one of our men had his mus- 
 ket stolen, and we had pretty good circumstan- 
 tial evidence that the miller himself was the 
 thief. Our commanding officer ordered the 
 place to be searched, but without success j and 
 the man was provided with another firelock, 
 and put under stoppages to pay for it. By way 
 of revenge, the man gained access to the mill, 
 and threw a candle in, which passing between 
 the stones, would subject the owner to very 
 considerable expense, in putting it to rights. 
 
 The night before we left, I found the men 
 very busy in certain operations, which, as a 
 non-commissioned officer, I should have put a 
 stop to, if our landlord had been at all friendly. 
 On our descent from the mountain guard, 
 that day, we caught a hare : that was imme- 
 diately skinned, but not being sufficient for the 
 whole, some of the party paid a visit to where 
 the live rabbits were kept, and obtained about 
 half a dozen of them. The miller was also a 
 farmer, and had a quantity of turkeys about 
 the place ; two of them were pressed into the 
 service, and about half a dozen fowl ; the whole 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 275 
 
 having been stripped and cleaned, were depo- 
 sited in a large copper pan, and kept boiling on 
 the fire, till nearly done, when some vegetables 
 and flour were added. When done, the soup, 
 which was extremely rich and good, was dis- 
 tributed and disposed of, the meat was divided 
 fairly, and placed in the haversacks, for the 
 next day's march. To prevent discovery, the 
 feathers were stuffed inside the hare and rabbit 
 skins, and two of the men undertook to bury 
 them ; but not being able to open the ground, 
 for the frost, they thought it would answer the 
 same purpose, if they threw them in the river 
 close by : but they forgot, that the said river 
 was covered with ice ! 
 
 The next morning we left early, and 
 having proceeded about half way towards Ver- 
 sailles, we halted for refreshment. The mill 
 party brought out their stock of poultry and 
 game, and reserving a sufficient quantity for 
 themselves, they distributed the rest among 
 their comrades ; and it was nearly all put out 
 of sight, when the miller arrived, and, in a 
 towering passion, lodged his complaint before 
 
276 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 the commanding officer. He had magnified his 
 loss to a great extent, and if we had really 
 taken all that he stated we had, it would have 
 required a horse to carry it. He pointed out 
 the men who had been quartered on him, and 
 they were searched ; but only some small por- 
 tions of meat found, which they declared was 
 part of the hare, caught on the mountain side ; 
 so the poor fellow was obliged to return, with- 
 out any redress. 
 
 On reaching Versailles, we were billeted on 
 the inhabitants. I was quartered, with one 
 man, at a tailor's shop, and after depositing 
 our arms and accoutrements, we went for our 
 allowance of bread and meat. On our return, 
 they enquired how long that was to serve us ? 
 and on our answering two days, they expressed 
 astonishment, and the woman said " that 
 quantity of meat, three pounds, would serve 
 their whole family a week." The supply we got 
 was very good, and as the woman was about 
 preparing dinner, it being early in the day, 
 we made her a present of it, on condition 
 we should share with them. 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 277 
 
 Having dressed myself, and put on my side- 
 arms, I took a walk to the Palace, having 
 heard so much about it. I could not gain 
 admittance to the building, but strolled through 
 the grounds, which were certainly very prettily 
 laid out, and in the summer, when the num- 
 berless fountains are in operation, must have 
 an enchanting effect. 
 
 On returning to my quarters, I found an 
 excellent dinner provided; we all sat down 
 together, and during the evening we were on 
 the best of terms with them. They gave us a 
 good bed, and breakfast next morning, with a 
 portion of our own meat, to eat on the road. 
 They had got from it, as much soup as would 
 last them the week. 
 
 Our next day's journey, was to St. Denis, 
 where we mixed with great quantities of 
 Napoleon's disbanded troops. They had not 
 been divested of their arms, and our command- 
 ing officer was afraid something unpleasant 
 would occur, as they were much exasperated 
 against us, and seemed desirous of a cause for 
 quarrel. The day following, we met about two 
 
278 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 thousand of them, unarmed, returning to their 
 respective homes, many of them glad, no 
 doubt, to have the opportunity of doing so. 
 Some of the veterans, as they passed, threw on 
 us a look of bold defiance. 
 
 The road, till we reached Abbeville, was 
 tolerably good, and the weather fine; but, on 
 leaving that celebrated town, there was a 
 change for the worse, and we encountered a 
 bitter north-west wind, bringing upon us 
 abundance of snow, hail, sleet and rain, and 
 the road became all at once very bad. 
 
 I was this day on the baggage-guard, and 
 we had so much difficulty in getting the 
 waggons on, that it was late at night before 
 we reached the village, where the regiment 
 had halted. Having given up my charge, I 
 received a billet, by myself, on a farm-house, 
 about a mile distant, along a wretched bye- 
 road, that was pointed out to me ; and I groped 
 my way, as well as I could, in the dark, for 
 about half an hour, when I came to what I 
 supposed was to be my quarters, and knocking 
 at the gate, I was answered by a dog, which 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 279 
 
 was loose in the yard, and by the sonnd of his 
 voice, I thought would be rather a formidable 
 antagonist. As no one came, I gave another 
 intimation on the gate, of my desire to be 
 admitted, and a lad, who had. been reluctantly 
 forced out, came to see who the intruder was. 
 As soon as he perceived what I was, he ran 
 back frightened, and then, three men came, 
 dressed in blue smock-frocks and armed with 
 thick sticks. I presented to them my billet, 
 and was admitted. Their fears somewhat 
 subsided, when they found I was alone; but 
 this very circumstance made my situation any- 
 thing but pleasant. On entering the room 
 where they had been sitting, there was a 
 cheerful turf fire burning, and some pears 
 roasting before it. A jug of cider was on the 
 table, of which they invited me to partake ; their 
 looks, however, being anything but pleasant. 
 I determined to make myself as comfortable 
 as possible, took off my great coat and ac- 
 coutrements, and exhibited to them the red 
 coat, a colour their country's troops had so 
 often shrunk from. I made a tolerably good 
 
280 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 supper, of bread, butter, roasted pears and 
 cider, and went to the bed pointed out to me, 
 in the room adjoining; where, after fastening 
 the window, and drawing the bedstead against 
 the door, to prevent intrusion, I lay down in 
 my clothes, with my good musket by my side, 
 loaded, and fell asleep. 
 
