CHAPTER VI.
Newspaper Complaints—Wellington’s Comments—Review of the Portuguese—Gatherings at Head-quarters—Reviews—Recommencement of the March—The Route.Head-quarters, Frenada,May 8, 1813.
Newspaper Complaints—Wellington’s Comments—Review of the Portuguese—Gatherings at Head-quarters—Reviews—Recommencement of the March—The Route.
Head-quarters, Frenada,May 8, 1813.
My dear M——,
Ihave first to thank you for your letter and paper of the 21st, which was most acceptable, as it happened to be, once more, the only paper of that date at head-quarters, and of course the only one which had the accounts from the French papers of Bonaparte’s having left Paris, and of the state of their armies, &c. Finding this to be the case I hastened to read it, and laid it, with three Courts-martial, before Lord Wellington; more particularly, among other things, pointing out to him a malicious letter against him, from Lisbon, stating the discontent of the cavalry officers at having their horses turned over to the Germans, and at its being done by a German officer, &c., and the disgrace at being sent home dismounted. He read it through, and at every sentence of that part relating to the general state of the cavalry, he went on, with a laugh, “a lie!”—“a lie!”—“a lie!” except as to Lieutenant-colonel Sherlock’s being vexed at the regiment being sent home. “That’s very true—all the rest is a lie!”
I think we are still likely to be here for some days. The pontoons are only expected to arrive in this neighbourhood to-morrow, and I have then heard it whispered that we shall not stir until they are on the banks of theriver, or indeed till they are fixed ready. The brigade of heavy artillery, namely, six eighteen-pounders, were encamped about two miles from hence on Thursday, and I went over to see them. The difficulty of transport may be conceived when I tell you that there were above a hundred and sixty of the strongest oxen employed in getting these six pieces, with the appurtenances, along the road, besides spare animals.
The next day the whole proceeded to Almeyda; this, and what I hear about the pontoons, makes me conceive that a part of the army at least will cross the Douro immediately, somewhere in the vicinity of Eschalona; but of course I can only conjecture, and am very much in the dark on the subject. The troops still remain at Lamego, Vizeu, Cea, Coria, Maimento, &c.; the cavalry only round by Oporto, and some of General Hill’s, have moved yet. The Hussar brigade are now all up near us, and the Household troops all in the road on this and the other side of Sabugal. Some of the Blues have been here; they are in fine order. I saw some horses as fat as in England; I hear, however, a much worse account of the Life-Guard horses. Colonel H., of the Blues, says that he does not see why his horses should not continue to be in as good condition as they are now, and look as well through the campaign; the other soldiers here, however, say, “Wait for a little duty and starvation, and then talk; you have done nothing but come up in the best time of the year, in the grass season.”
I dined yesterday at head-quarters, to meet General Graham. He is a very fine old man, but does not indeed look quite fit for this country work; every one seems to think and say the same, and also that he is broken since he was here. It is really to be regretted that such a fine old man should be exposed as he must be. General Picton was also there, and seemed in full vigour. All the great guns come here to pay their respects to head-quarters.Lord Wellington is quite well again; was out hunting on Thursday, and, being kept in by rain all yesterday, is making up for it to-day by persisting in his expedition to the fourth division. He was to set out at seven this morning for the review of General Cole’s division, on a plain beyond Castel Rodrigues, about twenty-eight miles from hence, was to be on the ground about ten, and was to return to dinner to-day by four or five o’clock. This is something like vigour, and yet I think he overdoes it a little; he has, however, a notion that it is exercise which makes head-quarters more healthy than the rest of the army generally is, and that the hounds are one great cause of this.
Monday, May 10th.—The weather is, since yesterday, clearing up again, and is just now perfection—a mild sun, moist ground, and fine, genial, south-west wind: it will soon turn now to heat. I inquire daily about the pontoons, upon which our movement depends, and have now ascertained that they only left Castello Branco three days since, and that a commissariat clerk went yesterday to meet them with fresh animals at Sabugal. They cannot be here, it is clear, before the 13th and 14th, and so says General Picton, who passed the men on the road. If they are then to move on to be fixed, we cannot well stir before the 16th or 17th, and that seems the general opinion here now, though Lord Wellington appears to be impatient about it.
