CHAPTER IX

HILE the Gordon Highlanders were thus quietly preparing themselves at home for the future service of their country abroad, Napoleon, who had defeated a Russian and Austrian army at Austerlitz, taken possession of Vienna, and conquered Prussia, had in the summer of 1807 made peace with Russia at Tilsit, and forced Sweden, the only ally England retained on the Continent, to renounce her alliance.  He had made one brother King of Holland and another King of Naples, and now having command of the whole of Western Europe, determined on the entire exclusion of British commerce from the Continent, trusting to defeat her by the ruin of her manufactures.  Notwithstanding the precautions taken by the Emperors of France and Russia to conceal their designs, the British Government had been made aware of their determination to seize the fleets of Denmark and Portugal, and thus destroy the maritime supremacy of Great Britain.  To prevent this, an expedition was at once secretly prepared to demand the surrender of the Danish fleet, with a promise that if it was given up without resistance, it would be returned at the close of the war.

In this expedition the 1st Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders was selected to take part.  A draft was received from the 2nd Battalion, consisting of 103 rank and file-good-looking young men.

Brigade Orders, Weely Barracks, July 25th, 1807.—The 1st Battalions 79th and 92nd Regiments are to march to-morrow morning at five o'clock for embarkation at Harwich.  They will be formed in the barrack-field at Harwich for the inspection of Sir David Baird, after which they will immediately embark on board ships which have been named for each regiment, etc.  Men to have sixty rounds ball cartridge and two flints each.  Regiments to have a sufficient number of camp colours, each regiment a different colour, so that each boat may have one on disembarking before an enemy (92nd flags red, 79th red and green).  Field officers allowed 2 cwt. of baggage, captains and staff 1 1/2 cwt., subalterns 1 cwt.

The strength embarked was 3 field officers, 10 captains, 20 subalterns, 5 staff, 48 sergeants, 19 drummers, 981 rank and file.

R.O.—Lieut.-Colonel Napier desires that officers commanding different transports on which the 92nd are embarked will pay particular attention to the cleanliness of the ships; they will keep both men, women, and children on deck during the day when weather permits; bedding to be brought on deck in fine weather, and men to dine on deck.  Ships to be fumigated three times a week.

Officers had an embarkation allowance in money, and a drawback allowed to the merchant on wine purchased by them.

Water was precious on board ship in those days.  A sentry was put on it, no person to take any without leave from the officer of the watch, except cooks or officers’ servants, who may take drinking water to the cabin.  Soldiers to drink at the cask, or if they want to cook anything they must show it on a dish to the officer of the [127] watch before they can get water.  No basins of water to wash allowed.

Major-General Burrard was in command of the expedition till the arrival of Lord Cathcart.  The troops were divided into: The 1st Division, Lieut.-General G. Ludlow, consisting of Brigade of Guards, the Hon. Major-General Finch ; the 28th and 79th Regiments, Brigadier-General Ward.

2nd Division, Lieut.-General Sir D. Baird, consisting of the 4th and 23rd Regiments, Major-General Grosvenor; the 30th, 50th, and 82nd Regiments, Major-General Spencer.

The Reserve, under Major-General Sir Arthur Wellesley, and Colonel Stewart acting Brigadier-General, consisted of the 43rd, 52nd, 92nd, and 95th Regiments.[1]  “The two battalions of the German Legion to be under the command of their own Major-General if they have one with them; if not, under the senior officer till further orders.”[2]

On August 12th, a curious Brigade Order explains that the troops may be ordered to land with or without knapsacks, and that if it is determined to land without them, the men “must wear their trousers over their breeches and leggings,” and any other articles in their greatcoats or haversacks.  This, of course, did not apply to the Highlanders.

R.O., August l2th.—The men will land in their new clothing, and officers in the Highland dress.

R.O., August 14th. —The plaids to be immediately made into wide-mouthed trousers, as light as possible; should the quantity be too small for a large man, they can make the head bands of their old trousers.  The trousers to be folded with the greatcoats when they have on their packs, and in the packs when they have on their greatcoats.

