Chatham, June 7th, 1809.-Orders were issued for the embarkation of my troop on the 19th of May (the day on which I returned from Scotland, where I had been on leave for two months), but the transports having to come round from Portsmouth to Ramsgate, we continued in suspense till the morning of the 7th June, when by a letter from General Macleod to Brigade-Major Adye, the troop was ordered to move as soon as possible. The order was received by me at 10 o'clock, and the troop marched for Canterbury at 11, and arrived at the barracks at 5 in the evening.

"June 8th.-Marched at 7 a.m. for Ramsgate. Sent Jenkinson (his 2nd Captain) forward to examine the transports, and prepare them for our reception. Arrived at the harbour at 10 a.m., when Jenkinson informed me that he had used every endeavour to find the Agent without success. Owing to his absence, the commencement of our embarkation was delayed till past 12 o'clock, a little before which hour he made his appearance. I accompanied him round the ships. They are very good, but as he declared it impossible to stow the ordnance and carriages in the vessels containing the men and horses, I am, much against my inclination, compelled to put them all into the 'Blessing,' which had been provided purposely for them. The other transports are the Rodney,' in which I am, with M'Donald and Dr. O'Brien; the Phoemis' (Captain Jenkinson, Belson, and Smith), the 'Amphitrite' (Corporal Isherwood), Jane' (Serjeant Braid), 'Ruby' (Serjeant Farquhar), the 'Ganges' (Bombardier Ownsworth). The embarkation was completed without accident at 8 o'clock in the evening.

June 11th.-Wet and squally morning. Signal made to get under weigh about mid-day. When weighing anchor, the Agent came past in a boat, and informed me that the Ganges was ordered into Portsmouth, to receive more horses; she not being completed in the number she can carry.

Men and

I represented to Captain Hamilton the injury it would cause to the service, his permitting the Ganges' to separate from the convoy, unless he could remove the men and horses belonging to my troop into some of the other transports. "June 14th.—The wind still nearly west. Fresh breeze and squally. horses reported to have been transhipped without injury at daybreak. "June 17th.-The wind directly against us; blowing fresh at west. Beating between Brighton and Beachy Head.

"June 19th.-Off the Isle of Wight, with a light breeze to the N.E., at 7 a.m., and the convoy well together. The wind continues baffling all day.

June 20th.-Off Christchurch Bay.

June 23rd.-Wind northerly, and a fine breeze. At 8 a.m., the convoy close

round us, and sailing nearly 6 miles an hour.

"June 26th.-At daylight, run for the land, with a fair wind, but light breeze. July 1st.-Anchored in the Tagus.

July 2nd.- Transports ordered to move near to the Naval Arsenal, to be ready to land the troop next morning.

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July 3rd.-Land the troop without any accidents whatever.

July 4th.-Commence shoeing, and get ready to march. 5th and 6th occupied in altering forge and completing the shoeing, &c., &c.

"July 7th.-All ready to march, but have neither sufficient horses nor can I get mules. Receive an order to take 11 horses from the Waggon Train, and to receive 6 mules from the Commissariat. The horses I procure, but not the mules, and consequently defer marching another day.

"July 8th, Saturday:-I am informed by the Acting Commissary-General that no mules can be procured till Monday; I therefore determine to march without them, and request Captain Turner, of the Artillery Drivers, to bring them up to As he purposes joining the army as soon as he can, he will in all probability overtake the troop.

me.

"July 9th.-March from Lisbon at 5 o'clock, a.m. About 5 miles from Lisbon,

the axle-tree of the forge gives way. Leave the wheeler and a party to repair it; which is done by sending back to the arsenal and bringing up a new axle-tree, which the wheeler secures by strengthening it in the centre with strong plates of iron, Reached Villa Franca about 3 o'clock-distance 6 leagues; billetted; not a horse galled.

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July 10th.-The first 3 leagues good road; the last 6 very bad-deep sand and very hilly. The horses much fatigued, and many galled.