I have now to tell you of a piece of gaiety of mine yesterday. I went to leave a Court-martial with Lord Wellington about twelve o’clock; saw him, and found that he was at two o’clock to set out for another review of the Spanish cavalry of the Conde de Penne Villemur, who have often been mentioned, and were of use in General Hill’s surprise, &c. I had much curiosity to see these gentlemen, and finding, after calling upon the Adjutant-general, that I had only one summons to send out, Iagreed with Lord Aylmer to go with him to this review, ran home, wrote, sent off my summons, dressed, &c., got my black horse equipped in his best also, and at one we set off for Huero, near which the cavalry were ordered to assemble, on the Agueda. It was about twelve or thirteen miles distant, and we got there, riding gently, soon after three, having gone about two miles round, under the guidance of Colonel B——, close to the Quinta de Agueda, a pretty farm and gentleman’s house (so esteemed here), in a wild, park-like scene in the wood. I knew the road well, for it was nearly my way to Guinaldo, but I had no objection to see this Quinta, so took merit for my modesty, but only undertook to be guide home. The meadows were quite green, the woods all coming out in leaf, and the thorn in blossom.
At about a mile from this place we fell in with Lord Wellington and his aides-de-camp, who had got over, in about an hour and twenty minutes, by my road. The party then consisted of Lord Wellington, Lord F. Somerset, Colonel C. Campbell, the Prince of Orange, his aide-de-camp, Lord Aylmer, Colonel B——, and myself; and I assure you the black went neighing about in high spirits, looking very sleek and respectable. On the ground we were met by the Spanish generals O’Donnell and O’Lalor, and found the cavalry drawn up in front of the river in open order, about seven hundred in all. The first and best regiment was that of Algarve, the second was that of Estremadura, and then came on the left a single squadron of partizans, to be the regiment de Gallicia. The two first regiments were tolerably clothed, and some of the men fine-looking fellows, all very fierce in appearance, with their dark faces and black beards, &c. The arms, though not uniform, good enough; the greater part with our cavalry broadsword and carbine, but many with our sailors’ long straight boarding-sword, and no bad weapon either—I should think the best of the two.The helmets—black and steel, or rather bright iron—were serviceable, and seemed to have seen no little service; many, however, were black and brass, belonging to other regiments, of Saguntum, &c.; the belts generally white, at least those of the Algarve regiment, many black in the other. The horses, in general, very small, and some scarcely fit for duty, but for the most part apparently well fed, and in very-fair condition; out of the two one very tolerable set might have been chosen, as good, I understand, as many French regiments have been when here.
The left squadron of Portuguese were queer-looking gentlemen, in dirty brown, blue, and green jackets of all hues and ages; one fellow among them was quite a monster in size, and excited much notice. Lord Wellington quite burst out into a laugh as he passed. After his lordship and his suite had passed in front and in the rear of the whole, as in England, they passed him in troops and saluted. The officers then appeared the worst—they were awkward louts; some did not salute at all, some in a most clumsy manner; but perhaps this was not a custom with them, as they had inquired what was usual with us. They were, many of them, however, round-shouldered, dirty, ill-looking men. Lord Wellington desired them to form once into close column, and then to deploy again, and as there was more room across the river, desired it might be done there. We galloped across, and then the scene of the cavalry passing the ford was very picturesque, as the day was very fine and the mountains and country in great beauty. This was between Huero and Castilegos. They manœuvred thus much very tolerably, that is, the regiment, for the squad of partizans remained behind practising the broadsword. The ground on which the regiments were reviewed was quite a bog.
About five o’clock off went Lord Wellington in agallop across the country home to dinner. We all followed close for about a league, and then, to save our animals, not having fifteen as he has, Lord F. Somerset, Lord Aylmer, General Oswald, and myself went quietly on, and got here about a quarter after seven, I for one much pleased with my trip. The Conde P. Villemur did not command, and, as I understand, has retired in disgust altogether, because there is a commander-in-chief appointed in the cavalry, and he wished to be appointed if there was to be one, or at least not to have any one over him. He was always, it is said, a person who had a will of his own, and did not like to obey orders. These jealousies and quarrels are much to be regretted. The officer who commanded was Monte Major. His aide-de-camp told me that a number of their men were on duty, and that their real numbers were above one thousand.
The review of the fourth division was, I believe, much more satisfactory to Lord Wellington, as everything was in high order—Portuguese and all, about six thousand five hundred; but having so often seen a good English review, I was much more gratified with these Spanish gentlemen. The Life-Guards, &c., are to be inspected to-morrow.
The messenger who was sent off on the 17th to Alicant has returned to-day, and has been round by Cadiz in his return. He makes our loss less—only about three hundred, I hear from the official statement—and that of the French greater: and I was very glad to hear that Whittingham’s men had behaved well, and that General Murray was well satisfied with them. The messenger rode from Cadiz here in three days.
