IN August 1811 the regiment sailed for
England, and after remaining some time in Lewes barracks, embarked in April
of the following year for PortugaL The ardour for recruiting had now ceased,
and the consequence was that the regiment obtained few recruits while in
Scotland. Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Blantyre, the commander of the second
battalion, had experienced the growing indifference of the Highlanders for
the army, having been obliged, before his departure for Portugal, to enlist
150 men from the Irish militia. The first battalion joined the army, under
Lord Wellington, after the capture of Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz, and
meeting with the second battalion, they were both consolidated.
"The second battalion
had continued with the allied army in Portugal, and was engaged in the
operations by which the English commander endeavoured to retard the advance
of the superior numbers of the enemy, under Marshal Massena, who boasted he
would drive the British into the sea, and plant the eagles of France on the
towers of Lisbon. As the French army advanced in full confidence of success,
suddenly the rocks of Busaco were seen bristling with bayonets and streaming
with British colours. The Royal Highlanders were in position on the
mountains when that formidable post was attacked by the enemy on the 27th of
September, and when the valour of the British troops repulsed the furious
onsets of the French veterans, who were driven back with severe loss. The
loss of the Forty-Second was limited to 2 sergeants, 1 drummer, and 3 rank
and file wounded. Major Robert Henry Dick received a medal for this battle.
"Being unable to force
the position, the French commander turned it by a flank movement; and the
allied army fell back to the lines of Torres Vedras, where a series of works
of vast extent, connected with ranges of rocks and mountains, covered the
approach to Lisbon, and formed a barrier to the progress of the enemy, which
could not be overcome. The Forty-Second were posted in the lines.
"The French commander,
despairing to accomplish his threat against the English, fell back to
Santarem.
"For three months the
opposing armies confronted each other a few stages from Lisbon; the enemy’s
numbers became seriously reduced by sickness, and other causes, his
resources were exhausted, and during the night of the 5th of March 1811 he
commenced his retreat towards the frontiers. The British moved forward in
pursuit, and in numerous encounters with the enemy’s rearguard gained
signal advantages.
"The French army crossed
the confines of Portugal; the British took up a position near the frontiers,
and blockaded Almeida. The French advanced to relieve the blockaded
fortress; and on the 3d of May they attacked the post of Fuentes d’Onor.
The Royal Highlanders had 2 soldiers killed on this occasion; Captain M’Donald,
1 sergeant, and 5 rank and file wounded. On the 5th of May the enemy made
another attack on the British position, but was repulsed. On this occasion
the Forty-Second, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Blantyre, were
charged by a body of French cavalry, which they defeated with signal
gallantry. Lieutenant - Colonel Lord Blantyre received a gold medal; and the
word ‘Fuentes d’Onor,’ displayed, by royal authority, on the
regimental colour, commemorates the steady valour of the second battalion on
this occasion. Its loss was 1 sergeant and 1 private soldier killed; 1
sergeant and 22 rank and file wounded. Major R. H. Dick received a medal for
the battle of Fuentes d’Onor, where he commanded a flank battalion.
"In the subsequent
operations of this campaign, the second battalion took an active part; but
was not brought into close contact with the enemy."
On the consolidation of the
two battalions, the officers and staff of the second were ordered to
England, leaving the first upwards of 1160 rank and file fit for service.
These were placed in the division under Lieutenant - General Sir Thomas
Graham. The allied army now amounted to 58,000 men, being larger than any
single division of the enemy, whose whole force exceeded 160,000 men.
After a successful attack on
Almarez by a division of the army under General Hill, Lord Wellington moved
forward and occupied Salamanca, which the French evacuated on his approach,
leaving 800 men behind to garrison the fort, and retain possession of two
redoubts formed from the walls and ruins of some convents and colleges.
After a gallant defence of some days, the fort and redoubts surrendered on
the 27th of June 1812.
Whilst the siege was
proceeding, Marshal Marmont manoeuvred in the neighbourhood, but not being
yet prepared for a general action, he retired across the Douro, and took up
a position on the 224 from La Seca to Pollos. By the accession of a
reinforcement from the Asturias, and another from the army of the centre,
the marshal’s force was increased to nearly 60,000 men. Judging himself
now able to cope with the allied army, he resolved either to bring Lord
Wellington to action, or force him to retire towards Portugal, by
threatening his communication with that country. By combining with Marshal
Soult from the south, he expected to be able to intercept his retreat and
cut him off. Marmont did not, however, venture to recross the Douro, but
commenced a series of masterly manoeuvres, with the view of ensnaring his
adversary. Alluding to this display of tactics, the Moniteur remarked
that " there were seen those grand French military combinations which
command victory, and decide the fate of empires; that noble audacity which
no reverse can shake, and which commands events." These movements were
met with corresponding skill on the part of the British general, who baffled
all the designs of his skilful opponent. Several accidental encounters took
place in the various changes of positions, in which both sides suffered
considerably.
Tired of these evolutions,
Lord Wellington crossed the Guarena on the night of the 19th of July, and on
the morning of the 20th drew up his army in order of battle on the plains of
Valise; but Marmont declined the challenge, and crossing the river, encamped
with his left at Babila Fuentes, and his right at Villameda. This manoeuvre
was met by a corresponding movement on the part of the allies, who marched
to their right in columns along the plain, in a direction parallel to the
enemy, who were on the heights of Cabeca Vilhosa. In this and the other
movements of the British, the sagacity of the commander-in-chief appeared so
strange to a plain Highlander, who had paid particular attention to them,
that he swore Lord Wellington must be gifted with the second sight, as he
saw and was prepared to meet Marmont’s intended changes of position before
he commenced his movements.
The allied army were now on
the same ground they had occupied near Salamanca when reducing the forts the
preceding month; but in consequence of the enemy crossing the Tormes at Alba
de Tormes, and appearing to threaten Ciudad Rodrigo, Lord Wellington made a
corresponding movement, and on the 21st of July halted his army on the
heights on the left bank. During the night the enemy possessed themselves of
the village of Calvarasa de Ariba, and the heights of Nuestra Sonora de la
Pena. In the course of this night Lord Wellington received intelligence that
General Clausel had reached Pollos with a large body of cavalry, and would
certainly join Marmont on the 23d or 24th.
The morning of the 22d, a day
memorable in the annals of the Peninsular war, was ushered in with a violent
tempest, and a dreadful storm of thunder and lightning. The operations of
the day commenced soon after seven o’clock, when the outposts of both
armies attempted to get possession of two hills, Los Arapiles, on the right
of the allies. The enemy, by his numerical superiority, succeeded in
possessing himself of the most distant of these hills, and thus greatly
strengthened his position. With his accustomed skill, Marmont manoeuvred
until two o’clock, when imagining that he had succeeded in drawing the
allies into a snare, he opened a general fire from his artillery along his
whole line, and threw out numerous bodies of sharpshooters, both in front
and flank, as a feint to cover an attempt he meditated to turn the position
of the British. This ruse was thrown away on Lord Wellington, who,
acting on the defensive only, to become, in his turn the assailant with the
more effect, and perceiving at once the grand error of his antagonist in
extending his line to the left, without strengthening his centre, which had
now no second line to support it, made immediate preparations for a general
attack; and with his characteristic determination of purpose, took advantage
of that unfortunate moment, which, as the French commander observed,
"destroyed the result of six weeks of wise combinations of methodical
movements, the issue of which had hitherto appeared certain, and which
everything appeared to presage to us that we should enjoy the fruit
of."
The arrangements were these,
Major-General Pakenham, with the third division, was ordered to turn the
left of the enemy, whilst he was to be attacked in front by the divisions of
Generals Leith, Cole, Bradford, and Cotton, —those of Generals Clinton,
Hope, and Don Carlos de Espana; acting as a reserve. The divisions under
Generals Alexander Campbell and Alten were to form the left of the line.
Whilst this formation was in progress, the enemy did not alter his previous
position, but made an unsuccessful attempt to get possession of the village
of Arapiles, held by a detachment of the guards.
