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and from being weakened by the diversity of objects, and the heterogeneous cast of the allies, and of the mercenaries who acted with them. Hence, the failure before Dunkirk, the secession of their allies the Prussians, and the severity of the winter in 1794-5, occasioned the loss of Holland. Good-will, honour, and courage, are the principal qualifications in a soldier, and these are eminently conspicuous among the British; military ardour is greater in them than in the troops of any other service; but, connection and interest with ministers, added to the necessity of raising money to defray the expences of the different departments of the state, are the principal means of promotion; they are not, however, always the most equitable. The British soldier unites with the necessary physical qualifications a natural courage, which is superior to that of all other nations; he neither requires brandy nor self-conceit to make him brave; his courage is innate; it is national instinct. Military discipline, which is extremely severe in the king's ships, must necessarily be still more rigorous among the troops on shore, on account of the many opportunities which constantly occur, and the various facilities they possess of giving way to disorder; their natural spirit of independence, their general indifference about death, and the want of reflection, so common to men who have devoted themselves to a military life, during the remainder of their days, in the hope of being exempt from cares, or of satisfying their appetites, all require that discipline should be extremely strict. In England every thing depends upon the Commander-in-Chief for the time being; discipline, as well as the whole military system, depends upon him who commands. A man of genius will discover in the English army, the elements of the best soldiers in Europe, provided he knows how to avail himself of the intrepidity of the privates, the good-will of the officers, and to surmount the inconveniences arising from a manifest defect in the system. When we allow that the English officers are men of greater information than all other European officers, because, in general, education is more carefully attended to in England than elsewhere; that they are more attached to their professions, and follow it rather from generous motives, and a military spirit, than like mercenaries, from interested views; it must, nevertheless, always be acknowledged that they want experience. The English cavalry, from the beauty, the goodness, and the size of its horses, and the excellence of their equipment, as well as from the boldness and temper of the riders, is a magnificent establishment. In a charge it is more formidable than any other;

but the advantage which English horses derive from their speed, deprives the cavalry of the facility of turning. After a charge, an English squadron requires more time than any other to form again. The rider, carried away by the swiftness of his horse, is unable to manage him with ease and readiness; and whatever the English may think on this head, he is less firm on a flat saddle than those horsemen who have low saddles. The English Dragoon is too much taken up with his horse, and manages him with too much difficulty to enable him to act against the enemy with sufficient ease. A simple private in the English cavalry is as well armed, and his horse as well caparisoned, as the officers and their horses are in other services.

The English artillery is superior to all others in the choice of men; their cannoneers are well instructed, and yield to none in courage and dexterity. The pay of the English troops is higher than that of any other service, even in proportion to the dearness of provisions. Their maintenance, and their interior economy, are magnificent and luxurious to a high degree; they want nothing but able leaders, who may know how to avoid, or overcome those. circumstances that are disadvantageous to them, to make them the best, as they are the finest troops in Europe, because in them, more than in any others, is to be found that native valour which is the first element of a soldier.

Correspondence from the Theatre of War in the Peninsula.

[Continued from page 472.]

Camp, Castraveitta, 18th June, about 3 leagues N. E. of Medina.-WE left Medina this morning, and on our way passed a salt manufactory at Salina Rossiit is a saline spring, and produces about 3000 pounds annually of salt. The country continues to exhibit beautiful variety; plenty of clean neat villages, but either the inhabitants have fled or they are not populous: the rocky mountains are wooded to the tops, and the vallies, altogether, put one in mind of our dear own country, particularly when they tinkled the village church bells as we passed. We seem to be marching on the left flank of the enemy, and to bend our course towards the Bayonne road; there are what we call sheaves, that is, reports flying about of our quitting their rear-guard, and on the plunder of their army, for I find king Joseph completely rifled Madrid; now if we can intercept that part of his line, we shall do well, and as I conceive they are tripping away to France as quick as they can, it will be all we can do. You may imagine we are looking for news from the Elbe, and from England. Our march has been astonishing, and altogether famously conducted; and our army is now fitter for the field than before we had marched 300 miles: our animals, to be sure, are rather thin.