R.O., R.M.S. “Goliath,” August 12th, 1807.—The ordinary formation of the Reserve under the command of the Right Hon. Sir Arthur Wellesley is as follows:—The 1st Battalion 95th on the right, the 1st 43rd, then the 2nd 52nd, then the 1st 92nd and 2nd 95th on the left. Circumstances may render necessary a deviation from this formation, of which due notice will be given.

G.O., R.M.S. “Prince of Wales,” August 15th, 1807.—Notice is thus early given to the army that the Danish territory is to be considered as that of a Power with which war has not been declared, and that all officers in command will be held most strictly responsible [128] that the persons and properties of individuals, subjects of His Danish Majesty, shall be protected as strictly as those of His Majesty’s, or as those of any foreign Power in alliance with Great Britain where the seat of war might happen to be.  Force and military operations are to be directed against those who oppose us in arms, and to the enforcement of such restrictions as it may be found necessary to impose upon the inhabitants. At the same time, it is to be understood that hostility and vigorous resistance may be expected on the part of the Danish troops.  These, of course, are to be repelled in the most vigorous manner, and, as usual, whenever it is practicable, by the bayonet in preference to fire.

Any waggons, horses, forage, cattle, or provisions that may be pressed or taken are to be reported in the first instance to the office commanding the brigade, in writing, who will be called upon to transmit the same.

The fleet, consisting of 25 sail of the line and convoying transports with 27,000 troops,[3] after passing Elsinore, anchored inside of Croningsberg[4] Castle; and the Danish Government was summoned to surrender its fleet into the keeping of Britain, to be held as a deposit, and restored at a general peace.  The offer being refused, the island on which Copenhagen stands was invested by the ships, and on Sunday morning, the 16th August, at five o’clock, a landing was effected by the troops near the village of Welbeck.

The Light Company of the 92nd was the first that touched Danish ground, but except a party of dragoons, who galloped off as soon as the Highlanders jumped from their boats, there was nc enemy to be seen.[5]  The regiment advanced for some distance through a wooded country, and halted in the open beyond till the three divisions were landed.  Here Private James Duncan was accidentally shot.[6]  He was a fine young soldier, and his untimely death caused great grief to his comrades.  When the troops were ordered to advance, the reserve moved on the right by Marum, having Baidle on the left, by Lyngby.  Sir G. Ludlow’s Division in the centre marched towards the Hermitage, Sir D. Baird's towards Charlottenburg, etc.  “The right of the army will be supported upon the lakes of Lyngby, the left by the sea.  Pickets of 2nd line to be placed in rear, the chain of posts fronting towards Croningsberg Castle. The Reserve will also place pickets to cover the right of the army.”

Reserve Order, August 16th, 1807.—Position of Frywgt.  Two companies of the 43rd, 52nd, and 82nd Regiments are for picket this day.

[129] R.O., Husum, August 18th.—The 1st and 2nd companies will march this day at eleven o'clock, the 1st to Herlem to occupy it, the 2nd to Bredding for the same purpose.  They will post pickets at night to prevent surprise.  Immediately on arrival of the 1st company at Herlem, Captain Seton will detach a subaltern and twenty men to Gladsan, there to remain in the same manner.

Other villages were occupied by cavalry, artillery, and infantry; great care was taken that the inhabitants should be well treated, and that complaints should be immediately attended to.  Batteries were constructed at the windmill to the left of the line, and working parties of 200 men from each of the 43rd, 52nd, and 92nd Regiments, with arms and accoutrements, were employed, being relieved by others in the middle of the day, and so on night and day.  The troops were ordered to be formed till further orders two deep instead of three deep, as was usual.  All supplies abandoned by the proprietors were taken possession of by the Commissariat, and payment made when the persons entitled to it could be discovered.