About four o’clock in the
afternoon, the attack commenced. General Pakenham, supported by the
Portuguese cavalry, and some squadrons of the 14th Dragoons under Colonel
Harvey, carried all their respective points of attack. The divisions in the
centre were equally successful, driving the enemy from one height to
another. They, however, received a momentary check from a body of troops
from the heights of Arapiles. A most obstinate struggle took place at this
post. Having descended from the heights which they occupied, the British
dashed across the intervening valley and ascended a hill, on which they
found the enemy most advantageously posted, formed in solid squares, the
front ranks kneeling, and supported by twenty pieces of cannon. On the
approach of the British, the enemy opened a fire from their cannon and
musketry, but this, instead of retarding, seemed to accelerate the progress
of the assailants. Gaining the brow of the hill, they instantly charged, and
drove the enemy before them; a body of them attempting to rally, were thrown
into utter confusion by a second charge with the bayonet. A general rout now
took place, and night alone saved the French army from utter annihilation.
There fell into the hands of
the victors 7000 prisoners and 11 pieces of cannon, but the loss of the
enemy in killed and wounded was not ascertained. General Marmont himself was
wounded, and many of his officers were killed or disabled. The loss of the
allies was 624 killed, and about 4000 wounded.
Among other important results
to which this victory led, not the least was the appointment of Lord
Wellington as generalissimo of the Spanish armies, by which he was enabled
to direct and control the operations of the whole Spanish forces, which had
hitherto acted as independent corps.
The allied army pushed
forward to Madrid, and, after various movements and skirmishes, entered that
city on the 12th of August amid the acclamations of the inhabitants.
Learning that General Clausel, who had succeeded Marshal Marmont in the
command, had organised an army, and threatened some of the British positions
on the Douro, Lord Wellington left Madrid on the 1st of September, and
marching northward, entered Valladolid on the 7th, the enemy retiring as he
advanced. Being joined by Castanos, the Spanish general, with an army of
12,000 foot, he took up a position close to Burgos, in which the enemy had
left a garrison of 2500 men. The castle was in ruins, but the strong thick
wall of the ancient keep was equal to the best casemates, and it was
strengthened by a horn-work which had been erected on Mount St Michael. A
church had also been converted into a fort, and the whole enclosed within
three lines, so connected that each could defend the other. Preliminary to
an attack on the castle, the possession of the horn-work was necessary.
Accordingly, on the evening of the 19th of September, the light infantry of
General Stirling’s brigade having driven in the out-posts, took possession
of the out-works close to the mount. When dark it was attacked by the same
troops, supported by the 42d, and carried by assault.
On the 29th an unsuccessful attempt was made
to spring a mine under the enemy’s works, but on the 4th of October
another mine was exploded with better effect. The second battalion of the
24th regiment established themselves within the exterior line of the castle,
but were soon obliged to retire. The enemy made two vigorous sorties on the
8th, drove back the covering parties, and damaged the works of the
besiegers, who sustained considerable loss. A third mine was exploded on the
13th, when the troops attempted an assault, but without success. The last
attack, a most desperate one, was made on the 19th, but with as little
success; two days after which, Lord Wellington, on the 21st, to the great
disappointment of the besiegers, ordered the siege, which had lasted thirty
days, to be raised, in consequence of the expected advance of a French army
of 80,000 men. The loss sustained by the 42d in this siege was 3 officers, 2
sergeants, and 44 rank and file killed and 6 officers, 11 sergeants, 1
drummer, and 230 rank and file wounded. The officers killed; were
Lieutenants B. Ferguson and P. Milne, and Ensign David Cullen; those wounded
were Captains Donald Williamson (who died of his wounds), Archibald Menzies,
and George Davidson, Lieutenants Hugh Angus Fraser, James Stewart, and
Robert Mackinnon.
Whilst Lord Wellington was
besieging Burgos, the enemy had been concentrating their forces, and on the
20th of October his lordship received intelligence of the advance of the
French army. Joseph Buonaparte, newly raised by his brother to the throne of
Spain, was, with one division, to cut off Lord Wellington’s communication
with General Hill’s division between Aranjuez and Toledo, and another,
commanded by General Souham, was to raise the seize of Burgos. After the
abandonment of the siege, on the 21st of October, the allied army retired
after night-fall, unperceived by General Souham, who followed with a
superior force, but did not overtake them till the evening of the
twenty-third.
During the retrograde
movement, the troops suffered greatly from the inclemency of the weather,
from bad roads, but still more from the want of a regular supply of
provisions; and the same irregularities and disorganisation prevailed among
them as in the retreat to Corunna.
The allied army retired upon
Salamanca, and afterwards to Frenada and Corea, on the frontier of Portugal,
where they took up their winter quarters. The enemy apparently unable to
advance, unwilling to retire, and renouncing the hope of victory, followed
the example thus set. Subsequent events proved that this opinion, expressed
at the time was correct, "for every movement of the enemy after the
campaign of 1812 was retrograde, every battle a defeat."
Having obtained a
reinforcement of troops and abundant military supplies from England, Lord
Wellington opened the campaign of 1813 by moving on Salamanca, of which, for
the third time, the British troops took possession on the 24th of May. The
division of Sir R. Hill was stationed between Tormes and the Douro, and the
left wing, under Sir Thomas Graham, took post at Miranda de Douro. The
enemy, who gave way as the allies advanced, evacuated Valladolid on the 4th
of June, and General Hill having, on the 12th attacked and defeated a
division of the French army under General Reille, the enemy hastened their
retreat, and blew up the works of the castle of Burgos, on which they had
expended much labour the preceding year.
The enemy fell back on
Vittoria, followed by Lord Wellington, who drew up his army on the river
Bayas, separated by some high grounds from Vittoria. His men were in the
highest spirits, and the cheerfulness and alacrity with which they performed
this long march, more than 250 miles, formed a favourable contrast with
their conduct when retreating the previous year. The French army, under the
command of Joseph Buonaparte and Marshal Jourdan, made a stand near Vittoria,
for the purpose of defending the passage of the river Zadorra, having that
town on their right, the centre on a height, commanding the valley of that
stream, and the left resting on the heights between Arunez and Puebla de
Arlanzon. The hostile armies were about 70,000 men each.
On the morning of the 21st of
June, the allied army moved forward in three columns to take possession of
the heights in the front of Vittoria. The right wing was commanded by
General Hill, the centre by General Cole, and the left wing by Genera]
Graham. The operations of the day commenced by General Hill attacking and
carrying the heights of Puebla, on which the enemy’s left rested. They
made a violent attempt to regain possession, but they were driven back at
all points, and pursued across the Zadorra. Sir Rowland Hill passing over
the bridge of La Puebla, attacked and carried the village of Sabijana de
Alava, of which he kept possession, notwithstanding repeated attempts of the
enemy to regain it. The fourth and light divisions now crossed the Zadorra
at different points, while almost at the same instant of time, the column
under Lord Dalhousie reached Mendoza; and the third, under Sir T. Picton,
followed by the seventh division, crossed a bridge higher up. These four
divisions, forming the centre of the army, were destined to attack the right
of the enemy’s centre on the heights, whilst General Hill pushed forward
from Alava to attack the left. The enemy dreading the consequences of an
attack on his centre, which he had weakened to strengthen his posts on the
heights, abandoned his position, and commenced a rapid retreat to Vittoria.
Whilst these combined
movements of the right and centre were in progress, the left wing, under Sir
Thomas Graham, drove the enemy’s right from the hills above Abechuco and
Gamarra. To preserve their communication with Bayonne, which was nearly cut
off by this movement, the enemy had occupied the villages of Gamarra, Mayor,
and Menor, near which the great road touches the banks of the Zadorra. They
were, however, driven from these positions by a Spanish division under
Colonel Longa, and another of Portuguese under General Pack, supported by
General Anson’s cavalry brigade and the fifth division of infantry under
General Oswald. General Graham, at the same time, attacked and obtained
possession of the village of Abechuco.
Thus cut off from retreat by
the great road to France, the enemy, as soon as the centre of the allies had
penetrated to Vittoria, retreated with great precipitation towards Pampluna,
the only other road left open, and on which they had no fortified positions
to cover their retrograde movement. The enemy left behind them all their
stores and baggage, and out of 152 pieces of cannon, they carried off only
one howitzer. General Hill, with his division, continued to pursue the
panic-stricken French from one position to another till the 7th of July,
when he took post on the summit of the pass of Maya, beyond the Pyrenees,
"those lofty heights which," as Marshal Soult lamented, in a
proclamation he issued, "enabled him proudly to survey our fertile
valleys."