We have here to-day all the grandees—Marshal Beresford, General Alava, Don Julian, General Graham; the latter has been to the review above sixteen miles distant, to see the Household Brigade. They mustered eighthundred and twenty-nine rank and file in the field, that is, Blues and Life-Guards together, and seven hundred and fifty-one horses, and performed very well. The horses of the Blues much the best, some of the Life-Guards’ rather skeletonish. I still fear General Graham is too old for this work; at least he must not act as he did at Barossa. Before the battle, I am told, he stood up to his middle in the water for an hour or more, encouraging the troops to get on, English and Spanish; and jumped off his horse on purpose for the example. It is added, some of the men said, “Come, old corporal, do go and take care of yourself, and get out of our way.”
Lord Wellington was to-day in his full Colonel’s dress uniform of the Blues, and looked very well in it.
Wednesday, 12th, Post-day. Head-Quarters, Frenada.—Still here, and very probably we shall be so for some days. There are symptoms, however, of a move soon, such as the packing of Lord Wellington’s claret, &c. The pontoons are expected the day after to-morrow. The twenty-four-pounders are on their march through Gallicia from Corunna. The eighteen-pounders have passed on by Almeyda from hence. The cavalry near the coast, whom I caught for a Court-martial at Oporto sending every witness from Coimbra, have now in part, I understand, passed Braga. I sent a case yesterday to Lamego, but fear it will be too late, and must be tried on the march: there are so many little delays, however, that I may yet be in time. The difficulties now increase. Lord Wellington and Colonel F—— of the artillery do not agree. Lord Wellington complains much of the heads of that department. He sent B—— home some time since, and I now hear F—— is to go to England, and for the present at least Lieut.-colonel D—— is to have the command. F—— is much of a gentleman, I think; draws, it is said, very well, &c., but has a bad memory, is nervous, and raises difficulties, which I suspectLord Wellington does not encourage, but expects things to be done if possible. I am now told that General Pakenham is to act as Adjutant-general to the army, and supersede Lord Aylmer, the deputy Adjutant-general, but who has acted hitherto as principal. Every one speaks most highly of Pakenham.
Head-Quarters, Frenada, May 15th, 1813. Saturday.—The first division of the Guards and Germans left Vizeu for Lamego three days since. The fifth division have left Lamego, and are marching through the Tras os Montes. The seventh division have left Maimento, I believe, on the same route. The sixth have also left Cea.
When the French, who are still at Salamanca, Arevalo, Avila, Madrid, &c., hear that we have thus crossed the Douro and turned their position, they must either assemble and give battle, which I think they will not do, or they must at once go beyond the Ebro, and then I suppose we shall attack Burgos, and cross after them. However it be, I expect a good long march in the outset. The army, however, on the whole, is in good condition, and never has had so long a repose, or been so regularly clothed. The sick are reduced to nearly seven thousand, and will probably be never much less. A very bad report has been made of the pontoons: they changed the oxen for horses, and these treated them roughly. The day before yesterday so bad a report was made of them, that yesterday, when they reached Sabugal, off went Lord Wellington about twenty-six miles to look at them with his own eyes. I hear he is glad to know the worst, but that is bad. They are made too slight, were old and had new bottoms made for them, but now the sides are very much shaken and decayed. Exaggerated reports have reached us that the tin covering is knocked in holes, and that the wood of the sides may be pinched out by the touch in some places. Lord Wellington may now, however, act accordingly, knowing the worst. They willnot pass this way, it is said, but across by Galegos, a different road from that taken by the heavy guns, the eighteen-pounders. I now think, therefore, that the heavy guns will cross towards Lamego by the bridge, and that the pontoons will be fixed, if at all, further north up the river. We shall probably cross at Zamora, but cannot tell: it is said the bridge is not destroyed there.
On Monday Lord Wellington will review the light division in our front under General Anson—the 43rd, 52nd, 95th, and the Caçadores Portuguese,—a very fine body of men. To-morrow he is to fix his tent in the Praga of Frenada, and will give a dinner to Marshal Beresford, the 16th being the anniversary of the battle of Albuera. To this I am asked, though not a military man, and certainly not present on that fortunate occasion. The town is so full that some encamp; and Captain M——, who is just arrived here, sleeps and dresses in the ante-room of the Adjutant-general’s office, where the printing-press is all day at work, and leaves him a fine perfume of printing-ink at night, besides the full smell from the stables below, through the open floor, which he enjoys almost as much as I do myself here in my quarters. The numbers at head-quarters are so increased that I fear we shall find it very difficult to get quarters when on the march. We have now Lord William Russell and Lord John here, the former on Lord Wellington’s staff, the latter, I believe, as an amateur. We have also Lord March’s brother in the dragoons, and last, but not least, I can assure you, Captain Fitzclarence, an immense young man: he is in the Adjutant-general’s department.