19th June, 8 o'clock.-We are to halt here this day; at present it rains, and I fear will continue to rain all day, for unluckily there is a mountain to windward

of us, that the clouds, charged with water, scrape over, and the shower bath follows; but our men have tents. I take this opportunity to relate what I was assured was real matter of fact: I do not know any circumstance that so truly describes the cool, remorseless, premeditated barbarity of Buonaparte and his vandals. Two medical men deserted to us from the French some days since, and they gave the following as their motive for so doing: from a cruel system of policy, Buonaparte commanded every man of his army in Spain to marry a Spanish woman—it did not signify if they had wives in France, as they were told they could not take the Spanish spouse to France when they should return: many hundreds of the French married, and the consequence is, as these men represent, above 500 wives are left for ever by the villains who have deceived them; for it is a lamentable fact, that Buonaparte does not allow the validity of a marriage between a Frenchman and a foreigner ;—one of the surgeons I here allude to, told me he and his friend had married at Palencia, but loved their wives, and had promised to return to them, if the French retired: they had so done, and the surgeons are taken into our service. What a very wretch is this Usurper! not satisfied with taking the life, the property of individuals—he encourages his lawless followers to dive into the very bosom of family happiness; and like a cankerous worm, destroy the most tender and honourable ties. These men promised their wives to return, and, risking all, have honorably kept their promise.

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It appears to me, as it does to many others, the natives here are not pleased with our visit, or our object. They are situated so near to France, and have experienced such intercourse with the barbarians for the latter years, that vile as are their morals, they like them and dislike us. Yesterday presented one of those ludicrous scenes that must now and then occur when an army traverses a country. It is with us, as is the general rule, where men are women will be;-and God bless the fair sex, they voluntarily suffer incredible hardships for many of us, very undeserving such proofs of affection. It is a fact so notorious, that I have no reason to tremble for the character of my veracity, when I assure you, I saw a soldier's wife, who, after the day's march, was delivered of a child that night, and was next day travelling on foot after the regiment, bearing her young stranger in her arms this frequently occurs. But yesterday presented distress in a different shape; our march was opposed by a river, which to the men was a difficulty readily surmounted, but to such of our females that were beholden only to their own legs for conveyance, the thing was more ridiculous than distressing, and by no means injurious to the delicacy of their feelings-they must cross the river or be left in the rear; the alternative admitted of no hesitation; they at once decided, and coolly tucked up their duds, and forded the stream, as there was no sort of danger in the attempt, but merely a little personal inconvenience owing to their own impetuosity. The noise, the jostlings, the screams, the abuse, the oaths, for our fair sex are not mealymouthed on some occasions, and the exposures, exceeded all description. I must leave them partly to your imagination, and that you may indulge to what latitude your fancy may direct; all I can say is, that old and young, black, brown, and fair, fat and lean, bandy and bow-legged, "all crossed the stream in their turn." 20th. Yesterday's march was considerably more than we calculated upon, so I had no time to scribble; but certainly I never saw more delightful scenery any where; nature has completed her work in the picturesque for many miles that we have traversed. We again set forward this morning, and ranged over a line of mountains, I think what is called the Low Pyrenees, but, in truth, we have so winded round them, that I am almost bewildered; the enemy, it seems, had two divisions about here, 10,000; the fifth division came on them by surprise, and shewed one brigade; the enemy came on boldly, but perceiving more troops trying to turn their flank, they retired and fired their artillery; our artillery re

turned the salute: we seem to have lost a few men, and we seem to say they lost a good many, but the plot-thinkers and one week from this time must prove decisive. We are six leagues west of Vittoria, at Jocuna; our march this day was not fatiguing in point of distance, but as we crossed hill and dale, making through forests, over rocks, over swamps, ditches, brooks, corn fields, mud and mire, and frequent halts, it was distressing to the men, but it is all forgotten, for their kettles are boiling full of beef, rice, and vegetables, and to crown all, they have a double allowance of grog, or rather rum, for it is not fashionable to dilute it: we rather expect a night march, not unlikely, as we get near the enemy, and as our divisions are collected together.

26th, close to Pamplona.-I wrote a hasty scrawl from Vittoria, and such has been the rapidity of our march, and the horrible inclemency of the weather, that what with rain and mud, fatiguing marches after the scampering enemy, we reached this place this day: the enemy have fled in all directions, and so fast, that we could not pick up many. Upon my honour I think a pursuit almost as bad as a retreat.

Camp Tafala, June 30, 1813.-FROM causes which our great Commander will best explain, we have something like rest—that is, we make but short marches. We remain at this place to-day; I am not certain I am correct in the date, but you will excuse it when I tell you, in addition to ordinary and extraordinary fatigues, we have been harassed by the conduct of our heroes, for certainly if the most deliberate courage and heroic conduct gives a claim to that appellation, our soldiers are justly entitled to it, and certainly if swelling themselves with wine until they have no longer power of action, either mental or bodily, gives them a title to be stiled drunkards-they are heroes and drunkards; such scenes of drunkenness I never witnessed, of riot and disorder; but no wonder, for the great Lord said they had shared a million of dollars amongst them, but I believe ten times that sum : we are reducing them to reason.

1st July.—We arrived here near Pamplona this day; that place is completely invested, and the siege is to be carried on immediately-it is the strongest place in Spain.