With the exception of
Pampluna and St Sebastian, the whole of this part of the north of Spain was
now cleared of the enemy. To reduce these places was the next object. It was
resolved to blockade the former and lay siege to the latter, which
last-mentioned service was intrusted to General Graham. This was a most
arduous task, as St Sebastian was, in point of strength, next to Gibraltar.
After an unsuccessful
assault, however, the attention of the commander-in-chief being directed to
the movements of Marshal Soult, who was advancing with a large army, the
siege of St Sebastian was suspended for a time.
At this time the allied army
occupied a range of mountain passes between the valley of Roncesvalles,
celebrated as the field of Charlemagne’s defeat, and St Sebastian, but as
the distance between these stations was sixty miles, it was found impossible
so to guard all these passes as to prevent the entrance of an army. The
passes occupied by the allies were defended by the following troops:—
Major General Byng’s brigade and a division of Spanish infantry held the
valley of Roncesvalles, to support which General Cole’s division was
posted at Piscarret, with General Picton’s in reserve at Olaque; the
valley of Bastan and the pass of Maya was occupied by Sir Rowland Hill, with
Lieutenant-general William Stewart’s and Silviera’s Portuguese
divisions, and the Spanish corps under the Conde de Amaran the Portuguese
brigade of Brigadier-general Archibald Campbell was detached to Los Alduidos;
the heights of St Barbara, the town of Pera, and the Puerto de Echoism, were
protected by Lord Dalhousie and Baron Alten’s light division, Brigadier
general Pack’s being in reserve at Estevan. The communication between Lord
Dalhousie and General Graham was kept up by General Longa’s Spanish
division; and the Condo de Abisbal blockaded Pamplona.
Such were the positions of
the allied army when Marshal Soult, who had been lately appointed to the
command of a numerous French army, recently collected, having formed a plan
of operations for a general attack on the allied army, advanced on the 25th
of July at the head of a division of 36,000 men against Roncesvalles, whilst
General Count d’Erlon, with another division of 13,000 men, moved towards
the pass of Maya. Pressed by this overwhelming force, General Byng was
obliged, though supported by part of Sir Lowry Cole’s division, to descend
from the heights that commanded the pass, in order to preserve his
communication, in which situation he was attacked by Soult and driven back
to the top of the mountain, whilst the troops on the ridge of Arola, part of
Cole’s division, were forced to retire with considerable loss, and to take
up a position in the rear. General Cole was again obliged to retire, and
fell back on Lizoain. Next day General Picton moved forward to support
General Cole, but both were obliged to retire in consequence of Soult’s
advance.
Meanwhile Count d’Erlon
forced the battalions occupying the narrow ridges near the pass of Maya to
give way; but these being quickly supported by Brigadier-general Barnes’s
brigade, a series of spirited actions ensued, and the advance of the enemy
was arrested. General Hill hearing of the retrograde movement from
Roncesvalles, retired behind the lrurita, and took up a strong position. On
the 27th Sir Thomas Picton resumed his retreat. The troops were greatly
dejected at this temporary reverse; but the arrival of Lord Wellington, who
had been with the army before St Sebastian, revived their drooping spirits.
Immediately on his arrival he directed the troops in reserve to move forward
to support the division opposed to the enemy; formed General Picton’s
division on a ridge on the left bank of the Argus, and General Cole’s on
the high grounds between that river and the Lanz. To support the positions
in front, General Hill was posted behind the Lizasso; but, on the arrival of
General Pakenham on the 28th, he took post on the left of General Cole,
facing the village of Sourarom; but before the British divisions had fully
occupied the ground, they were vigorously attacked by the enemy from the
village. The enemy were, however, driven back with great loss.
Soult next brought forward a
strong column, and advancing up the hill against the centre of the allies,
on the left of General Cole’s line, obtained possession of that post, but
he was almost immediately driven back at the point of the bayonet by the
Fusiliers. The French renewed the attack, but were again quickly repulsed.
About the same time another attack was made on the right of the centre,
where a Spanish brigade, supported by the 40th, was posted. The Spaniards
gave way, the 40th not only keeping their ground, but driving the enemy down
the hill with great loss.
The enemy pushing forward in
separate bodies with great vigour, the battle now became general along the
whole front of the heights occupied by the fourth division, but they were
repulsed at all points, except one occupied by a Portuguese battalion, which
was overpowered and obliged to give way. The occupation of this post by the
enemy exposed the flank of Major-General Ross’s brigade, immediately on
the right, to a destructive fire, which forced him to retire. The enemy
were, however, soon dispossessed of this post by Colonel John Maclean, who,
advancing with the 27th and 48th regiments, charged and drove them from it,
and immediately afterwards attacked and charged another body of the enemy
who were advancing from the left. The enemy persevered in his attacks
several times, but was as often repulsed, principally by the bayonet.
Several regiments charged four different times.
After various successful
attacks, the enemy, on the 30th, to use the words of Lord Wellington,
"abandoned a position which is one of the strongest and most difficult
of access that I have yet seen occupied by troops." The enemy were now
pursued beyond Olaque, in the vicinity of which General Hill, who had been
engaged the whole day, had repulsed all the attacks of Count d’Erlon.
The enemy endeavoured to
rally in their retreat, but were driven from one position to another till
the 2d of August, when the allies had regained all the posts they had
occupied on the 25th of July, when Soult made his first attack. As the 92d
or Gordon Highlanders was the Highland regiment which had the good fortune
to be engaged in these brilliant attacks, in which they particularly
distinguished themselves, the account of these operations might have been
deferred till we come to give an account of the services of that excellent
regiment; but as the omission of these details in this place would have
broken the continuity of the narrative, it was deemed proper to insert them
here.
After this second expulsion
of the French beyond the Pyrenees, the siege of St Sebastian was resumed
with redoubled energy. A continued fire was kept up from eighty pieces of
cannon, which the enemy withstood with surprising courage and perseverance.
At length a practicable breach was made, and on the morning of the 31st of
August the troops advanced to the assault. The breach was extensive, but
there was only one point at which it was possible to enter, and this could
only be done by single files. All the inside of the wall to the height of
the curtain formed a perpendicular scarp of twenty feet. The troops made the
most persevering exertions to force the breach, and everything that bravery
could attempt was repeatedly tried by the men, who were brought forward in
succession from the trenches; but each time, on attaining the summit, all
who attempted to remain were destroyed by a heavy fire from the entrenched
ruins within, so that "no man outlived the attempt to gain the
ridge." The moment was critical; but General Graham, with great
presence of mind, directed his artillery to play against the curtain, so as
to pass a few feet over the heads of the troops in the breach. The fire was
directed with admirable precision, and the troops advanced with perfect
confidence. They struggled unremittingly for two hours to force the breach,
and, taking advantage of some confusion occasioned by an explosion of
ammunition within the ramparts, they redoubled their efforts, and by
assisting each other got over the walls and ruins. After struggling about an
hour among their works, the French retreated with great loss to the castle,
leaving the town, which was now reduced to a heap of ruins, in the
possession of the assailants. This success was dearly purchased,—the loss
of the allies, in killed and wounded, being upwards of 2000 men. Soult made
an attempt to raise the siege, by crossing the Bidassoa on the very day the
assault was made with a force of nearly 40,000 men; but he was obliged,
after repeated attacks, to repass the river.
Having determined to carry
the war into France, Lord Wellington crossed the Bidassoa at low water, near
its mouth, on the 7th of October. After a series of successful operations,
the allied army was established in the French territories; but as Pampluna
still held out, the commander-in-chief delayed his advance for a time.
Parnpluna surrendered on the 31st of October, after a blockade of four
months. Lord Wellington having now the whole allied force, amounting to
upwards of 85,000 men, at his disposal, resolved to cornmence operations.
Since the battle of the
Pyrenees, the French had occupied a position with their right towards the
sea, at a short distance from St Jean de Luz, their centre on a village in
Sare, and on the heights behind it, with their left resting on a stony
height in the rear of Ainhoe. This position, strong by nature, had been
rendered still stronger by art. The attack on the French lines was to be
made in columns of divisions. In consequence of heavy falls of snow and
rain, Lord Wellington was obliged to defer his attack till the 10th of
November, on the morning of which day the allies moved forward against the
enemy.