 On entering the sitting room early next 
 morning, I found only a young woman, pre- 
 paring breakfast. She was rather alarmed at 
 first, but we soon got on good terms, and when 
 the old man and his two sons came in, we 
 breakfasted together; and the doubts and 
 fears of the night were all dispelled. They 
 pestered me with a variety of questions, which 
 my limited knowledge of the French language, 
 made it difficult for me to answer. I could 
 understand, however, that they paid some very 
 flattering compliments, on the bravery of the 
 British troops, who, they said, fought like 
 lions. I have never yet met a Frenchman, 
 who did not admit the valour of English 
 troops, though it is very common for English- 
 men to speak disparagingly of the French ; and 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 281 
 
 this is, to say the least of it, very foolish, for if 
 they were really cowards, there would be the 
 less merit due to us for beating them. The 
 parting with my host and his family, was of 
 the most amicable nature; the sons even ac- 
 companied me, into the village, and waited 
 until our departure, when they shook me 
 cordially by the hand, as they bade me adieu. 
 
 There was no improvement, either in the 
 state of the weather, or in the roads, and our 
 day's march was anything but agreeable. To 
 make it worse, when we reached the village 
 destined for our lodging that night, we found 
 the persons who had been sent on to prepare 
 the billets, had not been able to get them, in 
 consequence of the absence of the burgo- 
 master; and in the whole place, containing 
 upwards of five hundred inhabitants, there was 
 not another individual who could either read 
 or write. It was late that night before we got 
 disposed of. 
 
 The next day there was a great improvement 
 in the weather, and the roads also got better. 
 We were full of spirits, as every day's march 
 brought us nearer to our dear country, and we 
 
282 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 felt as much joy, at the prospect of seeing Old 
 England again, as if we had been absent 
 twenty years j there is indeed a 
 
 " Charm that 's ne'er forgot, 
 
 Which binds man to his native spot." 
 
 One of our sergeants, named Austin, a very 
 respectable, good soldier, having been strongly 
 recommended by the colonel, was surprised, 
 on this day's march, by the reception of a 
 commission, appointing him ensign and ad- 
 jutant to the regiment, the adjutant (Hay), 
 who had been badly wounded twice at Wa- 
 terloo, not being able to join us. 
 
 Our new adjutant received the congratula- 
 tions of both officers and men, by all of whom 
 he was highly esteemed. Until we arrived in 
 England, he performed the duties of adjutant 
 in his sergeant's great coat, with an officer's 
 sword and sash, which he had by him. He 
 continued to perform the duties of that situ- 
 ation until the reduction of the 2nd battalion, 
 when he went on half-pay, and was never 
 again called on service. 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 283 
 
 He resided many years in Kensington, and 
 brought up a large family, in a very creditable 
 manner. He died in 1843, much regretted 
 by his family and friends. A tombstone has 
 been erected to his memory, in Kensington 
 churchyard, bearing the following simple but 
 honest inscription : 
 
 SACRED 
 
 TO THE MEMORY OF 
 
 MR. GEORGE AUSTIN, 
 
 LATE OF HIGH STREET, KENSINGTON. 
 
 IN EARLY LIFE 
 
 HE ENTERED THE ARMY, AND OBTAINED, BY MERIT, 
 A COMMISSION AS 
 
 ENSIGN AND ADJUTANT, 
 
 IN THE 
 
 2ND BATTALION OF THE 73RD REGIMENT. 
 
 MANY WHO KNEW HIM 
 
 CAN BEAR TESTIMONY TO HIS GOOD CONDUCT AS A SOLDIER 
 
 HIS URBANITY AS AN OFFICER; 
 
 HIS KINDNESS AS A HUSBAND ; 
 
 HIS TENDERNESS AND SOLICITUDE AS A PARENT ; 
 
 HIS SINCERITY AS A FRIEND ; 
 AND HIS INTEGRITY AS A MAN. 
 
 HE DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON THE 13lH OF APRIL, 1843, 
 AGED 59. 
 
284 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 Mrs. Austin still resides in Kensington, 
 with a portion of her large family. She was 
 the inseparable companion of her husband, in 
 all his travels, and her conduct was such as 
 to obtain for her the goodwill of both officers 
 and men; and whether as the wife of the 
 sergeant or officer, she was the same kind, 
 intelligent, respectable woman. 
 
 On our last day's journey towards Boulogne, 
 where it was expected we should embark, I 
 was despatched first, to get the billets ready ; 
 and as I was entering the town of Boulogne, 
 I met an aid-de-camp, who instructed me to 
 go on to Calais and get billets, as the shipping 
 provided for us was there. On my reporting 
 myself to the officer in command, at Calais, 
 he said there would be no occasion for billets, 
 as the vessels were waiting for us, and we could 
 immediately go on board. 
 
 On the arrival of the regiment, they were 
 allowed a couple of hours to refresh themselves, 
 and then they were taken on board two small 
 vessels, where there was just sitting room, 
 (no beds), as it was expected we should not 
 be long crossing over to Dover. 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 285 
 
 It was midnight before we had got the bag- 
 gage on board, and by daylight, in the morn- 
 ing, we left the harbour with a fair breeze, to 
 waft us over ; but we had not proceeded far, 
 before the wind changed dead against us, and, 
 instead of getting over in three or four hours, 
 as we expected, we were knocking about all 
 day, first on one tack, and then on another, 
 and the wind very fresh. At last, finding it 
 altogether impossible to reach Dover, and there 
 being strong appearances of an approaching 
 storm, it was deemed advisable to make for 
 the Downs, and we were so fortunate as to 
 reach Kamsgate in safety. The storm raged 
 with fearful violence all night, and next morn- 
 ing, several vessels were lying complete wrecks, 
 just outside the harbour. 
 