July 11th and 12th.-Halt at Santarem, to stuff saddles and collars, which from the perspiration are become very hard. Finding it impossible with only two collar-makers to keep the saddles constantly safe, the sweat and dust hardening the pannels so much, I ordered the blanket to be carried under the saddle.

"July 14th.-Through the awkwardness of a driver, a baggage or store waggon was overset. The leaders were allowed to stop on the pitch of the hill, by which the wheels backed off the end of the bridge, and the waggon turned completely over, but happily without injury to men, horses, carriage, or harness, and in a quarter of an hour it was got up, but with great exertion, for it had fallen into the river at least 14 ft. lower than the bridge.

July 15th.-Halt on account of being unable to procure wains, mules, and provisions the previous evening. At 11 at night, the Quartermaster brings 9 forage wains and 10 mules to the park from Abrantes. I have been obliged to demand the mules, in consequence of the loss of so many horses, which compels me to drop a store-waggon at this place.”

The following extract gives an example of an improvised ambulance :

"July 17th.-Having only one day's forage to carry, I am enabled to put the stores on the mules, and give up the waggon to carry Gunner Roberts and Gunner Harvey (the latter got a severe kick on the knee). By nailing corn sacks from side to side of the waggon, a very tolerable conveyance was made for them, and on their arrival I had the satisfaction to find they had not suffered at all, except pain by the jolting.

July 18th.-Halt.

Many horses are far from well, but I hope to be able to take them all forward. Their complaint appears to be rheumatism, brought on by the great heat of the day and damp at night.

"July 21st.-Halt by order to forage the three following days. No wains to be procured, which will prevent my marching to-morrow. Wheel repaired and horses shod.

"July 22nd. So much am I reduced in my horses, that I feel it necessary to drop and leave with the Commissary, my wheel-carriage and store-waggon. I expect the mules, but cannot build upon them with certainty, otherwise would take the latter forward.

'August 2nd.-To Talavera. Received orders to halt my troop on the road, and that the army was to retreat the following morning."

The letters from which the following extracts are taken, were written a few days after his having joined the army —

To his Sister :

GASIESIGO,
August 9, 1809.

"I marched from Lisbon on the 9th of last month with my troop alone, with orders to join the army as soon as I could. I consequently used all diligence, and though opposed by many difficulties from want of forage and provisions, as well as being deficient in horses, and having the heat of the climate to

endure, which at this season is intense, I reached the army at Talavera on the 2nd August, without having suffered one hour of ill health, and left by the road only two men from sickness. You will easily imagine my vexation on finding I was too late to share in the actions of the 27th and 28th-certainly the most splendid in point of gallantry that were ever fought-and my still deeper mortification on learning that we were to commence our retreat the following morning, which we did, and are thus far on our way, it is thought, to Lisbon.

"I have now been marching exactly a month, with only one halting day; you may therefore form an estimate of how my time is occupied. In fact, it is a round of eating when we can get it, sleeping when we have time, and working hard almost always. I was only a short part of a day in Talavera, and therefore could not see many of my friends who had the misfortune to be left there.

"Victor has treated all the prisoners he has taken with the greatest attention and kindness, and has, I am told, assured Sir Arthur by an officer left for the purpose of requesting, that every act of humanity and attention shall be shewn to the sick and wounded. Since we left Talavera, we have performed a wonderful march, and crossed mountains which it is hardly possible to suppose artillery could have been got over. We are now four leagues from Truxillo, to which place I believe we shall march to-morrow, unless it is found necessary to wait for stragglers and the stores to come up. Our arrival here to-day has given us new life, in the hope of having better food. For four days we had only one biscuit and half a pound of flour between every six men; now we look for something that may make up for the past, by getting into a more plentiful country. I really believe we should have starved had we continued a week longer in the mountains. How thankful I ought to be for possessing such a constitution. Every one of my officers has at times been ill, from fatigue or climate, but I have not had even a moment's uneasiness. By the march we have made, and the start we have got of the French army, it is not thought we shall be close followed, particularly as they may be anxious to annihilate the remains of the infamous Spanish army. The world, it is to be hoped, will now give credit to Sir John Moore's opinion of the state of this country, and I have no doubt will see the rashness of venturing so far as we have done with so small a British force. My next letter, in all probability, will be from Lisbon, where I have no doubt we are making our way. From what I have said, you must not suppose that this army is at all out of spirits; far from it. They endure every want with the greatest fortitude, and as we have now a prospect of plenty, only lament the necessity there is for our retreat, owing to the unwise policy or cowardice of the Spanish army.