The attack was begun by
General Cole’s division, which attacked and carried the principal redoubt
in front of Sam with such rapidity, that several of the enemy were taken in
it before it could be evacuated. Another redoubt on the left was carried in
the same rapid manner by Lord Dalhousie’s division, commanded in his
absence by Colonel Le Coy. General Cole’s division thereupon took
possession of the village. General Alten having carried La Petite Rhune, the
whole centre divisions united, and made a joint attack on the enemy’s
principal position behind the village. Sir Thomas Picton’s division (now
commanded in his absence by General Colville), and that of Le Cor, carried
the redoubt on the left of the enemy’s centre. The light division
advancing from La Petite Rhune, attacked the works in their front, supported
by the 52d regiment, which, crossing with great rapidity a narrow neck of
land, was here exposed to the fire of two flanking batteries, rushed up the
hill with such impetuosity, that the enemy grew alarmed, and fled with
precipitation.
Meanwhile the right, under
General Hill, attacked the heights of Ainhoe. The attack was led by General
Clinton’s division, which, marching on the left of five redoubts, forded
the Kivelle, the banks of which were steep and difficult, and attacked the
troops in front of the works. These were immediately driven back with loss,
and General Hamilton joining in the attack on the other redoubt, the enemy
hastily retired. The brigade of General Stewart’s division, under General
Pringle. drove in the enemy’s picquets in front of Ainhoe, whilst General
Byng’s brigade attacked and drove the enemy from the entrenchments, and
from a 1 redoubt farther to the left.
The enemy at length seeing further resistance
hopeless, abandoned all their positions and works in front of St Jean do Luz
and retired upon Bidart, after destroying all the bridges on the Lower
Nivelle. In these successful and complicated movements, the allies had 21
officers and 244 soldiers killed, and 120 officers and 1657 soldiers
wounded. Of the 42d regiment, Captain Mungo Macpherson and Lieutenant
Kenneth Macdougall were wounded, one private only killed, and 2 sergeants
and 23 rank and file wounded. The French lost 31 pieces of cannon, 1300
prisoners, and had a proportional number killed and wounded.
In consequence of the heavy
rains and the destruction of the bridges, the allies were prevented from
pursuing the enemy, who retired to an entrenched camp near Bayonne. The
allied troops were cantoned between the Nivelle and the sea, and made
preparations for dislodging the French from their new position; but the
incessant rains, which continued till December, put an entire stop to all
active movements. Having thrown bridges over the Nive in the beginning of
December, Lord Wellington commenced operations on the 9th for the passage of
that river. As the position of the enemy was considered too strong to be
attacked in front, the commander-in-chief determined to make a movement to
the right, and by thus threatening Soult’s rear, he hoped to induce him to
abandon his position. Accordingly the allied army crossed the Nive at
different points on the 9th. General Hope met with little opposition, and
General Hill, who crossed by the ford of Cambo, was scarcely opposed. In
danger of being intercepted by General Clinton’s division, which had
crossed at Ustariz, the enemy retired in great haste, and assembled in
considerable numbers at Villefranche, but they were driven from this post by
the light infantry and two Portuguese regiments, under Colonels Douglas and
Browne. General Hill next day took up a position with his division, with his
left on Villefranche and his right on the Adouir, in consequence of which he
cut off the communication between Bayonne and St Jean Pied de Port. In this
situation the French troops stationed at the latter place were forced to
retire on St Palais.
Leaving a force to keep
General Hill in check, Marshal Soult left his entrenched camp on the morning
of the 10th, and making an impetuous attack on the light division of General
Hope’s wing, drove back his outposts. Then establishing himself on a ridge
between the corps of Baron Alten and Major-General Andrew Hay’s fifth
division, he turned upon the latter, and attacked it with a determined
bravery which it was almost impossible to withstand; but after an arduous
struggle the enemy were repulsed by Brigadier-general Robinson’s brigade
of the fifth division, and Brigadier-general Archibald Campbell’s
Portuguese brigade. The enemy, no way discouraged by these repulses, renewed
the attack about three o’clock, but with the same want of success.
During the night, Soult made
dispositions for attacking the light division at Arcangues; but Sir John
Hope perceiving his intention, moved towards the threatened point.
Anticipated in this movement, the experienced Marshal again changed his
dispositions to the left, but General Hope, equally on the alert, met him
also in that direction. With the exception of some partial skirmishing
between the out posts, no occurrence of any importance took place on the
following day; but on the 12th the enemy renewed the attack on the left
without success.
Thus foiled in all his
attempts, Soult resolved to change entirely his plan of operations, and
accordingly, during the night of the 12th, he drew his army through Bayonne,
and on the morning of the 13th attempted to force his way between the centre
and right of the British position, at the head of 30,000 men. Advancing with
great vigour and celerity, he might have succeeded, had not General Hill,
with his usual promptitude and decision, ordered his troops on the flanks to
support the centre. The enemy, after a violent struggle, were repulsed with
great loss, and retired with such precipitation that they were out of reach
before the arrival of the sixth division, which had been ordered up to
support General Hill.
Whilst this contest was going
on, General Byng’s brigade, supported by the Portuguese brigade under
General Buchan, carried an important height, from which the enemy made
several attempts to dislodge them, but being unsuccessful at all points,
they at length retired to their entrenchments, whither they were followed by
General Hill, who took up a parallel position. At the passage of the Nive
the 42d had Captain George Stewart and Lieutenant James Stewart killed, and
11 rank and file wounded.
The inclemency of the
weather, and a succession of heavy rains which had swelled the rivers and
destroyed the roads, rendering farther movements impracticable for a time,
Marshal Soult availed himself of the interruption thus given to the progress
of the allied army to strengthen his position. The weather becoming
favourable about the middle of February 1814, Lord Wellington began a series
of movements with the view of inducing Soult to withdraw from his strong
position, or, should be decline, to cut off his communication with France,
by marching the allied army into the heart of that country. By these
movements the British general obtained the command of the Adour, which
obliged Soult, who obtained his supplies down that river from the interior,
to withdraw from Bayonne in the direction of Dane. He left, however, a
strong garrison in the place.
Leaving General Hope to
blockade Bayonne, Lord Wellington made a general movement with the right and
centre of the army on the 24th of February. Next day they marched forward to
dislodge the enemy from a position they had taken up on the Gave de Pau at
Orthés. Between the extreme points of this position ran a chain of heights
receding in a line, bending inwards, the centre of which was so retired as
to be protected by the guns of both wings. On his left, Soult was supported
in this strong position by the town and the river; his right rested on a
commanding height in rear of the village of St Bois; whilst the centre,
accommodating itself to the incurvation of the heights, described a
horizontal reversed segment of a circle protected by the strong position of
both wings.
In a short time every point
was carried, but the enemy retired in a very orderly manner, firing by
echelons of divisions, each covering the other as they retreated. Observing
General Hill, who had just crossed the river, advancing upon their left
flank, on the road from Orthtis to St Sever, the enemy became at once
apprehensive that they would be intercepted, and, instead of continuing
their masterly retreat, they ran off at full speed, followed by their
pursuers. The latter continued the chase for nearly three miles at a full
trot, and the French at length breaking their lines, threw away their arms,
and fled in all directions. The pursuit was continued however as far as
Sault de Navailles, on reaching which the remains even of an army were no
longer to be seen. The loss of the enemy was estimated at 8000 men in
killed, wounded, and prisoners. The loss of the allies in killed and wounded
amounted to about 1600. Of the 42d, Lieutenant John Innes was the only
officer killed, besides 1 sergeant, and 3 rank and file. Major William
Cowell, Captain James Walker, Lieutenants Duncan Stewart and James Brander,
5 sergeants, and 85 rank and file were wounded.
The French army, lately so
formidable, was now broken and dispersed, and many of the soldiers,
dispirited by their reverses, returned to their homes; others, for the first
time, abandoned their standards, and went over to the allies. Soult,
however, undismayed by these difficulties, collected the remains of that
part of his army which still remained faithful, and exerted all his energies
to arrest the progress of the victors, but his efforts were unavailing; and
after sustaining a defeat at Ayre, where he attempted to cover the removal
of considerable magazines, he retreated to Tarbes. All the western part of
Gascony being thus left exposed to the operations of the allied army, Lord
Wellington detached Marshal Berostèrd and Lord Dalhousie, with three
divisions, to Bordeaux, which they entered amidst the acclamations of the
inhabitants.
