Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

and close application to the waters of life, his martial spirit seemed to brighten within him; and between the whiffs of his pipe, he called the storming of St. Sebastian's a mere volunteer-day to some in which he had been no inconsiderable actor.

On rising the ensuing morning, I found our vessel just entering the harbour of Passages. The mouth of the harbour is not visible until you approach within a few yards of it, and you proceed nearly two miles up a narrow creek, running between rocks of stupendous height. After disembarking our party, we marched with our detachment to a farm-house, or, rather, what would be called a hovel in England, about three miles from Passages, and in this miserable place, in which only two beds were to be found, which were already sufficiently tenanted by various insects, we were expected to find accommodation for two officers and fifty men. The fumes of brandy and tobacco generally lulled the Baron to sleep long before he retired to his couch; but, for my own part, during the whole time we were quartered in this wretched spot, I knew not what it was to enjoy an hour's slumber during the night.

The quality of our first day's dinner was pretty much upon a par with our logement. Our fare consisted of ration pork, so hard and so fat that no teeth or stomach of ordinary strength could away with it. Cabbage of a saffron hue supplied the place of other vegetables. To counterbalance these privations, we had the privilege, like Gil Blas at Sangrado's, of drinking water à discretion, and we certainly did find it un dissolvement universel. To one, who had been used to call a dinner at Long's or Stevens's a bore, and who had professed himself satisfied with Jacquiere's cookery, such a banquet did not possess many attractions. The Baron, with a grin of singular expression, frequently exclaimed, during our feast, ""Tish very goot!" Towards the middle of

the following day, I paid a visit to the town of Passages, in order to learn some intelligence from the army, and to purchase an animal to carry my baggage. On arriving in the town, the novelty of the scene was extremely amusing. The head-quarters of Lord Wellington were then about eight miles from Passages, and the town at that time formed a sort of depôt for provisions. Parties of dragoons escorting provisions, Commissaries, French prisoners marching through, Generals departing for England, Portuguese and Spanish soldiers, servants buying provisions, passing and repassing before my eyes, gave the scene the appearance of a masquerade. Every one seemed regardless of the occupations of his neighbour. In one portion of the town, a party of German hussars had made a regular encampment, and were busily engaged dressing their horses, cooking their coarse viands, and smoking their long cum-de-mer pipes in the open air, quite as contented beneath the canopy of Heaven, as if they were housed under the most hospitable roof. Advancing a little farther, we saw several hundred French prisoners, guarded by a detachment of British infantry, headed by three officers, two of whom were mounted upon mules, and the other walking. In point of speed, these pedestrians seemed likely to outstrip their mounted leaders, as the miserable animals which carried them had many points in common with Yorick's mare. The clothing of our brave soldiers, which, by conjecture rather than by its present appearance, we judged to have been of the scarlet hue, had, by its numer

ous patchings, at length assumed the semblance of an harlequin's coat, while the long coats of the officers, which, in their original state, had been of a grey colour, by the service they had seen, and long exposure to the sun, had become thread-bare and brown: the French prisoners were certainly horrid-looking fellows; their unshorn beards, and their long moustaches, gave little encouragement to the unfledged valour of a stripling Cornet.

66

Cui frons turgida cornibus

Primis, et Venerem et prælia destinat.

All the detachments which we saw, seemed well content with the accommodations which were provided for them al fresco, with the exception of some newly-arrived English hussars, who appeared to entertain too lively a remembrance of the comforts of Hyde Park Barracks to allow them to think of taking up their lodgings on the cold ground;" and after a vain struggle, for some hours, to procure the shelter of a roof, they were marched forward without having enjoyed even that repose which their less delicate companions had found on the cold pavement of the streets of Passages. The accounts which we received from the army were strangely contradictory. Now we heard that there was no doubt that we should be forced to retreat into Portugal; and now we were told, that within a few days we should be feasting in Paris. Every one seemed competent to approve or censure the plans of Lord Wellington, while all were blessed with an equal degree of ignorance; indeed, the English newspapers were, at this time, the only means by which we could gain any intelligence of our own motions-so necessarily confined was the information of each individual. This state of things was precisely ⚫ what is described by Walter Scott

When high events are on the gale,

Each hour brings a varying tale.