The first division from Vizeu are, it is said, to be at Braganza about the 17th. Great part of the army will be there by the 22nd, and by the same day the second division, under General Hill, from Coria, will be within seven leagues of Salamanca; yet the 52nd, whoto-day are at Nava da Ver in order to attend the review of the light division at Espeja, are to return to Guinaldo.
I have just fallen in with a dozen of the Life Guards, with their brass helmets, &c. I think before they have lived to October they will have a very philosophical idea of a vacuum—one pound of bony, lean beef will occupy but a little of their long stomachs. I suspect our good allies, the Spaniards, will think that we have sent them a regiment of Don Quixotes, and the horses from present appearances may in a little time make no bad Rosinantes. Five or six of these tall, six feet high men were mounted on mules going to Almedia, to get iron; I pitied them to-day as they were bargaining for a bit of dear cheese and some dried chestnuts in the market. They have some spirit, however, and will not enter the staff mounted corps, a new thing, considering it to be a sort of police, and declaring that they would rather be police at home as before than here, if they are to be police at all. This corps of staff horse is to be two hundred, and to be composed of volunteers from all regiments. Officers do not hitherto take to it, but very good-looking men have volunteered in general; none from the hussars, I hear.
Monday Evening, 17th.—The dinner yesterday went off famously, very well managed in the tent, and very comfortable. Lord Wellington was supported by Marshal Beresford and General Sir Lowry Cole on one side, and by General Castanos and Sir T. Graham on the other; and then all the staff of the three Generals, Wimpfen, O’Lalor, Alava, &c., with the aides-de-camp; the Portuguese Quarter-Master-general, and other staff, Lord Aylmer, Lord F. Somerset, Marquis of Worcester, Lord March, and all the heads of departments. Almost all were with stars, medals, Portuguese orders, or something distinguishing. If I were in the American GeneralHarrison’s army, perhaps I might get an honourable mention, like his good friend Charles Walker, the Judge Advocate-general, who was of such use in the corps of spies. Then we had Mr. Joe Kelly, of the Life Guards a famous singer, whom I recognised as having heard at Shrewsbury races, and he gave us some good songs; and we “hip! hip! hipped!” &c., to the grandees. I was much entertained at the etiquette observed between the Marshal and General Castanos, who should go into the tent first: at last they went in side by side, as other great men have before determined that knotty point. Castanos seems very easy and good-humoured, and willing to give way, and even to have a little fun, but he is very old. All the fashionables were at the review this morning near Espeja, and a very fine sight it was. Between five and six thousand of theéliteof ours, and of the Portuguese troops; the line near three-quarters of a mile long, two deep, and they marched in line near half a mile over rough and smooth, and then changed their front three times, and at last passed in review admirably. The German hussars, commanded by Colonel Arentsfchild, were on the right, in excellent style, and beyond them a brigade of artillery: the day was beautiful, and the scene upon the whole very striking. Lord Wellington is indefatigable. He goes six leagues to-morrow another way to Friexada, to review the English hussars, the 10th, &c. He looks, I think, a little fagged and anxious.
Guinaldo, May 18th.—On my arrival here at eleven o’clock to attend the Court-martial, I found the President, General Vandeleur, had stayed with Lord Wellington to go over to the review, and had sent an order for the Court to assemble to-morrow, the 19th, instead of to-day, of which he had forgotten to give me any notice. If we march on Thursday I shall be at my wit’s end, and it is so provoking to lose a whole day thus, just at such a moment. He is so hospitable, civil, and good-humoured,that, though very much inconvenienced, I cannot be angry.
The fourth division march from Escuao to-day. The light will, I suppose, move with us. The second division are now moving along the Sierras de Francia, the mountains in sight of us here. This air must be aguish; five of the officers and a great number of the men of the 52nd, though such fine-looking fellows, are attacked by the ague when doing no work, and in fine weather. At Frenada most of the sickness was among the natives.