Having obtained
reinforcements from Spain and England, Lord Wellington, after leaving 4000
men at Bordeaux under Lord Dalhousie, again put his army in motion. Soult
attempted to make a stand at Vicq with two divisions, but he was driven from
this position by General Picton with the third division, and forced to
retire beyond Tarbes. With the apparent intention of disputing the farther
advance of the allies, the Marshal concentrated his whole force at this
point, but he was dislodged from this position by a series of combined
movements. It was now discovered that the enemy were drawn up on two hills
running parallel to those from which their advance had been driven, and it
was farther ascertained that this commanding position could not be gained by
an advance in front without a great sacrifice of men, reinforced as it had
been by the troops driven from the heights in front. It was therefore
determined to attack it on flank, but, before the necessary arrangements
could be completed, night came on, and Soult taking advantage of the
darkness, moved off towards Toulouse, whither he was followed next morning
by the allies, who reached the banks of the Garoxine on the 27th of March.
This river was much swollen
by recent rains and the melting of the snow on the Pyrenees. There being
only one bridge at Toulouse, and that being in possession of the enemy, it
became necessary to procure pontoons to enable the army to pass. Whilst the
necessary preparations were going on for this purpose, Marshal Soult made
the most extraordinary exertions to put himself in a proper posture of
defence. He was not even yet without hopes of success, and although it is
generally believed that he was now aware of the abdication of Buonaparte, an
event which, he must have known, would put an immediate end to the war, he
was unwilling to let slip the only opportunity he now had of wiping off the
disgrace of his recent defeats.
The city of Toulouse is
defended by an ancient wall, flanked with towers. On three sides it is
surrounded by the great canal of Languedoc and by the Garonne, and on the
fourth side it is flanked by a range of hills close to the canal, over which
pass all the roads on that side the town. On the summit of the nearest of
these hills the French had erected a chain of five redoubts, between which
and the defences of the town they formed entrenchments and lines of
connection. These defences consisted of extensive field-works, and of some
of the ancient buildings in the suburbs well fortified. At the foot of the
height, and along one-half its length, ran the small river Ers the bridges
of which had all been destroyed; on the top of the height was an elevated
and elongated plain in a state of cultivation, and towards the end next the
town there stood a farmhouse and offices. Some trenches had been cut around
this house, and three redoubts raised on its front and left. Such was the
field selected by Soult to redeem, if possible, by a last effort, his fallen
reputation, and to vindicate the tarnished honour of the French arms.
Pontoons having been
procured, part of the allied army crossed the Garonne on the 4th of April;
but the melting of the snow on the Pyrences, owing to a few days of hot
weather, swelled the river so much that it became necessary to remove the
pontoons, and it was not till the 8th that they could be replaced. On that
day the whole army crossed the river, except General Hill’s division,
which remained opposite the town in front of the great bridge, to keep the
enemy in check on that side. From the insulated nature of the town, no mode
of attack was left to Lord Wellington but to attempt the works in front.
Accordingly, on the 10th of
April, he made the following dispositions: —The Spaniards under Don Manuel
Freyre were to attack the redoubts fronting the town; General Picton and the
light division were to keep the enemy in check on the great road to Paris,
but not to attack; and Marshal Beresford, with General Clinton and the sixth
division, was to attack the centre of the entrenchments, whilst General Cole
with the fourth marched against the right. The part taken by the 42d in this
struggle is so well and fully described by Mr Malcolm, formerly of the 42d,
in his Reminiscence of a Campaign in 1814, that we shall quote his
description here:-
"Early on Sunday
morning, the 10th of April, our tents were struck, and we moved with the
other regiments of the sixth division towards the neighbourhood of Toulouse,
until ordered to halt on a level ground, from whence we had a distinct view
of the enemy’s position on the ridge of hills already mentioned. At the
same time we saw Lord Wellington, accompanied by his staff, riding back from
the front at a hard trot. Some of the men called out, 'There goes
Wellington, my lads; we shall have some hot work presently.’
"At that moment Major
General Pack, who commanded our brigade, came up, and calling its officers
and non-commissoned officers round him, addressed them to the following
effect:-
‘We are this day to attack
the enemy; your business will be to take possession of those fortified
heights, which you see towards the front. I have only to warn you to be
prepared to form close column in case of a charge of cavalry; to restrain
the impetuosity of the men; and to prevent them from wasting their
ammunition.’ The drums then beat to arms, and we received orders to move
towards the enemy’s position.
"Our division (the
sixth) approached the foot of the ridge of heights on the enemy’s right
and moved in a direction parallel to them, until we reached the point of
attack. We advanced under a heavy cannonade, and arrived in front of a
redoubt, which protected the right of the enemy’s position, where we were
formed in two lines,—the first, consisting of some Portuguese regiments,—and
the reserve, of the Highland Brigade.
"Darkening the whole
hill, flanked by clouds of cavalry, and covered by the fire of their
redoubt, the enemy came down upon us like a torrent. Their generals and
field-officers riding in front, and waving their hats amidst shouts of the
multitude, resembling the roar of an ocean. Our Highlanders, as if actuated
by one instinctive impulse, took off their bonnets, and waving them in the
air, returned their greeting with three cheers.
"A deathlike silence
ensued for some moments, and we could observe a visible pause in the advance
of the enemy. At that moment the light company of the Forty-second Regiment,
by a well-directed fire, brought down some of the French officers of
distinction, as they rode in front of their respective corps. The enemy
immediately fired a volley into our lines, and advanced upon us amidst a
deafening roar of musketry and artillery. Our troops answered their fire
only once, and unappalled by their furious onset, advanced up the hill, and
met them at the charge. Upon reaching the summit of the ridge of heights,
the redoubt, which had covered their advance, fell into our possession; but
they still retained four others, with their connecting lines of
intrenchments, upon the level of the same heights on which we were now
established, and into which they had retired.
"Meantime, our troops
were drawn up along a road, which passed over the hill, and which having a
high bank at each side, protected us in some measure from the general fire
of their last line of redoubts. Here our brigade remained until Marshal
Beresford’s Artillery, which, in consequence of the badness of the roads,
had been left in the village of Mont Blanc, could be brought up, and until
the Spaniards under General Don Manuel Freyre, who, in proceeding along the
left of the Ers, had been repulsed, could be reformed, and brought back to
the attack. Marshal Beresford’s artillery having arrived, and the Spanish
troops being once more brought forward, Major-General Pack rode up in front
of our brigade, and made the following announcement:—’ I have just now
been with General Clinton, and he has been pleased to grant my request, that
in the charge which we are now to make upon the enemy’s redoubts, the
Forty-second regiment shall have the honour of leading on the attack; the
Forty-second will advance.’
"We immediately began to
form for the charge upon the redoubts, which were about two or three hundred
yards distant, and to which we had to pass over some ploughed fields. The
grenadiers of the Forty-second regiment followed by the other companies, led
the way, and began to ascend from the road; but no sooner were the feathers
of their bonnets seen rising over the embankment, than such a tremendous
fire was opened from the redoubts and intrenchments, as in a very short time
would have annihilated them. The right wing, therefore, hastily formed into
line, and without waiting for the left, which was ascending by companies
from the road, rushed upon the batteries, which vomited forth a most furious
and terrific storm of fire, grape-shot, and musketry.
"The redoubts were
erected along the side of a road, and defended by broad ditches filled with
water. Just before our troops reached the obstruction, however, the enemy
deserted them and fled in all directions, leaving their last line of
strongholds in our possession; but they still possessed two fortified houses
close by, from which they kept up a galling and destructive fire. Out of
about 500 men, which the Forty-second brought into action, scarcely 90
reached the fatal redoubt from which the enemy had fled.
"Our colonel was a brave
man, but there are moments when a well-timed manoeuvre is of more advantage
than courage. The regiment stood on the road with its front exactly to the
enemy, and if the left wing had been ordered forward, it could have sprung
up the bank in line and dashed forward on the enemy at once. Instead of
this, the colonel faced the right wing to its right, counter-marched in rear
of the left, and when the leading rank cleared the left flank it was made to
file up the bank, and as soon as it made its appearance the shot, shell, and
musketry poured in with deadly destruction; and in this exposed position we
had to make a second countermarch on purpose to bring our front to the
enemy. These movements consumed much time, and by this unnecessary exposure
exasperated the men to madness. The word ‘Forward—double-quick!’ dispelled
the gloom, and forward we drove, in the face of apparent destruction. The
field had been lately rough ploughed or under fallow, and when a man fell he
tripped the one behind, thus the ranks were opening as we approached the
point whence all this hostile vengeance proceeded; but the rush forward had
received an impulse from desperation, ‘the spring of the men’s patience
had been strained until ready to snap, and when left to the freedom of its
own extension, ceased not to act until the point to which it was directed
was attained.’ In a minute every obstacle was surmounted; the enemy fled
as we leaped over the trenches and mounds like a pack of noisy hounds in
pursuit, frightening them more by our wild hurrahs than actually hurting
them by ball or bayonet.