After making a purchase of all the delicacies which Passages afforded-namely, mutton, bread, and vegetables, and cheapening a few baggage-animals, which were enormously dear, I returned to our quarters, where I found the Baron, with his three horses in his hand, allowing them to crop the heads of a field of fine maize at the back of the house, never once adverting to the exploded doctrine of meum and tuum. In short the Baron was an old campaigner, and knew how to provide victuals both for himself and his horses. This, however, is a knowledge which is very speedily acquired in war; of which I witnessed an instance on my return from Passages. I beheld-oh! tell it not in St. James's-publish it not in Bond Street-I beheld the Hon. Captain Counterscarp, the amiable, the accomplished Captain Counterscarp of the Guards, who always held it to be highly derogatory even to speak to an acquaintance who carried an umbrella-I beheld him, lost to all sense of shame, in his right hand bearing a leg of mutton, and in his left a haversack of cabbages!

Our detachment having received orders to remain a fortnight longer at this miserable station, for the purpose of refreshing the horses, and it occurring to me that the delay would by no means be productive of the same effects to myself, so unceasingly was I tormented by the lively activity of my body-guard, I resolved, with the permission of

[blocks in formation]

my friend the Baron, to spend a few of those days with my brother, a captain in a Light Infantry regiment, which was then encamped near the head-quarters of Lord Wellington. In fact I had grown anxious to taste the sweets of war. I commenced my journey about mid-day, thinking eight miles would be as easily accomplished as in England, and hoping to arrive at the camp in good time for a five-o'clock dinner. Soon after I had got into the main road, I was surprised to find my advance a good deal impeded by the roads being broken up. Dead oxen, which had been fortunate enough to end their labours a little time before they reached the camp, where they were to have been slaughtered-waggons broken down, and other vehicles of military desolation, were scattered along the way, and impeded the progress of passengers. Nor was my advance much accelerated by the convoys of bullocks and provisions, the long strings of mules, the sick, wounded, and prisoners, coming from the army, and the stragglers about to join it, which altogether formed as dense and motley a group, although of a very different character, as the annual procession of the worthy inhabitants of London, eastern and western, on their road to Epsom races. It was nearly dusk ere I arrived at Lord Wellington's headquarters, that were at a village through which the road passed. The names of the various general officers composing the staff of the army, chalked upon the doors of the meanest cottages, shewed pretty plainly what must be the accommodations of the inferior officers. I soon learned that the light division, to which my brother's regiment belonged, was about five miles in advance; and I was particularly cautioned not to stumble upon the French instead of our own troops, as they were stationed close to one another. After leaving head-quarters, I found the road quite clear; yet, notwithstanding the expedition I made use of, it was quite dark before I arrived at the camp of the light division, which was situated upon the side of a hill. On reaching the summit of this hill, and looking around me, I paused, to observe one of the most striking and splendid spectacles which could possibly be imagined. For miles around me the country seemed to be one blaze of light, proceeding from the fires in the camps of both armies. There was almost a perfect stillness around me; and as I stood alone, in the silence of night, upon this foreign soil, I seemed to experience, for the first time, a strong and vivid feeling of mortality. The countless thousands which were stretched around me might, on this calm and beautiful night, be enjoying their last earthly repose. I could not help thinking how different these sensations were from those of an ordinary traveller, passing through the country in a time of peace and tranquillity. My brother's camp lay in a field to the right of the road: I found him, with his tent pitched to windward of a large fire, with one or two of his companions, anticipating the pleasure of devouring a couple of fine ducks, which they were roasting with considerable skill. After an absence of nearly two years, we enjoyed our meeting in this strange spot fully as much as we had ever done, in former times, beneath the peaceful shades of ***** Hall. I soon satisfied his enquiries; and, in return, begged to be informed, by what good fortune he had become possessed of the deux gros canards which promised so luxurious a feast. He informed me that an old campaigner, like himself, was generally a good forager. He had surprised a party of French