 Having got all our people and baggage on 
 shore, we proceeded, on Christmas-day, to Can- 
 terbury, and from thence through Gravesend, 
 crossing the Thames to Tilbury Fort, then 
 through Billericay, Chelmsford, and on to Col- 
 chester. It was Sunday when we were going 
 into the latter place : our depot had been 
 there ever since we left. 
 
286 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 Before we entered the town, it was sug- 
 gested that we ought to be decorated with 
 laurel, and, on passing a gentleman's grounds, 
 where there was plenty of it growing, he was 
 civilly requested to allow us to take some, 
 telling him the purpose for which it was 
 wanted. He not only gave a peremptory re- 
 fusal, but also applied to us the term " vaga- 
 bonds." On the circumstance being reported 
 to our commanding officer, he told us he would 
 halt for half an hour, to allow us to get laurel, 
 and an intimation was pretty plainly given 
 that we might get it at the ground we had just 
 passed. The hint was taken ; and most of 
 the men supplied themselves, not only with 
 a sufficient quantity for their colours and caps, 
 but brought away nearly all there was, and 
 scattered it along the road. 
 
 The inhabitants of Colchester expected us, 
 and came out, in large numbers, to welcome 
 us back; and we passed through the town 
 with the band playing, and the shattered 
 colours, with the word "Waterloo," in large 
 gold letters, flying. We went to the barracks, 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 287 
 
 and had what we much wanted a few days' 
 repose. We had been away just two years 
 and six months, and had seen as nmch active 
 service in that time, as many regiments do 
 in a ten or twenty years' absence. I had it 
 in my power to boast, that during the time we 
 had been away, I had not been absent from 
 the regiment a single day. 
 
 Myself and brother obtained leave to visit 
 London, leaving directions where a letter would 
 find us, if we should be wanted. We found 
 our relatives and friends all well, and received 
 a hearty welcome from our acquaintances. 
 We had only been at home a week, when we 
 received orders to return immediately to Col- 
 chester, as the regiment had orders to proceed 
 to Nottingham, there being, at that time, 
 some disturbances in the manufacturing dis- 
 tricts. 
 
 Once more, then, we left home, and reached 
 Colchester the night before the regiment 
 inarched. Our road lay through Cambridge- 
 shire and Lincolnshire; and the frost break- 
 ing up at the time, made it almost as unplea- 
 
288 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 sant as our journey through France, only, that 
 we obtained better accommodation, and the peo- 
 ple everywhere behaved towards us with the 
 utmost kindness, the word " Waterloo " having 
 a magic influence in our favour. The roads in 
 Lincolnshire were almost impassable, for the 
 floods ; and we were very glad when we reach- 
 ed Nottingham, which was intended to be the 
 head quarters of our regiment ; six companies 
 remaining there, two going on to Dudley, and 
 two to Wolverhampton. My company was 
 ordered to the latter place, and I was sent a 
 day before, to obtain the billets. 
 
 The people at Wolverhampton were all ex- 
 citement, when they heard that part of a Wa- 
 terloo regiment was coming among them ; and 
 as soon as I had announced myself to the con- 
 stable, whose duty it was to prepare the billets, 
 he gave me one on the " Eagle and Child/' a 
 decent public-house, near the old church-yard, 
 and when the news circulated, that one of the 
 Waterloo men was actually there, people flocked 
 in in such numbers, that the house could not 
 accommodate them. Hundreds of them shook 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 289 
 
 hands with me, and if I could have eaten and 
 drank gold, I might have had it. The house 
 was kept open very late that night, and I was 
 obliged to remain, explaining the nature and 
 circumstances of the battle ; and was not sorry 
 when the house closed, and I was suffered to 
 go to bed. The next morning, the house of 
 the constable was beset by publicans, who, in- 
 stead, of striving, as they do in London,, to 
 shift the burden from them, were anxious to 
 have men billeted on them, finding that it 
 would, for a time, bring " grist to the mill/' 
 
 Our two companies, on their arrival, were 
 welcomed into the town, and on receiving 
 their billets, were followed to their respective 
 quarters, and treated liberally; and many of 
 them were too bashful to say when they had 
 enough, so that it was several days before we 
 could get anything like order among them. 
 The captain commanding, was, however, very 
 good, and dispensed with parading until the 
 excitement should subside. He also, and the 
 other officers, were liberally entertained by the 
 
290 RECOLLECTIONS OP 
 
 aristocracy of the place, but unfortunately, 
 they were not Waterloo men. 
 
 Some time afterwards, while lying here, the 
 supply of medals was sent from London, with 
 the names of the men they were intended for 
 engraved on the edge. On the distribution 
 taking place, one of the men, whose name was 
 Hadly, a shoemaker, a native of Oxford, on 
 being called to receive his medal, I put a veto 
 on his receiving it, by informing the captain 
 that the man was my rear-rank man, at Water- 
 loo, and that he ran away to Brussels, and 
 placing his arm in a sling, reported himself 
 wounded ; suspicion was excited ; he was ex- 
 amined, and had not a scratch upon him. He 
 was lodged in the guard-room, and ordered to 
 be marched a prisoner to his regiment; by 
 some means he had been transferred from one 
 guard to another, and the crime for which he 
 had been detained, lost sight of. The captain, 
 having heard my statement, said he should 
 withhold the medal, until the circumstances 
 could be inquired into. The man, ashamed to 
 return to his quarters without his medal, after 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 291 
 
 having boasted of his presence in the field 
 of battle, deserted; he was quickly followed, 
 taken at Oxford among his friends, and was 
 eventually sent to a condemned regiment in 
 Africa for life. A great many of the men 
 were obliged to return to their quarters with- 
 out medals, and explained the circumstances, 
 by stating that their names had been unfor- 
 tunately omitted in the list. 
 