"Two officers (Captain
Campbell and Lieutenant Young) and about 60 of inferior rank were all that
now remained without a wound of the right wing of the regiment that entered
the field in the morning. The flag was hanging in tatters, and stained with
the blood of those who had fallen over it The standard, cut in two, had been
successively placed in the hands of three officers, who fell as we advanced;
it was now borne by a sergeant, while the few remaining soldiers who rallied
around it, defiled with mire, sweat, smoke, and blood, stood ready to oppose
with the bayonet the advancing column, the front files of which were pouring
in destructive showers of musketry among our confused ranks. To have
disputed the post with such overwhelming numbers, would have been hazarding
the loss of our colours, and could serve no general interest to our army, as
we stood between the front of our advancing support and the enemy; we were
therefore ordered to retire. The greater number passed through the cottage,
now filled with wounded and dying, and leaped from the door that was over
the road into the trench of the redoubt among the killed and wounded.
"We were now between two
fires of musketry, the enemy to our left and rear, the 79th and left wing of
our own regiment in our front. Fortunately the intermediate space did not
exceed a hundred paces, and our safe retreat depended upon the speed with
which we could perform it. We rushed along like a crowd of boys pursuing the
bounding ball to its distant limit, and in an instant plunged into a trench
that had been cut across the road: the balls were whistling amongst us and
over us; while those in front were struggling to get out, those behind were
holding them fast for assistance, and we became firmly wedged together.
until a horse without a rider came plunging down on the heads and bayonets
of those in his way; they on whom he fell were drowned or smothered, and the
gap thus made gave way for the rest to get out.
"The right wing of the
regiment, thus broken down and in disorder, was rallied by Captain Campbell
(afterwards brevet lieutenant-colonel) and the adjutant (Lieutenant Young)
on a narrow road, the steep banks of which served as a cover from the
showers of grape that swept over our heads.
"As soon as the smoke
began to clear away, the enemy made a last attempt to retake their redoubts,
and for this purpose advanced in great force : they were a second time
repulsed with great loss, and their whole army was driven into
Toulouse." [In a conversation between General Hill and Major-General
Stewart (Garth), a few days after the battle, the former, alluding to the
attempt of the enemy to take the redoubt, said to General Stewart, "I
saw your old friends the Highlanders in a most perilous situation; and had I
not known their firmness I should have trembled for the result. As it was,
they could not have resisted the force brought against them if they had not
been so instantaneously supported." Being asked by General Stewart what
was the amount at which he calculated the strength of the enemy’s column
of attack, he replied, "Not less than 6000 men." In passing soon
afterwards through Languedoc, Stewart stopped to view a brigade of French
infantry exercising. The French commanding officer rode up to him, and
invited him, with great politeness, to accompany him through the ranks.
Talking of the recent battles, the French general concluded his observations
thus,— "Well, we are quite satisfied if the English army think we
fought bravely, and did our duty well." General Stewart mentioning the
Highland corps, "Ah!" said the Frenchman, "these are brave
soldiers. If they had good officers, I should not like to meet them unless I
was well supported. I put them to the proof on that day." Being asked
in what manner, he answered ‘‘that he led the division which attempted
to retake the redoubt ;" and on a further question as to the strength
of the column, he replied, " More than 6000 men." As General Hill
was more than two miles from the field of action, the accuracy of his
calculation is remarkable.]
Finding the city, which was
now within reach of the guns of the allies, quite untenable, Soult evacuated
it the same evening, and was allowed to retire without molestation. Even had
he been able to have withstood a siege, he must have soon surrendered for
want of the provisions necessary for the support of a population of 60,000
inhabitants, and of his own army, which was now reduced by the casualties of
war and recent desertions to 30,000 men.
The loss of the 42d in the
battle of Toulouse, was 4 officers, 3 sergeants, and 47 rank and file
killed; and 21 officers, 14 sergeants, 1 drummer, and 231 rank and file
wounded. The names of the officers killed were Captain John Swanson,
Lieutenant William Gordon, Ensigns John Latta and Donald Maccrummen; the
wounded were Lieutenant-colonel Robert Macara, Captains James Walker, John
Henderson (who died of his wounds), Alexander Mackenzie, and Lieutenants
Donald Mackenzie, Thomas Munro, Hugh Angus Fraser, James Robertson, R. A.
Mackinnon, Roger Stewart Robert Gordon, Charles Maclaren, Alexander Strange,
Donald Farquharson (who died of his wounds), James Watson, William Urquhart;
Ensigns Thomas Macniven, Cohn Walker, James Geddes, John Malcolm, and Mungo
Macpherson.
The allies entered Toulouse
on the morning after the battle, and were received with enthusiasm by the
inhabitants, who, doubtless, considered themselves extremely fortunate in
being relieved from the presence of the French army, whose retention of the
city a few hours longer would have exposed it to all the horrors of a
bombardment. By a singular coincidence, official accounts reached Toulouse
in the course of the day of the abdication of Buonaparte, and the
restoration of Louis XVIII.; but it is said that these despatches had been
kept back on the road.
At this time the clothing of
the army at large, but the Highland brigade in particular, was in a very
tattered state. The clothing of the 91st regiment had been two years in
wear; the men were thus under the necessity of repairing their old garments
in the best manner they could: some had the elbows of the coats mended with
gray cloth, others had the one-half of the sleeves of a different colour
from the body; and their trousers were in as bad a condition as their coats.
The 42d, which was the only
corps in the brigade that wore the kilt, was beginning to lose it by
degrees; men falling sick and left in the rear frequently got the kilt made
into trousers, and on joining the regiment again no plaid could be furnished
to supply the loss; thus a great want of uniformity prevailed; but this was
of minor importance when compared to the want of shoes. As the march
continued daily, no time was to be found to repair them, until completely
worn out; this left a number to march with bare feet. These men being
occasionally permitted to straggle out of the ranks to select the soft part
of the roads or fields adjoining, others who had not the same reason to
offer for this indulgence followed the example, until each regiment marched
regardless of rank, and sometimes mixed with other corps in front and rear.
In consequence of the
cessation of hostilities, the British troops removed without delay to their
appointed destinations, and the three Highland regiments were embarked for
Ireland, where they remained till May 1815, when they were shipped for
Flanders, on the return of Buonaparte from Elba. In Ireland the 1st
battalion was joined by the effective men of the 2d, which had been
disbanded at Aberdeen in October 1814.
The intelligence of
Buonaparte’s advance reached Brussels on the evening of the 15th of June,
when orders were immediately issued by the Duke of Wellington for the
assembling of the troops. The men of the 42d and 92d regiments had become
great favourites in Brussels, and were on such terms of friendly intercourse
with the inhabitants in whose houses they were quartered, that it was no
uncommon thing to see a Highland soldier taking care of the children, and
even keeping the shop of his host,—an instance of confidence perhaps
unexampled. These two regiments were the first to muster. They assembled
with the utmost alacrity to the sound of the well-known pibroch, Come to
me and I will give you flesh, - an invitation to the wolf and the raven,
for which the next day did, in fact, spread an ample banquet at the expense
of our brave countrymen, as well as of their enemies. . . . About four o’clock
in the morning of the 16th of June, the 42d and 92d Highland regiments
marched through the Place Royal and the Parc. One could not hut admire their
fine appearance; their firm, collected, steady, military demeanour, as they
went rejoicing to battle, with their bagpipes playing before them, and the
beams of the rising sun shining upon their glittering arms. Before that sun
had set in the night, how many of that gallant band were laid low! . . . The
kind and generous inhabitants assembled in crowds to witness the departure
of their gallant friends, and as the Highlanders marched onward with a
steady and collected air, the people breathed many a fervent expression for
their safety."