that morning in taking a village, and had discovered these treasures attached to the personal staff of one of the French officers, who resigned the promised enjoyment with the utmost complaisance, and in presenting the ducks to my brother remarked, "C'est la fortune de la guerre." A small hamper formed our table, while a piece of oil-skin, on which we sate à la Turc, prevented us from feeling the ill effects of the damp ground. Our dinner consisted of soup and bouille, and the aforesaid ducks, accompanied with the best sauce-a ravenous appetite. The old campaigners corrected the badness of the wine, by converting it into very delicious mull, by the aid of nutmeg and ginger, cinnamon and cloves. By the time we had finished the second kettle of this nectar, which operated as a composing draught after the fatigues of the day, we retired to rest, and for the first time I stretched my limbs in a bona fide camp. I lay in my brother's tent, and rolled in my cloak, I slept as soundly as in the softest bed in England, with "all appliances and means to boot." I was surprised on wakening the next morning to find it was already nine o'clock: we rose immediately, and enjoyed a cup of excellent tea. The regiment was ordered to stand to their arms, and waited to be supplied with provisions. A long string of mules, laden with bread, soon afterwards arrived, and a drove of bullocks were brought to be slaughtered in the camp. A certain number of men attended to assist in slaughtering the beasts, and receive their portion of the provisions. The whole affair is usually conducted with great dispatch; insomuch that I have often since seen a bullock alive, slaughtered, dressed, and eaten, within a quarter of an hour. The bugles now sounded to arms, and the brigade was immediately formed. As over our mull, the preceding evening, I had expressed my determination to accompany the regiment, should it be called into action, I was now, by the contributions of several officers, fully equipped in the dress of my brother's corps. We marched forward, and soon deployed into an open field. Behind us towered the lofty chain of the Pyrenees, and before us lay the fertile plains of France. Some companies were sent forward to skirmish, and the firing soon became exceedingly warm. It was impossible to drive-in the picquets, which kept up an incessant fire; but we gained ground by degrees. The French, perceiving the progress we made, brought a party of guns, supported by a detachment of cavalry, against us. A body of French infantry now moved upon our right, and opened a severe fire; and as I cast my eyes along the ranks I observed frequent chasms occasioned by the falling of the killed and wounded. Just before the enemy had formed upon the hill, I remarked a group of about six officers, in blue great-coats, with shabby cocked hats covered with oil-skin, ride past; and the leader of the party had scarcely passed the line of our column, when I heard Lord Wellington's name buzzed along the ranks, and saw a smile of exultation light up every countenance. The party halted upon a hillock close by us, and one of them, dismounting from his horse, reconnoitred the enemy through his spy-glass. I had an excellent view of our commander-in-chief: his features were perfectly unruffled, and his demeanour was that of a man engaged in the ordinary occupations of life. After taking a general view of the situation of the troops, he seemed to be communicating for a moment with one of his Aids, who immediately galloped forward

towards the brigade with which I was. An old officer, who stood next to me, on seeing this movement, whispered in my ear, "You are in for it now, young man." A general order of "Steady, men, steady; fix bayonets," convinced me that he was a true prophet. The next order was, "The regiment will advance;" and the bugles struck up a lively tune. As we marched forward, the enemy still continued their fire, and our men kept dropping. We moved up steadily and coolly, with all the regularity of a common parade, till within forty yards of the enemy, when we gave our fire, and the order "Double quick" was given the next word I heard was "Charge!" In an instant we were in the midst of them. I can from this moment only describe my own situation and that of those immediately around me. The first thing I observed, after the shock of the charge was over, was the butt-end of a musket aimed by a ferocious grenadier direct at my head I was just raising my arm above my head as my sole means of protection, when a friendly bayonet entered the breast of my immense foe, and his upraised arm fell powerless by his side. I had scarcely time to rejoice at this deliverance, when an ancient French officer made a dead thrust at me in most scientific style, with a sword of awful length, which I parried with the back of my own weapon, and instantly cut at him in return. I fancy my blow must have taken effect, for I saw him staggering backwards, and lost him in the universal confusion. The whole of the transaction since we first closed with the enemy had not occupied more than three minutes; and I now began to perceive the confusion amongst our own men becoming less, as the French hurried from the field. There was soon nothing left for us to do, but to pursue the enemy, and capture all we could. By scampering in all directions after them, by wounding some, and terrifying others, we succeeded in making about seventy or eighty prisoners. I was not so fortunate as to surround ten men myself, like Sir John Falstaff; but nevertheless, heavy and tardy as I was, compared with some of my light associates, I managed to overtake a drummer, a wounded corporal, and a lusty major of the Voltigeurs de la Garde. The bugle at length sounded for the regiment to form again; and at the point of my sword I drove up my three disarmed and dejected prisoners, with all the pomp of a Roman Emperor with three kings at his chariot-wheels. The prisoners were placed under a guard; and every individual, as he came in, took his station in his own company. The first object after forming was to tell off the companies, and estimate our loss, and to ascertain who had fallen in the action. I looked around me with indescribable anxiety for my brother, and my fears for his safety were dreadful, when I could not discover him with the regiment. One of the serjeants told me he was close to him at the moment of charging, but he had not seen him afterwards. I had now little doubt that he had fallen.

« AnteriorContinuar »