 The latter end of May, 1816, our captain 
 sent for me, and wished (though it was not my 
 turn for duty) that I should go on command, 
 with a deserter, to the Isle of Wight. I, of 
 course, consented ; and was informed that the 
 prisoner was a desperate character, and hav- 
 ing a great many acquaintances among the 
 iron works, in the vicinity of Wednesbury, 
 through which we must pass, it was supposed 
 they would endeavour to rescue him. Next 
 morning, having selected two men to accom- 
 pany me, and received each sixty rounds of 
 ball cartridges, the prisoner was given up to us, 
 and having placed him between the two men, 
 with a strong pair of handcuffs upon him, I 
 o 2 
 
292 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 walked behind. On the road we soon met 
 some of the prisoner's friends, who expressed 
 themselves as follows "Poor fellow; what a 
 shame to take him along handcuffed f and as 
 they increased in numbers, and became very 
 troublesome, wanting to treat the prisoner 
 with spirits, I allowed him to take some ale, 
 with some whom he stated to be related to 
 him. At last, there appeared to be very evident 
 symptoms of an endeavour to get him away. 
 
 As soon as I discovered this, I halted the 
 party ; and addressing the people, informed 
 them that we had a duty to perform, and I 
 hoped they would not interrupt us, as, it could 
 not possibly do the prisoner any good, inas- 
 much as I should immediately shoot him, if 
 they attempted to take him away by force. 
 Finding this to be the case, (and a gentleman 
 residing near there, coming by in his carriage 
 stopping to point out to them the folly of 
 their conduct,) I was suffered to proceed, and 
 got to Birmingham, in safety, when I lodged 
 my prisoner in the prison for the night. 
 
 Calling for him, next morning, we proceeded 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 293 
 
 by easy stages, stopping, at nights, at the fol- 
 lowing towns: Henly-upon-Arden, Stratford- 
 upon-Avon, Shipston-on- Store, Woodstock, 
 Oxford, Abington, Newbery, in Berkshire, 
 Whit church, Winchester, to Southampton. 
 The present destination of the prisoner was 
 the large ship called the Dido, lying off the 
 Isle of Wight, near Cowes. 
 
 The distance from Southampton to Cowes, is 
 about fifteen miles. A man-of-war's boat hap- 
 pening to be near the shore at the time, they 
 were ordered to take us over ; but we had to 
 wait about two hours, till they were ready, and 
 finding they could not take the whole of us, I 
 ordered my two men to get billets, and wait 
 my return, the next day. I then fastened the 
 prisoner's right hand to my left, with the hand- 
 cuffs, and got into the boat. The tars had 
 been drinking rather freely; and as soon as 
 the sails were properly adjusted, measured 
 their length at the bottom of the boat, except 
 the man at the helm. 
 
 The wind was blowing very fresh, and a gen- 
 tleman's yacht, on our starboard side, seemed 
 
294 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 anxious to get ahead of us : this, the coxswain 
 of our boat by no means relished ; and calling 
 one of his men, they spread out every bit of 
 canvass they had, and the boat cut through 
 the water like a shot. The yacht also was put 
 upon her metal, by the owner ; and they made 
 a very pretty race of it. I was afraid our boat 
 would capsize, and took the precaution to re- 
 lease my own wrist from the handcuff, that 
 I might have a chance of escape, if we should 
 be immersed. The race was very strongly 
 contested ; but our boat beat by a quarter of 
 a mile. Having taken in their sails, they 
 rowed me to the prison-ship, and I surrendered 
 my charge, and was not sorry for it. 
 
 While I was waiting on the quarter-deck of 
 the ship, I saw a man on the main-deck 
 whom I thought I knew; and yet, I could 
 scarcely believe it possible that it could be the 
 same. I enquired his name; they said it was 
 Bryan; still I thought I was mistaken. I, 
 however, requested leave to go on the main- 
 deck among the prisoners, and coming sud- 
 denly behind the man I had been observing, 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 295 
 
 I called out, " Is that you, Dean ?" he turned 
 round, and said, " Ah ! Morris ; is that you 1" 
 When we were lying at Courtray, in Belgium, 
 this man was one of our drummers, and was 
 confined in the guard-room for a crime which 
 would have subjected him to corporal punish- 
 ment. Some general visiting us at the time, 
 we had a special parade ordered, and the colonel 
 wishing the regiment to look as efficient and 
 respectable as possible, ordered the prisoners 
 from the guard-room, to take their places, 
 intending that they should be again taken to 
 the guard-room when the parade was over. 
 After the regiment was dismissed, however, 
 Drummer Dean was nowhere to be found: 
 patrols were dispatched in every direction, 
 but no tidings could be heard of him. 
 
 Next day, some of the inhabitants of the 
 town brought his cap, great-coat, sword, belt, 
 and drum, which, according to their state- 
 ment, had been found on the banks of the 
 river Lys, which runs by the town. Some 
 drags were procured, and some considerable 
 time lost in searching for the body, there 
 
296 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 being not the slightest doubt of his having 
 drowned himself, to avoid punishment. It 
 was so reported to the authorities at home ; 
 and he thus prevented his name from appear- 
 ing in the " Hue and Cry" as a deserter, and 
 he was enabled, by some means or other, to 
 effect his escape from the country, and got 
 back to his native place, in Ireland. Being 
 an excellent scholar, he set up as schoolmaster, 
 and got married to a decent young woman; 
 but going to a neighbouring fair, he got drunk, 
 and enlisted in a regiment then lying at 
 Dublin. He had not been there more than 
 a fortnight, when he deserted from them; 
 was soon afterwards taken, tried by a court- 
 martial, and ordered to be sent to a con- 
 demned regiment. He was now on board 
 the Dido, waiting his turn, to go. 
 