The important part taken in
the action of Quatre Bras by the Black Watch could not be told better than
in the simple words of one who was present, and did his own share of the
work, Sergeant Anton of the 42d:-
"On the morning of the
16th June, before the sun rose over the dark forest of Soignes, our brigade,
consisting of the 1st, 44th, and 92d regiments, stood in column, Sir Denis
Pack at its head, waiting impatiently for the 42d, the commanding-officer of
which was chidden severely by Sir Denis for being so dilatory. We took our
place in the column, and the whole marched off to the strains of martial
music, and amidst the shouts of the surrounding multitude. As we entered the
forest of Soignes, our stream of ranks following ranks, in successive
sections, moved on in silent but speedy course, like some river confined
between two equal banks.
"The forest is of
immense extent, and we continued to move on under its welcome shade until we
came to a small hamlet, or auberge, imbosomed in the wood to the right of
the road. Here we turned to our left, halted, and were in the act of
lighting fires, on purpose to set about cooking. We were flattering
ourselves that we were to rest there until next day, for whatever reports
had reached the ears of our commanders, no alarm had yet rung on ours. Some
were stretched under the shade to rest; others sat in groups draining the
cup, and we always loved a large one, and it was now almost emptied of three
days’ allowance of spirits, a greater quantity than was usually served at
once to us on a campaign; others were busily occupied in bringing water and
preparing the camp-kettles, for we were of the opinion, as I have already
said, that we were to halt there for the day. But, "hark ! a gun one
exclaims; every ear is set to catch the sound, and every mouth seems half
opened, as if to supersede the faithless ear that doubts of hearing. Again
another and another feebly floats through the forest. Every ear now catches
the sound, and every man grasps his musket. No pensive looks are seen; our
generals’ weather-beaten, war-worn countenances are all well known to the
old soldiers, and no throb of fear palpitates in a single breast; all are
again ready in column, and again we tread the wood-lined road.
"The distant report of
the guns becomes more loud, and our march is urged on with greater speed. We
pass through Waterloo, and leave behind the bright fields of Wellington’s
fame, —our army’s future glory and England’s pride. Quatre Bras
appears in view; the frightened peasantry come running breathless and
panting along the way. We move off to the left of the road, behind a gently
rising eminence; form column of companies, regardless of the growing crop,
and ascend the rising ground: a beautiful plain appears in view, surrounded
with belts of wood, and the main road from Brussels runs through it. We now
descend to the plain by an echelon movement towards our right, halted on the
road (from which we had lately diverged to the left), formed in line,
fronting a bank on the right side, whilst the other regiments took up their
position to right and left, as directed by our general. A luxuriant crop of
grain hid from our view the contending skirmishers beyond, and presented a
considerable obstacle to our advance. We were in the act of lying down by
the side of the road, in our usual careless manner, as we were wont when
enjoying a rest on the line of march, some throwing back their heads on
their knapsacks, intending to take a sleep, when General Pack came galloping
up, and chid the colonel for not having the bayonets fixed. This roused our
attention, and the bayonets were instantly on the pieces.
"Our pieces were loaded,
and perhaps never did a regiment in the field seem so short taken. We had
the name of a crack corps, but certainly it was not then in that
state of discipline which it could justly boast of a few years afterwards.
Yet notwithstanding this disadvantage, none could be animated with a fitter
feeling for the work before us than prevailed at that moment.
"We were all ready and
in line,—"Forward!" was the word of command, and forward
we hastened, though we saw no enemy in front. The stalks of the rye, like
the reeds that grow on the margin of some swamp, opposed our advance; the
tops were up to our bonnets, and we strode and groped our way through as
fast as we could. By the time we reached a field of clover on the other
side, we were very much straggled; however, we united in line as fast as
time and our speedy advance would permit. The Belgic skirmishers retired
through our ranks, and in an instant we were on their victorious pursuers.
Our sudden appearance seemed to paralyse their advance. The singular
appearance of our dress, combined no doubt with our sudden debut, tended to
stagger their resolution: we were on them, our pieces were loaded, and our
bayonets glittered, impatient to drink their blood. Those who had so proudly
driven the Belgians before them, turned now to fly, whilst our loud cheers
made the fields echo to our wild hurrahs. France fled or fell before us, and
we thought the field our own. We had not yet lost a man, for the victors
seldom lose many, except in protracted bard-contested struggles: with one’s
face to the enemy, he may shun the deadly thrust or stroke; it is the
retreating soldier that destruction pursues.
"We drove on so fast
that we almost appeared like a mob following the rout of some defeated
faction. Marshal Ney, who commanded the enemy, observed our wild unguarded
zeal, and ordered a regiment of lancers to bear down upon us. We saw their
approach at a distance, as they issued from a wood, and took them for
Brunswickers coming to cut up the f!ying infantry; and as cavalry on all
occasions have the advantage of retreating foot, on a fair field, we were
halted in order to let them take their way: they were approaching our right
flank, from which our skirmishers were extended, and we were far from being
in a formation fit to repel an attack, if intended, or to afford regular
support to our friends if requiring our aid. I think we stood with too much
confidence, gaging towards them as if they had been our friends,
anticipating the gallant charge they would make on the flying foe, and we
were making no preparative movement to receive them as enemies, further than
the reloading of the muskets, until a German orderly dragoon galloped up,
exclaiming, "Frauchee! Franchee !" and, wheeling about, galloped
off. We instantly formed a rallying square; no time for particularity; every
man’s piece was loaded, and our enemies approached at full charge; the
feet of their horses seemed to tear up the ground. Our skirmishers having
been impressed with the same opinion, that these were Brunswick cavalry,
fell beneath their lances, and few escaped death or wounds; our brave
colonel fell at this time, pierced through the chin until the point of the
lance reached the brain. Captain (now major) Menzies fell, covered with
wounds, and a momentary conflict took place over him; he was a powerful man,
and, hand to hand, more than a match for six ordinary men. The grenadiers,
whom he commanded, pressed round to save or avenge him, but fell beneath the
enemy’s lances.
"Of all descriptions of
cavalry, certainly the lancers seem the most formidable to infantry, as the
lance can be projected with considerable precision, and with deadly effect,
without bringing the horse to the point of the bayonet; and it was only by
the rapid and well-directed fire of musketry that these formidable
assailants were repulsed.
"Colonel Dick assumed
the command on the fall of Sir Robert Macara, and was severely wounded.
Brevet-maj or Davidson succeeded, and was mortally wounded; to him succeeded
Brevet-major Campbell. Thus, in a few minutes we had been placed under four
different commanding-officers.
"An attempt was now made
to form us in line; for we stood mixed in one irregular mass, —grenadier,
light, and battalion companies,—a noisy group; such is the inevitable
consequence of a rapid succession of commanders. Our covering sergeants were
called out on purpose that each company might form on the right of its
sergeants; an excellent plan had it been adopted, but a cry arose that
another charge of cavalry was approaching, and this plan was abandoned. We
now formed a line on the left of the grenadiers, while the cavalry that had
been announced were cutting through the ranks of the 69th regiment. Meantime
the other regiments, to our right and left, suffered no less than we; the
superiority of the enemy in cavalry afforded him a decided advantage on the
open plain, for our British cavalry and artillery had not yet reached the
field. We were at this time about two furlongs past the farm of Quatre Bras,
as I suppose, and a line of French infantry was about the same distance from
us in front, and we had commenced firing at that line, when we were ordered
to form square to oppose cavalry. General Pack was at our head, and Major
Campbell commanded the regiment. We formed square in an instant, in the
centre were several wounded French soldiers witnessing our formation round
them; they doubtless considered themselves devoted to certain death among us
seeming barbarians; but they had no occasion to speak ill of us afterwards;
for as they were already incapable of injuring us, we moved about them
regardful of their wounds and suffering.
"Our last file had got
into square, and into its proper place, so far as unequalised companies
could form a square, when the cuirassiers dashed full on two of its faces:
their heavy horses and steel armour seemed sufficient to bury us under them,
had they been pushed forward on our bayonets.