My

troop is attached to the cavalry under General Payne, who has shown me every mark of kindness and attention. I may venture to say, what few in the army can, that we have-I mean my troop-been never without some food, though sometimes a little hungry. Jenkinson is an excellent cook, and Hayter a good forager, so that I can never want."

The following letter was written to his aunt, Miss Ross, on the same day :

"I have at last found time to get at my paper and ink; you will have rejoiced at the honor acquired by the British army, in the actions of the 27th and 28th July, and pitied me for not having had a share in their glory. After a most fatiguing march from Lisbon, we reached Talavera on the 2nd August, just in time to join the cavalry and commence our retreat the following morning. You may judge of our vexation and disappointment when I tell you that, having heard that the army was again to attack, I had marched my troop two forced marches on the two days preceding, in the hope of being up in time-six leagues the one, and eight the other-which, after so long a march as we have performed without a rest, has proved very unlucky; but I have still the satisfaction to see both my men and

horses more healthy than the rest of the army, and in better condition. The want of forage in the mountainous country we have come through, has been a great evil, and we have also been ill off for provisions. For cattle we have had enough, but we seldom see either bread or flour, and when we do, it is but a scanty allowance. The cause of our retreat you will have heard of in England. The story believed here is that Cuesta would not agree to Sir Arthur's wish to attack the French previous to their being reinforced. The consequence was that when they were, from Madrid, the French attacked us. The event you know; it was glorious to the British army, and will ever be the wonder of every one. Our army only 17,000 men; that of the French 45,000. As to the Spaniards, they hardly moved in our favour, and the enemy heeded them not. The enemy after the action being, like ourselves, entirely without provisions, retired towards Toledo; and it being ascertained that Soult and Ney were advancing through Placentia-the only route open for our supplies, and thro' which I came only a few days before-it became necessary to make a desperate effort at our retreat, by crossing the bridge of Archiebispo, which we did on the 4th, and sent immediately to secure the boat bridge at Almaranca, opposite to which Soult, Ney, and Mortier were when we took possession and destroyed it. We have crossed mountains which, until tried, appeared quite inaccessible to artillery, and which I am informed the French, when they crossed them, did not attempt to carry artillery over. We are now again in a better country, and hope will find a better supply of provisions and forage. It is not known whether we are making the best of our way to Lisbon, or that we are to take up a position at Abrantes. The Spaniards have proved General Moore's report to be too true: their armies are plentifully supplied when ours must starve, and they lend us little or no help. They are well pleased to see us fight, but they will not fight for themselves. In short, it is but too evident that we had no business to be where we are; for unless we had an army strong enough to command the Spaniards as well as to beat the French, we can do no good. Our march is the most melancholy scene possible to conceive. The sick and wounded who follow the army to escape being taken, are not to be numbered, and many die by the road side of fatigue or hunger. As yet, I have been very fortunate in not being an hour ill, and I have only dropt two of my men, who are now in the hands of the enemy, having left them sick at Placentia. It is calculated that there are at least five thousand men left sick in the different towns in Spain, most of them where they can have no medical assistance. At Talavera, we have left a vast number, but they will be well off, as there are many surgeons left with them."