 After telling me the circumstances I have 
 just narrated, he begged I would not mention 
 it to the authorities on board, as it would add 
 to his punishment. 
 
 On leaving the Dido, I had to take the 
 receipt they had given me for the man's body, 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 297 
 
 to the barracks, near Newport, to be counter- 
 signed by the commanding officer there ; and 
 I slept at Newport that night. I rose early 
 the next morning, walked to Cowes, obtained 
 a passage by the king's boat to Southampton, 
 joined my two men, and went back by the 
 same easy stages we had come. 
 
 Our journey from Henly to Birmingham, 
 was on the 18th of June, the first anniversary 
 of the Battle of Waterloo. I intended to re- 
 joice a little, as soon as my day's march was 
 over, but on reaching Derritend, the entrance 
 to the to^n, I was informed that the in- 
 habitants had subscribed a sum of money 
 to entertain the Waterloo men, in the bar- 
 racks two troops of the 15th Hussars; and 
 the people got round me, and insisted that I 
 also should go to the banquet. My companions 
 had no medals ; but they belonged to a Wa- 
 terloo regiment, and that was sufficient; so 
 having obtained billets, and deposited our 
 arms and ammunition, we proceeded straight 
 to the barracks, accompanied by two or three 
 hundred people, who exclaimed, as we neared 
 o 5 
 
298 RECOLLECTIONS OP 
 
 the barracks, " Here, we 've got some more 
 Waterloo men !" and we were invited to join 
 in the revelry. 
 
 In the space between the barrack-rooms 
 and the riding-school, tables were spread, for 
 the accommodation of the men. In the officers' 
 mess-room, which was opposite, a grand din- 
 ner was provided, to which many of the gen- 
 try were invited ; and both officers and men 
 kept it np till a late hour. The way in which 
 it was conducted was highly creditable to the 
 subscribers, and the way in which it passed off 
 was equally creditable to the re9ipients. It 
 was late when I left ; and I was then escorted 
 
 by some parties, who insisted on going to my 
 
 
 quarters, to take a parting glass. 
 
 Next morning we returned to Wolverhamp- 
 ton. Some few days afterwards, I had a very 
 narrow escape from a violent death. I was 
 sent for to quiet one of our men, who was 
 drunk and disorderly in his quarters, the "Pied 
 Bull/' in the road leading out to Dudley. 
 On my entering the house, I found the man 
 quarrelling with some colliers, and insisted 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 299 
 
 upon his going to bed immediately, or else 
 I threatened to send him to the guard-room. 
 With the assistance of the landlord, his wife, 
 and servant, I got the man up-stairs, and 
 placed him on his bed, when he took hold 
 of his musket, which was close by, and deli- 
 berately putting the muzzle to my breast, 
 said, " D n you ; I '11 shoot you !" Not sup- 
 posing the piece to be loaded, I gently re- 
 moved it from my breast, when it exploded 
 the ball passing between my arm and my side, 
 lodged in the wall, over the window, where, 
 probably, it still remains. 
 
 As I was acquainted with the man's friends, 
 who were respectable tradespeople in Bir- 
 mingham, I did not confine him, as the punish- 
 ment, under such circumstances, would have 
 been very severe ; but I borrowed a stick from 
 the landlord, and I laboured on him till he 
 fairly cried, and then went to sleep. 
 
 One of our companies, from Nottingham, 
 being sent to do duty at Birmingham, I was 
 ordered to join them. This company was com- 
 manded by the officer, whom I have already 
 
300 RECOLLECTIONS OP 
 
 introduced to the reader, as General Crawford. 
 What became of him during the Battle of 
 Waterloo, I never could learn, but he was not 
 with us ; he had now again dwindled down to 
 a simple captain. 
 
 There happened at this time rather a serious 
 riot in Birmingham, owing to the prevailing 
 distress of the people, many of whom, who, to 
 my knowledge, had been in the habit of earning 
 two and three pounds a week, were then re- 
 duced to the necessity of sweeping the streets, 
 for a shilling a day, and the riot was produced 
 by a tradesman, who had the superintendence 
 of some relief fund, saying that seven shillings 
 per week, was enough for a man and his family 
 to subsist on. The first operation of the 
 mob, was the demolition of his house and 
 furniture. 
 
 The two troops of the 15th Hussars, were in 
 the barracks, and my company was scattered 
 over the town, in quarters. As soon as I 
 heard of the riot, I went round, collected our 
 men, and took them to the captain's quarters, 
 who complimented me, for my alacrity in 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 301 
 
 getting the men together. The idea of having an 
 opportunity of contending with a mob, seemed 
 most congenial to his sentiments. He took us 
 first to the barrack, for a supply of ball-cart- 
 ridge, from the magazine there, and then led 
 us into the town, where the number of rioters 
 had increased to some thousands, and mischief 
 was expected from them. The high constable 
 went with us, and proceeded to read the riot 
 act. On some brickbats and stones being 
 thrown at us, our brave captain gave orders to 
 load, and he then gave direction that we should 
 fire among the mob, when the high constable 
 interposed, and said, t( There was no necessity 
 for that yet," " Then," said our officer, " if I 
 am not allowed to fire, I shall take my men 
 back \" The constable's patriotic answer 
 deserves to be recorded, " Sir," said he " you 
 are called on to aid and assist the civil power, 
 and if you fire on the people, without my per- 
 mission, and death ensues, you will be guilty of 
 murder, and if you go away, without my leave, 
 it will be at your peril." The ofl&cer seemed 
 nettled at the circumstance, but consoled him- 
 
30.2 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 self with the thought, that we should even yet 
 have the privilege of killing a few people. 
 