"A moment’s pause ensued; it was the
pause of death. General Pack was on the right angle of the front face of the
square, and he lifted his hat towards the French officer as he was wont to
do when returning a salute. I suppose our assailants construed our
forbearance as an indication of surrendering: a false idea; not a blow had
been struck nor a musket levelled; but when the general raised his hat, it
served as a signal, though not a preconcerted one, but entirely accidental;
for we were doubtful whether our officer commanding was protracting the
order, waiting for the general’s command, as he was present. Be this as it
may, a most destructive fire was opened; riders, cased in heavy armour, fell
tumbling from their horses; the horses reared, plunged, and fell on the
dismounted riders; steel helmets and cuirasses rung against unsheathed
sabres, as they fell to the ground; shrieks and groans of men, lte neighing
of horses, and the discharge of musketry, rent the air, as men and horses
mixed together in one heap of indiscriminate slaughter. Those who were able
to fly, fled towards a wood on our right, whence they had issued to the
attack, and which seemed to afford an extensive cover to an immense reserve
not yet brought into action.
"Once more clear of
those formidable and daring assailants, we formed line, examined our
ammunition boxes, and found them getting empty. Our officer commanding
pointed towards the pouches of our dead and dying comrades, and from them a
sufficient supply was obtained.
"We lay down behind the
gentle rise of a trodden down field of grain, and enjoyed a few minutes’
rest to our wearied limbs; but not in safety from the flying messengers of
death, the whistling music of which was far from lulling us to sleep.
"Afternoon was now far
spent, and we were resting in line, without having equalized the companies,
for this would have been extremely dangerous in so exposed a position; for
the field afforded no cover, and we were in advance of the other regiments.
The enemy were at no great distance, and, I may add, firing very actively
upon us.
"Our position being, as
I have already observed, without any cover from the fire of the enemy, we
were commanded to retire to the rear of the farm, where we took up our
bivouac on the field for the night.
"Six privates fell into
the enemy’s hands; among these was a little lad (Smith Fyfe) about five
feet high. The French general, on seeing this diminutive looking lad, is
said to have lifted him up by the collar or breech and exclaimed to the
soldiers who were near him, "Behold the sample of the men of whom you
seem afraid." This lad returned a few days afterwards, dressed in the
clothing of a French grenadier, and was saluted by the name of Napoleon,
which he retained until he was discharged.
"The night passed off in
silence: no fires were lit; every man lay down in rear of his arms, and
silence was enjoined for the night. Round us lay the dying and the dead, the
latter not yet interred, and many of the former, wishing to breathe their
last where they fell, slept to death with their heads on the same pillow on
which those who had to toil through the future fortunes of the field
reposed."
The principal loss sustained
by the Highlanders was at the first onset; yet it was by no means so severe
as might have been expected. Lieutenant-colonel Sir Robert Macara,
Lieutenant Robert Gordon, and Ensign William Gerrard, 2 sergeants, and 40
rank and file were killed. Including officers, there were 243 wounded.
In the battle of Waterloo, in
which the regiment was partially engaged, the 42d had only 5 men killed and
45 wounded. In these last are included the following officers, viz.: Captain
Mango Macpherson, Lieutenants John Orr, George Gunn Munro, Hugh Angus
Fraser, and James Brander, and Quarter-master Donald Mackintosh. "They
fought like heroes, and like heroes they fell—an honour to their country.
On many a Highland hill, and through many a Lowland valley, long will the
deeds of these brave men he fondly remembered, and their fate deeply
deplored. Never did a finer body of men take the field, never did men march
to battle that were destined to perform such services to their country, and
to obtain such immortal renown."
The Duke of Wellington in his
public despatches concerning Quatro Bras and Waterloo paid a high compliment
to the 42d. "Among other regiments, I must particularly mention the
28th, 42d, 79th, and 92d, and the battalion of Hanoverian's."
The word
"Waterloo," borne on the colours of the regiment, by royal
authority, commemorates the gallantry displayed by the regiment on this
occasion; a medal was conferred on each officer and soldier; and the
privilege of reckoning two years’ service, towards additional pay and
pension on discharge, was also granted to the men. It may not be
uninteresting to give here a list of the officers of the regiment who were
present at the battle of Quatre Bras and Waterloo. It will be seen that
while only 3 were killed, few escaped without a wound.
It has been observed, as a
remarkable circumstance in the history of the Royal Highlanders, that on
every occasion when they fired a shot at an enemy (except at Ticonderoga,
where success was almost impossible), they were successful to such an extent
at least, that whatever the general issue of the battle might be, that part
of the enemy opposed to them never stood their ground, unless the
Highlanders were by insurmountable obstacles prevented from closing upon
them. Fontenoy even does not form an exception; for although the allies were
defeated, the Highlanders carried the points assigned them, and then, as at
Ticonderoga, they were the last to leave the field.
As the battle of Waterloo
terminates a period of active service and hard lighting in the case of the
42d, as well as of other regiments, and as it had a rest of many years
during the long peace, we shall here give a summary of the number of men
that entered the regiment, from its formation down to the battle of
Waterloo, and the number of those who were killed, wounded, died of
sickness, or were discharged during that period.
The grand total of men
embodied in the Black Watch and 42d or Royal Highland regiment, from its
origin at Tay Bridge in April 1740, to 24th June 1815, exclusive of the
second battalion of 1780 and that of 1803, was 8792.
Of these there were killed,
during that period, exclusive of 35
officers, 816
Wounded during the same period, exclusive of 133 officers
2413
Died by sickness, wounds, and
various casualties, including those who were discharged and those who
volunteered into other regiments, when the 42d left America in 1767, up to 25th June 1793,
2275.
Died by sickness, wounds, and
various casualties, from 25th June 1793 to 24th June 1815, 11356.
Discharged during same
period, 1485
Unaccounted for during same
period, having been left sick in an enemy’s country, prisoners., &c.138.
Total - 8262.
Number remaining in the
first battalion on 24th June 1815, 530.
When it is considered that
out of seventy-five year’s service, forty-five were spent in active
warfare, the trifling loss of the regiment by the enemy will appear
extraordinary; and the smallness of that loss can only be accounted for by
the determined bravery and firmness of the men, it being now the opinion of
military men that troops, who act vigorously, suffer less than those who are
slow and cautious in their operations.
After spending several months
in the vicinity of Paris, the regiment marched to Calais and embarked for
England, arriving at Ramsgate, December 19th 1815. The regiment proceeded by
Deal and Dover to Hythe, where it lay two weeks, when it marched to
Chelmsford.
After staying two weeks in
Chelmsford Barracks, the regiment proceeded northwards to Scotland by easy
stages, and was everywhere received with overwhelming enthusiasm and lavish
hospitality. At Cambridge, for example, Sergeant Anton, in his Military
Life, tells us, the bells welcomed the Royal Highlanders with joy; every
table smoked with savoury viands for their entertainment, and every cellar
contributed a liberal supply of its best October for their refreshment. The
same thing occurred at Huntingdon and other towns, and at several places the
men received a donation equal to two day’s pay. And so it was at every
town through which the regiment had to pass; the men were feted and petted
as if they had saved their country from destruction.
As they approached Edinburgh,
the whole population seemed to have poured to welcome them to its arms.
Preceded by a guard of cavalry, with its band of music, they entered the
city amidst the loud cheering and congratulatory acclamations of friends ;
while over their heads, "from a thousand windows, waved as many
banners, plaided scarfs, or other symbols of courtly greetings." At
Edinburgh they were entertained in a manner that would have made the men of
any regiment but a "crack" one completely lose their heads ; but
the self-possessed Royal Highlanders, while heartily enjoying the many good
things provided for them, and grateful for their hearty welcome, seem never
to have forgotten the high reputation they had to maintain.
After this, for many years, the Royal
Highlanders had a rest from active service.
[The following is an extract from the account
published at the time ; "Tuesday, the first division of the 42d
regiment, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Henry Dick (who
succeeded to the command of the regiment, on the death of Lieutenant-Colonel
Sir Robert Macara, killed at Quatse Bras), marched into the Castle.
Major-General Hope, commander of the district, and Colonel David Stewart of
Garth, accompanied time Lieutenant-Colonel at time head of the regiment. Not
only the streets of the city were crowded beyond all former precedent with
spectators, but the windows, and even the house-tops, were occupied. The
road from Musselburgh, a distance of six miles, was filled with relations
and friends and so great was the crowd, that it was after four o’clock
before they arrived at the Castle Hill, although they passed through
Portobello about two o’clock. It was almost impossible for these gallant
men to get through the people, particularly in the city. All the bells were
rung, and they were everywhere received with the loudest
acclamations."]
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