General Orders of August 23rd give detailed instructions for an attack which is to be made on the enemy the next day, and the 92nd is one of the regiments named to take part in it.  On the morning of the 24th, cavalry, infantry, and artillery were under arms before daybreak, and advanced towards Copenhagen, halting near the suburbs; but the plan of attack was not carried out, and the regiment returned with the reserve to its cantonments.  In the course of the day information was received that some Danish troops were at a neighbouring village, and the 92nd were sent to dislodge them.  The advanced guard, entering the street very quietly, found no troops, but only a sentry, who had fallen asleep at his post, and was frightened out of his wits when he woke to find himself in the hands of a Highland sergeant!  The detachment to which he belonged had gone, having neglected to relieve him.  While in these cantonments, Colonel Napier, when taking a ride, fell in with a number of waggons laden with ammunition, escorted by a small body of soldiers.  He told them that our troops were close at hand, on which they surrendered to him, and he marched them in as prisoners.[7]

Reserve Orders, August 25th.—Corps to march to-morrow morning, etc.  Infantry, cavalry, and artillery to take up quarters at various places, “the 92nd at Kleitöfte.”

R.O., August 26th, 1807.—The men will immediately cook two days’ provisions, and one day’s rum will be served out.  Officers to make every possible inquiry for maps of the country at all times.

They marched on the morning of the 27th, and for once the conduct of the regiment gave pain to its commander.

[130] R.O., August 27th, near Roskilde.—Lieut.-Colonel Napier has observed with extreme concern the bad conduct: of great part of the regiment in regard to plundering the houses on the road.  The regiment used to be a pattern to others on all marches, but tthey have now shown a very different one.  A great deal has been done through mere mischief and wantonness, and he is sorry to be obliged to say the officers have not done their duty in preventing it.  He desires that on a march, officers and n.c. officers may keep their sections perfectly formed, and though they may march easy and unconstrained, the regiment must be kept in that formation.  It is strictly forbidden to any man to go into a house on the march, or when in cantonments into any house but his own.  If the officers are attentive they can prevent this, and are to report any offender, who will be punished immediately when the regiment halts.  The necessity of the case, and the wanton conduct of the men make it necessary for Lieut.-Colonel Napier to adopt, reluctantly, this line of conduct.

Poultry were evidently an attraction, and had been found with some of the soldiers. And another Order says, “The goose and fowles found yesterday are to be divided among some poor people, viz. the woman who has been defrauded by some men, and another poor woman in the house with Captain Campbell.”

The misconduct was not confined to one regiment, for “Sir Arthur Wellesley regrets the necessity of resorting to measures of severity, but he is so fully convinced that soldiers guilty of marauding are unfit for any service, that he is determined to put a stop to their disgraceful practices.”  It is requested that requisitions upon the country may be confined solely to articles necessary for the public service, and not extended to those private conveniences which it is always intended should be paid for by individuals.  Receipts to be given for all articles received on requisition, and every receipt signed by the commanding officer of the regiment.

Reserve Order, August 28th, Roskilde Knoe.—The troops will march to-morrow morning by the left in the same order as yesterday morning.  The 92nd to furnish a company for the rear guard.  Men's packs to be carried in waggons.

On the 29th, Sir Arthur Wellesley, having sent round Barron Linsingen's Brigade to fall on the enemy's left flank, himself advanced to attack the Danish army drawn up near the town of Kioge, with their artillery on a rising ground, and cavalry on the flank. They had entrenchments in their rear, and between them and the British ran a high road through the plain.  The 92nd was on the road, the 43rd to its right, the 52nd on the left, their front covered by skirmishers of the 95th Rifles and the Light Company of the 92nd, and also by the fire of our artillery.  The [131] Light Company of the 92nd, being on the left of the Rifles, came in contact with the Danish cavalry, but they galloped off on the first fire or our guns.  The line advanced, the 92nd leading the attack; the Danes retired to their entrenchments, which the Highlanders, charged and carried successfully; they pursued the enemy into the town of Kioge, the Danes retiring and firing on them, but fortunately shooting high.  The 92nd returned their fire in the street with effect.  The enemy had placed a gun at the end of the street, but just before the gunner applied his match to it, he was. knocked over by one of the Gordons, and they immediately, as they did at Mandora, turned it on the enemy, whose retreat became a rout.  The regiment took a general and many other officers, the general calling out, “Old Nelson, old Nelson,” to conciliate his captors.[8]

The 92nd had two privates, William Dallas and James Grant, killed, and one private wounded.