2d July. We have advanced our camp nearer to town. Lord Wellington is determined to have a post in Spain. I am told Major-General Byng's brigade is within the frontier: our men are returning to their senses. We are so cold that it requires the warmth derived from flannel to keep us comfortable, although the harvest here is ripe. I understand we are not to expend an ounce of powder on these vagabonds here: the place is very strong, and if we keep the French out, they fall of course. Sir R. Hill is gone to destroy the bridges and roads on the Pyrenees, and thus to lock the door. When we look back at past events, and find that on the 14th of May we were in the heart of Portugal, on the 21st of June attacking 80,000 of the enemy, bristled with artillery, and now pursuing that army all scampering into France, having taken all it was possible for us to take, as the ground was so favourable for them, our cavalry could not act-the fields entrenched with ditches fourteen feet wide and eight feet deep, with what admiration do we look at our great commander. A march of at least three hundred miles, and a victory crowned with 181 pieces of artillery, and all the stores and baggage, and 400 ladies into the bargain, a million of money at the least. You know I am no flatterer, but have always spoken of men as I found them; now when I tell you I am convinced Lord Wellington is the greatest General our country could ever boast, it is not detracting from the immortal Nelson to place Lord Wellington on his right hand; for Nelson's means were made to his hands-Lord Wellington had to make his army; with fleets accustomed to victory, Nelson vanquished his enemies; but Lord Wellington, from

his landing in Portugal, had every thing to teach his army, and his recent victory, which so exalts his fame, has been the result of his own wisdom and animation: when we further reflect that with a fleet there is nothing to consider but the best mode of conducting it for attack or defence-that an army is to be moved on an extensive country, intersected :—provisions to be found—artillery, ammunition, &c. &c. to be transported-hospitals, &c. &c.—the field of operation wide and extensive-wood and water, material objects-surely the man who directs this cumbrous machine, and finally gains the greatest victory that ever was gained, ranks with the first General of this age or any age; all this is honorably just to our great Commander, for the glory is all his own.

Camp, Douna Mavia, July 7, 1813.-WE left Pamplona on the 5th, and be gan to ascend what I consider a western prolongation of the Pyrenees, by a road certainly inaccessible to artillery. Had the weather been fine, the march would have been delightful, being a continuation of the most sublime scenery; our march yesterday, having a fine day, was beyond all description, rich scenerylofty mountains rich in forest-a continuation of mountains and valleys, not in ridges, but unconnected only by the road; we came down into this place or desert of at least three miles, so steep and so rough we could not ride: we were unfortunately kept four hours on the mountains, time tediously sacrificed. At this place the enemy had a small post, about 300 men, to watch the road; we were told they had from 2 to 10,000 at St. Cuaran, two miles on-admitted they had ten, our simple operation was to have proceeded towards them, for we were more than 5000; if we found them too formidably posted, we should have taken up a strong position, and waited for further reinforcements: if they attacked us, we would have defeated them :-but they were about 2000, so we gave them time to walk away quietly; and then, and not till then, we came down the hill. Now my friend, there is much to tell upon, in the state of the enemy's mind, fear has at present got fast hold, and we should follow it up-this our noble and great Lord does, but young and new Generals confuse and blunder in the detail, as in the late instance. This is one of a number of villages in a delightful valley, surrounded by towering mountains covered with oak, beech, and other trees: the natives seem rejoiced to see us, and have a sprinkle of their neighbours' sprightliness in their manners. We proceed to-day through St. Escavan ;-a British army climbing the Pyreneesand it is likely in a day or two we shall be in France-a British army in France! I am as yet ignorant of the nature of the other passes over these mountains, but the natives with great stones could defend this pass. I hear it is meant to destroy and to obstruct with works the other roads, and then, having locked them out in the North West, proceed eastward to Catalonia, and follow up Suchet and Clausel It is said General Murray has taken a false alarm, and precipitated his army on board-a-ship, leaving much behind him if it is true, it is time some presumptuous men should suffer for their arrogance, as weight of interest often dictates their appointment, in opposition to the wishes of the Commander-in-Chief: we can only lament the unsoundness of the state, in being bullied, but the bully should suffer. We are now living sumptuously, that is full allowance of rations and plenty of tobacco and brandy, wine, rum, vegetables, and the bread excellent: we are going into France, our enemies country, and the question is agitated, "are we or are we not to be freebooters?" I admitwe should make free with the crops and cattle, but no farther: wretched, unlucky people, to be stationed in the seat of war-the Spaniards talk of revenge, retribution, as do the Portuguese: woe be to the miserable people they light upon: to be sure French sanguinary, savage, atrocity, merits unrelenting retribution, but let it fall on the vandal perpetrators, and spare the defenceless people. I shudder to

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