Lord Wellington, at the review yesterday, was on one of his new purchases from General L. C. Stewart. He gave four hundred guineas for the two, and for this two hundred and fifty—a gentleman who has gained some plates in England, and has a name. It is a very pretty animal, but is as troublesome in regard to neighing as my black. They were answering each other all the morning. Indeed this neighing gives quite a character to a Spanish review—it is heard more than the trumpets. I met in my way here about twenty Spanish grenadiers, who, I understand, were part of a treasure escort. They were very fine men, and were well clothed. Individually they greatly surpass the Portuguese in appearance: tall, straight, well-limbed, and with good young countenances. As to their discipline, or how they will stand, I cannot say; but such men can only want good officers to do anything. In the review yesterday, besides the two regiments of Caçadores Portuguese, there was the 17th of the line Portuguese: they really marched and went through the evolutions very nearly as well as our own men. The men, however, are naturally mean, shabby men in general, like the pictures of the Queen’s family at Frogmore, which you must remember. The officers look much better than those of the Spaniards, and seem most of them to know more of their duty. The Spanish men, as men, independent of discipline, are wonderfully superiorto the Portuguese; and yet we have seen, from want of that knowledge of acting in a mass, and total mistrust of their leaders, how inferior they have hitherto been.
The Portuguese people, though they do not talk so well as the Spaniards, or look so well, have shown much more practical spirit. When the French passed through the Spanish towns or villages, the alcalde went to meet them, the people remained quiet, submitted to the exactions, and the French in general treated them tolerably well in consequence, for they thus got food and forage. In the Portuguese villages, on the contrary, when the French last entered Portugal, almost every inhabitant sacrificed his house and property, and fled, according to orders; and thus it was that the French were so plagued and puzzled for food, and provoked to destroy the houses as they did.
May 19th, Six o’clock, evening, Head-Quarters, Frenada.—Just returned from Guinaldo in time for the post. My Court met at twelve. We tried the man by one o’clock. I wrote the proceedings fair, got them signed, and here I am, very hungry, and find that every one has dined, for Lord Wellington began to-day to dine at three o’clock, instead of eight. We do not march to-morrow, perhaps not till Saturday.
Frenada, May 21st, 1813, Friday.—At last, to-morrow morning we all break up for the march. I go, as a civil department, by the route enclosed; I shall, therefore, see nothing of the greater part of head-quarters for a fortnight. Dr. M’Gregor goes my way; but who else I know not. Indeed Dr. M’Gregor wishes to go to Oporto, and perhaps I may have the whole road nearly to myself. I am told that the road is pleasant; at least it is new all beyond Almeida. The light division is to march to-day. The second are not far from Tamames by this time. Tamames is, I believe, the military head-quarters on the second day’s march, the 23rd. The fourth divisionpassed the Douro, I believe, yesterday; the others have already done so, and in two or three days the main body of the army will be at Braganza, Outeiro, and Miranda de Duero; and the light and second divisions and head-quarters on this side of the Douro.
Some of Hamilton’s Portuguese in the second division are so ill supplied, that Lord Wellington has, it is said, threatened the Marshal to send them in the rear if they be not better clothed and fed. He says he would rather be without two or three battalions, than have them in such a state as these are. Indeed, he seems either not quite to trust the Portuguese, or they cannot be supplied; for he leaves a full battalion, I hear, at Abrantes, and one or two elsewhere, saying he has Portuguese enough in proportion. He seems in good spirits, but looks worn and anxious. The pontoons have crossed the Douro, so now I do not know where they are to be laid down, unless to let the second and light divisions and head-quarters pass over, whenever necessary, or to bring over the others, if the French should collect.
The French have hitherto always judged of the situation of the main body of the army by that of head-quarters: they were thus twice taken in last year. Before the siege of Badajoz, Lord Wellington had moved away nearly the whole of the army before he stirred, and the whole of the head-quarters were not protected against two thousand men. This deceived the French then, and I hope will now, but they are on the alert; at Salamanca constantly on thequi vive, and ready for a run, &c. The Commissary here has already trusted a man with money to go and collect forage, &c., at Salamanca, before the French are gone. Everything is now alive. General Graham, I believe, commands at Miranda de Duero, or at least will very soon. General Picton has the ague, and is too ill to take the command of this division yet, but remains with it. I thought him looking very well;but there is something in this climate which does not suit the English at all, even when quiet and living well. The natives have their annual ague fit, and seem to think it a part of their existence: they are rather unhappy when it does not come as usual. Lord Wellington’s cars with the heavy baggage are off.
Frenada, May 20th, 1813.—Route for the head-quarters of the army.
The military department will move on the 22nd instant to Ciudad Rodrigo.
The Civil Department.
G. Murray, Q. M. G.
To the Commandant ofHead-Quarters.