 About midnight, the rioters retired to their 
 homes ; we were patrolling the streets, with the 
 two troops of Hussars, and took a few pri- 
 soners, whom we conveyed to the prison in 
 Moor Street. Next morning, the rioters as- 
 sembled in large numbers, and the general of 
 the district arriving, special constables were 
 sworn, and dispatches sent off for more troops. 
 After the special constables had been mustered 
 and armed, with staves or staffs, we made a 
 dart at the rioters, and secured about twenty or 
 thirty of the most violent, who were immedi- 
 ately taken before a magistrate and committed 
 to Warwick gaol. 
 
 That the mob contemplated something seri- 
 ous there was no doubt, as a good many iron 
 balls were found in the streets, having spikes 
 in them, to cripple the horses of the Hussars. 
 
 The mob, finding such efficient measures 
 taken against them, began gradually to dis- 
 perse, and though it was considered advisable 
 to patrol the streets again during the night, 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 303 
 
 there was no more disturbance ; and next day, 
 the ebullition subsided, without the loss of life. 
 Had we fired on the people in the first instance, 
 the consequences must have been dreadful. 
 
 The male population of Birmingham con- 
 tains a greater number of old soldiers than 
 any other town in the kingdom, and in war 
 time they furnished double the quantity of 
 recruits of any town in the kingdom; and 
 though they might not have taken part in the 
 riot, there can be no doubt that they would 
 have assisted in taking revenge, for an uncalled- 
 for and wanton attack on the lives of their 
 townsmen. Our officer was ,so pleased with 
 my conduct during this affair, that he made a 
 special report of it, and it was inserted in the 
 orderly book of the regiment. 
 
 At this time, one of the men obtained a 
 pass, to visit his friends, a few miles distant ; 
 and as he became the hero of an incident of a 
 somewhat interesting nature, I shall take the 
 liberty of giving a sketch of his early history, 
 as related to me by himself, when we were on 
 watch together, and pacing the deck of a ves- 
 
304 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 sel, one dark cold night, in November, 1813, 
 crossing the German Ocean, and going with a 
 stiff breeze, at the rate of nine or ten knots 
 an hour. 
 
 The father of Richard Barton, had for many 
 years, occupied a small farm, about midway 
 between the towns of Stafford and Litchfield ; 
 and though they had at no time been rich, 
 they had borne an irreproachable character for 
 honesty, industry, and sobriety, and by the 
 practice of those virtues, they had hitherto ma- 
 naged to keep the " wolf from the door." The 
 only child they had left, was the subject of 
 these remarks; who, as he grew up towards 
 manhood, assisted his father in the manage- 
 ment of their farm. At length, it was their 
 lot to meet some reverses, which led to the 
 breaking-up of their once happy home, and 
 drove the young Richard to the adoption of a 
 military life. Several consecutive bad crops, 
 together with the depression in the market, 
 and a long and painful illness, to which the 
 old man was subjected, threw their affairs 
 into irremediable confusion. The arrears of 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 305 
 
 rent were demanded, by an inexorable landlord; 
 who, on finding them unable to pay, at once 
 despoiled them of all their little property, and 
 drove them forth destitute and friendless. 
 
 As soon as Richard had obtained a tempo- 
 rary shelter for his parents, in a small cottage, 
 he left them, with the view of obtaining some 
 sort of employment, whereby he might be en- 
 abled to support them. On entering the 
 town of Stafford, he was met by a recruiting 
 sergeant, who strove to enlist him by the 
 offer of the ordinary bounty then given. 
 Failing in this, and pleased with Richard's 
 manly appearance, he informed him that he 
 had instructions to provide a substitute for a 
 young opulent farmer, who had been drawn 
 into the Staffordshire militia, and who would 
 give fifty pounds for an able substitute. This 
 large offer, opening to the young man the 
 means of rendering relief to his parents, was 
 accepted. He was sworn in, and on receiving 
 his bounty, retaining only so much as was 
 necessary for his equipment, he forwarded the 
 rest to his parents. 
 
306 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 On his joining the regiment, at Windsor, he 
 received a further bounty of fourteen pounds, 
 to volunteer into the line, ten of which, also, 
 he forwarded to his parents. However accep- 
 table these sums of money might be to the old 
 couple, in their destitute condition, it was with 
 the utmost reluctance they could be induced to 
 use them, considering it as the blood-money of 
 their only child ; and when compelled event- 
 ually to make use of it, they determined to 
 retain only the interest or profit upon it, so 
 that the capital might be available in pur- 
 chasing their son's discharge, on his return to 
 England. 
 
 The old man having regained his health, em- 
 barked in some farming speculations, which 
 proved successful ; and by the death of a rela- 
 tive soon afterwards, he received such an ac- 
 cession of funds, as enabled him to become the 
 proprietor of a very respectable roadside coun- 
 try inn ; and all that was now wanted to make 
 them happy, was the safe return of their " dear 
 boy." 
 
 Young Richard, in the meantime, was 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 307 
 
 knocking about with us, on the Continent. 
 He was fortunately one of the few survivors 
 in the Battle of Waterloo; and, on our re- 
 turn to England, and approaching his native 
 county, he was anxious, once more, to see 
 his parents ; and with this view, as I have 
 already stated, he had obtained a pass. 
 
 On the very day he was journeying home- 
 ward, his parents, hearing of the arrival of 
 the regiment in their vicinity, had left home, 
 to see him. On Richard's arrival at the house 
 of his parents, he was made acquainted with 
 their journey, and its object; and as they 
 could not return till the next day, being 
 fatigued with his march, he obtained some 
 refreshment, and went early to bed, without 
 acquainting the two servant girls of his re- 
 lationship to their master. 
 
 As soon as the old couple had started on 
 their journey, the ostler connected with the 
 establishment, left the house, ostensibly to 
 pass the evening with some companions in 
 the neighbouring village ; and, as he had 
 not returned at the usual hour for closing the 
 
308 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 house, they fastened the doors, and anxiously 
 awaited his arrival. 
 