Three days later, 12th August, he writes from Oporto :

"Nothing can exceed the good spirits and pleasing prospects every person I meet here evinces in his looks; but alas! I am just told that the mortifying reverses of the Austrians have turned all our expectations topsy turvy in an instant. On my arrival, I found the town-which is beautifully situated on the banks of the river Douro-illuminated at all points, and the air resounding with the shouts of exultation, and the din of bells and crackers, which uncouthly expressed the joy of the natives for the brilliant victory of Talavera. For a distance of four miles, this animating scene enlivened the banks of the river, as the boats slowly conveyed me from the entrance of the harbour to the town, which I reached when the fracas was at its height. Everything had the appearance of magnificence and prosperity, and even next day I found with great pleasure that Oporto-though the atrocities that Soult's army were guilty of in it cost it many lives-still contained an abundant populace, and that no part of the town had been burnt. The people again recover confidence and exertion. A British officer is appointed Governor of the District, and has roused them to some exertion, and keeps them in some order, which late events had given an opportunity to daring and bad characters to interrupt.”

The following extract from a letter to his sister, dated Merida, September 25th, shows how little the brilliant campaigns which were to follow the retreat from Talavera were then expected :-

"I have now, I think, given you a good dose of Spain. I have only to add that I shall ever lament the ill fortune which has attended me in the service of this country; to be twice embarked for it, and at last to arrive just too late to witness and share in the most brilliant battle that was ever fought; to have undergone the fag of a long and rapid march up to the enemy, and to have partaken of all the wretchedness of a retreat; and now I only look forward to a lagging march into Portugal, and perhaps some months hence to embark for England, without my troop having occasion to fire a shot, altho' it has suffered more from fatigue and ill health than in all probability it would have done in many battles. Much as the climate has disagreed with the men of the army, with the English horses it is still worse. This brigade (General Fane's) which landed at Lisbon between four and five months ago, 1300 strong in horses, is now reduced to 800, and of that number not above 20 horses have been taken or killed by the enemy. I have likewise lost many in my troop, but luckily my own, like myself, stand the climate quite well; indeed I never enjoyed better health, nor have I had an hour's illness since in the country.

We have just received an increase to our force, of Captain Bull's Troop of Horse Artillery, in which is Ramsay, and the Royal Regiment of Dragoons. They are on their way from Lisbon to join the army."

The troop arrived at Talavera on the 2nd August, and joined in the retreat of the army the following day. To return to the journal:

'Aug. 6th.-To Mesa del Thor. The hills very steep; ten horses to each gun and forty men. Mountainous scenery very fine.

"Aug. 7th.-To Campillo. Road very bad, and hills very high; ten horses to each carriage. Here I was obliged to break up my wheel carriage, after taking all the good wheels off it to complete the other carriages, and the next morning, my last baggage waggon being overset and much damaged, I was under the necessity of leaving it, after breaking it up.

"Aug. 8th.-To Delcitosa; about two miles from which we quitted the mountains. Aug. 26th.-March to Merida.

"Sept. 2nd.-During the two first days my troop were on this ground, I lost eight horses-that is to say, four dropt down on the march from Medellin, and four died in the lines the following day. Both men and horses continue very unhealthy.

Sept. 20th.-General Fane's Brigade, together with my troop, continued in camp until to-day, when we move into quarters in the town of Merida.

Sept. 27th.-March to Lobon, where I meet Bull's troop, which is on its way

to relieve me at Merida. Dine with him and N. Ramsay.

"Sept. 29th.-March to Badajos. Dine with Lord Wellington; forget being in a fortress, and find the gates locked when I wish to return to camp on the other side of the bridge. General Howorth gives me a bed.

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'Sept. 30th.-Leave my carriages to be repaired in the arsenal, and march with men and horses to Elvas.

"Oct. 16th.-Receive a verbal order from General Howorth to leave two 6 prs. with the reserve, as he can give me neither men nor horses.

"Oct. 17th.-Form my troop into four subdivisions.

"Oct. 18th.-Send Macdonald to Badajos, to bring over two guns and ammunition waggons.

"Oct. 19th.-Belson brings the other division from Badajos.