 About one o'clock in the morning, they 
 were much alarmed at a strange noise in the 
 house, and their suspicion was excited, that 
 the soldier, taking advantage of the loneliness 
 of their situation, was in the act of plundering 
 the premises. Having mustered up sufficient 
 courage to visit his apartment, they found him 
 asleep. They awoke him, and explained the 
 circumstance which induced them to do so. 
 He desired them to retire, while he dressed 
 himself; and having done so, he preceded 
 them down stairs, with his musket loaded and 
 the bayonet fixed. 
 
 On going down, they saw a light and heard 
 some voices proceeding from the bar-parlour, 
 and, on throwing open the door, three men 
 were discovered, one of whom the girls recog- 
 nized as the ostler, though he, as well as the 
 confederates, had blackened their faces. On 
 being thus detected, they armed themselves 
 with knives, but, as the only means of egress 
 was by the door 'the shutters being securely 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 309 
 
 fastened, and the soldier having stationed 
 himself in the doorway, and expressed his 
 determination of shooting the first man that 
 attempted to stir, he managed to keep them 
 at bay, until the girls, whom he sent for assist- 
 ance, returned with the constables, and the 
 prisoners were strongly secured with handcuffs, 
 and conveyed to the cage. 
 
 The next day, at noon, the old people re- 
 turned, and had the happiness, not only to 
 meet their dear son, but to find also, that he 
 had been the means, under Providence, of sav- 
 ing their property, from the grasp of the mid- 
 night robber. As the Assizes were close at 
 hand, and as the soldier was the principal 
 witness, his leave of absence was extended. 
 On the trial of the offenders, their guilt being 
 clearly established, they were severally trans- 
 ported for life. 
 
 In the mean time, the necessary means had 
 been taken to purchase the soldier's discharge: 
 and on his marrying a farmer's daughter, in 
 the neighbourhood, the old people resigned to 
 them the management of the inn, which they 
 
310 RECOLLECTIONS OP 
 
 conducted for many years, with advantage, re- 
 spected by all who knew them ; and there were 
 few persons in the district, who did not feel a 
 sort of pleasure in relating the circumstances 
 attending the Soldier's Return. 
 
 About a month after this, our regiment was 
 removed again, the head quarters being at 
 Chelmsford, and two companies ordered to do 
 duty at Yarmouth. I was detached on this 
 duty, under the command of a Captain Chis- 
 lem. Our road lay through Newport Pagnel 
 and Cambridge. After leaving the latter place, 
 and while on the line of march, a gentleman 
 rode after us, and reported the loss of some 
 silver spoons , which he suspected had been 
 taken by the man, who had been quartered on 
 him. The man, Jeremiah Bates, was searched, 
 and the spoons found in his knapsack. They 
 were restored to the owner. This was the man 
 who had accidentally shot the officer at Quatre 
 Bras, on the morning of the 17th of June. 
 
 Our last stage was from Norwich to Yar- 
 mouth, and for the expedition and novelty of 
 the thing, we were to go by a steam-boat; 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 311 
 
 but when morning came, it being Sunday, 
 such a number had paid for a trip by the 
 steamer, that we could not be accommodated, 
 and were therefore obliged to walk the dis- 
 tance of eighteen miles. We were not sorry 
 for the disappointment next day, when we 
 learned that the boiler of the steamer had 
 burst, and numbers of persons had been muti- 
 lated. 
 
 We remained at Yarmouth several months, 
 in the hospital on the Danes, which was con- 
 verted into barracks for our use, and very 
 pretty, comfortable barracks they were, but 
 very cold in winter. 
 
 Excepting furnishing two small guards, we 
 had no parade or other duty to perform here, 
 and the captain was a good sort of fellow ; in- 
 deed, too much so, for he mixed in so much 
 society, that he over-run the constable, and his 
 own pay being insufficient for him, and being 
 disappointed in a supply of money from his 
 friends, at Derby, he made free with the 
 company 's funds. 
 
 On the shore at Yarmouth, called the Danes, 
 
312 RECOLLECTIONS OP 
 
 (from the circumstance of the Danes having 
 landed there, when they invaded this country,) 
 there was the South Star Battery, of which we 
 furnished the guard of twelve men; and an 
 artillery man had charge of the cannon. 
 
 One night I was the sergeant of this guard, 
 and was informed that a number of smugglers 
 were then landing their contraband cargo, and 
 the artillery man insisted that it was my duty 
 to capture them. Accordingly, I went with 
 ten men, leaving two on sentry. The night 
 was very dark and cold, in the month of Feb- 
 ruary, and as we went towards the sea, we 
 could perceive, between us and the water, a 
 body of men moving about ; on coming near 
 them, one of the party advanced, and said, 
 " I '11 tell you what, gentlemen, you had better 
 have nothing to do with us. We know how 
 many there are of you, and though you have 
 muskets, you have no ammunition," (which 
 was the fact,) " now we have got some bull- 
 dogs (pistols) here, which you won't much 
 relish. So take my advice, go back, and if 
 you stumble over a keg, take it with you." 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 313 
 
 As I found I should really have no chance 
 in contending with them in the dark, we took 
 the advice, and returned to the fort; and I 
 then found the men had actually brought with 
 them a keg of hollands, containing about a 
 couple of gallons, which they made so free with 
 during the night, that when the new guard 
 came next day, my men were in such a state, 
 that I could not think of taking them home 
 with me ; so I left them asleep on the guard- 
 bed, and left directions for them to return 
 to the barracks separately, so as not to be 
 observed. 
 
 It was my duty, on returning to the bar- 
 racks, to go to the room of the officer of the 
 day, and report that I had brought such a 
 guard home; and his duty was to inspect 
 them, and if they were all right, to dismiss 
 them. 
 
 I had no guard with me, but I went to 
 the officer's room (he is now a major in the 
 service, and, therefore, I must not mention 
 his name.) It was well known, at the time, 
 that he was rather too intimate with his ser- 
 
314 RECOLLECTIONS Of 
 
 vant's wife, and she was in his room when I 
 knocked. He called, "Who's there?" I 
 replied, that I had brought the South Star 
 guard home. " Oh ! " said he, ' ' are they 
 all right?" "Yes, Sir." "Well; dismiss 
 them." And I went to my room, glad that I 
 had got over that scrape so easily. 
 
 In the month of May, 1817, the out-com- 
 panies were called in to Chelmsford, and orders 
 came for the reduction of the 2nd battalion ; 
 the men, such as were serviceable, to be sent to 
 the 1st battalion, in the East Indies, at the 
 Island of Ceylon. 
 
 On the appointed day for breaking up our 
 battalion, after parade, the major formed us 
 into a square, and after a very impressive 
 speech, in reference to our past services, the 
 order for the disbandment was read, the 
 colours, under which we had fought so often, 
 were taken from their staff (the men present- 
 ing arms during the ceremony) and carefully 
 placed in a box, and afterwards forwarded to 
 London. There was scarcely a man among us, 
 who did not shed a tear at the separation. 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 315 
 
 Three hundred and eleven men were sent to 
 the Indies, among whom was my brother, who 
 received the appointment of armourer, and 
 remained five years at Ceylon, during which 
 the regiment suffered much from the cholera 
 morbus, and other diseases incidental to the 
 climate. 
 
 On the return of my brother to England, he 
 was apparently worn out, so that they pen- 
 sioned him off; but a few months' residence at 
 home restored his health, and he accepted 
 another appointment, as armourer of the 63rd, 
 and joined them at Hobart Town, Van Die- 
 man's Land, where he remained six years. 
 From thence they went to Fort George, 
 where they stopped three years, then went a 
 considerable distance through the interior of 
 India, where the regiment still remains, and 
 my brother has left three of his eldest children 
 with them. He, however, came home again, 
 and appeared quite an old man. He was again 
 pensioned off, received an additional allowance 
 for his extra service, making in the whole 
 twenty-five years. Though so emaciated when 
 p 2 
 
316 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 he came home, such is the natural strength of 
 his constitution, that in a few months he 
 became as well as ever he was, and his first 
 wife having died on the passage from Van 
 Dieman's Land to India, he has now not 
 only another wife, but also another child. 
 
 When our battalion was reduced, I was sent 
 with a recruiting-party, to Birmingham ; and 
 the first day I beat-up through the town, I was 
 so fortunate as to get sixteen recruits, which I 
 thought a pretty good day's work ; but on tak- 
 ing them before the major, next morning, he 
 laughed at me, and let me into the secret, that 
 out of the sixteen I had enlisted, and on whom 
 I had already spent about three pounds, there 
 was not one fit for service, each of them being 
 about half or three quarters of an inch too short. 
 I went back to my rendezvous, the " Coach 
 and Horses/' in the Bull-ring, and began to 
 consider how I should wipe out the disgrace of 
 having been so easily duped. I soon hit upon 
 a plan, which I thought would answer my pur- 
 pose. I wrote a letter, and signed it with a 
 fictitious commanding officer's name, autho- 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 317 
 
 rising me to enlist men for " general service/' 
 for which I might take them one inch below 
 the standard. I went immediately to the 
 major, and he very much approved of the plan, 
 as "the young men had given him a great deal 
 of trouble, enlisting, and being brought before 
 him by every fresh party who entered the town. 
 A summons was therefore issued, officially, by 
 him, informing them of my special instruction 
 to enlist for general service ; they were thun- 
 der-struck at the circumstance, and I was 
 beset by their relatives, begging to be let off. 
 As my object was to punish them, and get my 
 own money back, I agreed to release them, 
 by the payment of such sums, as I thought 
 their circumstances would allow, and they were 
 so ashamed of the affair, that they never again 
 troubled the recruiting parties, but when we 
 went through the town afterwards, it was said, 
 " Here comes the general service party " 
 
 On my return, from this duty, to the depot, 
 at Chelmsford, I was particularly urged by the 
 officer in command, to extend my time of ser- 
 vice, and join the regiment in India ; but I 
 
318 RECOLLECTIONS OF 
 
 refused, being disappointed in the nature of the 
 service, and having no desire to wear away the 
 best portion of my existence in a subordinate 
 capacity, where the chances of promotion were 
 so precarious, and the reward, at last, so tri- 
 fling. Having only enlisted for seven years, 
 which were drawing to a close, the government 
 sent down my discharge to Chelmsford. Cap- 
 tain Cohen, who commanded the depot, at the 
 time, filled it up, and gave me an extraordinary 
 good character ; and was so sorry to part with 
 me, that he sent a sergeant after me, who over- 
 took me at Ingatestone. His instructions 
 were to treat me liberally, to talk over our 
 battles, and to endeavour, if possible, to enlist 
 me again. 
 
 I could see through the sergeant's inten- 
 tion, which was to get me in a state of intoxi- 
 cation, and then to entrap me. But I turned 
 the tables on him most effectually. I drank 
 freely with him, but stood it better than he 
 did ; so having fairly knocked him up, and had 
 him put to bed, I mounted the first stage that 
 came by, and returned home to London, and 
 
MILITARY SERVICE. 319 
 
 soon, unassisted, attained a respectable position 
 in civil society ; and I have the satisfaction to 
 reflect, that I have served my country, faith- 
 fully and efficiently, during a portion of the 
 most eventful period of its history, without 
 putting it to any expense, beyond my mere 
 pay -while serving. If these recollections 
 should afford any amusement, instruction, or 
 information, and if the publication of them 
 should yield a trifle over the expenses of print- 
 ing, &c. I shall consider myself amply repaid 
 for my trouble ; and I now, most respectfully, 
 bid my readers 
 
 FAREWELL ! 
 
 Brewster, Fruiter, Hand Court, Dowgate. 
 

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