The following is an extract from Major-General Sir Arthur Wellesley’s dispatch to Lieut.-General Lord Cathcart, dated Kioge, August 29th, 1807:—

 “I therefore thought it proper to make the attack in an echelon of Battalions from the left, the whole covered by the 1st Battalion 95th Regiment, and by the fire of our artillery.  It fell to the lot of the 92nd Regiment to lead this attack, and they performed their part in the most exemplary manner, and were equally well supported by the 52nd and 43rd.  The enemy soon retired to an entrenchment which they had formed in front of a camp on the north side of Kioge, and they made a disposition of their cavalry upon the sands to charge the 92nd in flank, while they should attack the entrenchment.  This disposition obliged me to move Colonel Redins’ Hussars from the right to the left flank, and to throw the 43rd into a second line, and then the 92nd carried the entrenchment, and forced the enemy to retreat into the town in disorder.  They were followed immediately in the most gallant style by Colonel Redins and his Hussars, and by the 1st Battalion 95th Regiment, and by the whole of the infantry of my corps.  I cannot close this letter without expressing to your Lordship my sense of the good conduct of the troops; all conducted themselves with the utmost steadiness.  But I cannot avoid to mention particularly the 92nd Regiment, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Napier, the 1st Battalion 95th, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Beckwith, the British Artillery under command of Captain Newhouse, the Hanoverian Hussars under Colonel Redins, and the Hanoverian Light Artillery under Captain Sympter, as corps that had particular opportunities for distinguishing themselves.”

 Reserve Order, Headquarters, Kioge, August 30th, 1807, six o’clock a.m.—Major-General Sir Arthur Wellesley has much pleasure in expressing his satisfaction with the conduct of the troops in the action of yesterday. All behaved in a manner deserving the appro-[132]bation of their superior officers.  And the major-general has not failed to report their conduct in the most favourable manner to the Commander-in-Chief.  But it is particularly incumbent on him to notice and report on individuals who had opportunities of distinguishing themselves.  Among these are the 1st Battalion 95th Regiment under Lieut.-Colonel Beckwith, and the British Artillery under Captain Newhouse, in covering the advance of the infantry, and the former in the attack on the town of Kioge; the 92nd Regiment under Lieut.-Colonel Napier, in the attack of the enemy in their camp, and the regular and orderly manner in which they marched through Kioge, and formed beyond it; the Hussars under Colonel Redins throughout the day, and particularly in the charge at the town of Kioge; and the Light Artillery of the Legion under Captain Sympter, in covering the advance of the infantry, and supporting the charge of cavalry into the town.

The Order goes on to mention the Honourable Captain Blacquier and Brigade-Major Campbell, and to thank Major-General Linsingen and Brigadier-General Stewart, for the assistance he received from them in the formation and execution of a plan by which the enemy's force in the field has been defeated and dispersed, and is signed:—W. Cotton, A.A. General.

Extract from dispatch from Sir A. Wellesley to Lord Cathcart, 29th August, half-past 10 p.m.

After remarks as to the prisoners—“Our loss has been very small.  We have lost no English officer, and but few men of the 92nd and 95th.  Some officers of Hussars have been wounded.  The rout of the enemy appears complete.  We have prisoners coming in every moment.”[9]

G.O., Headquarters, Hilinaup, 30th August 1807.—The Commander-in-Chief congratulates the army on the brilliant success which has attended Major-General Sir Arthur Wellesley and the detachment under his command in attacking and totally defeating a large body of the enemy collected at Kioge.  The enemy's cannon, a general officer, and a great number of prisoners and military stores were taken, and the pursuit is still continued.

G.O., September 1st, Headquarters, Hilinaup.—The Commander--in-Chief of the Forces desires to express in the strongest manner his thanks to Major-General Sir Arthur Wellesley, and the officers and men under his command, for the judgment, valour, and discipline exhibited in the two attacks made upon the enemy in the general action of the 29th ult. at Kioge.  The detail of this affair as reported by the major-general will be laid before His Majesty at the earliest possible opportunity.

[133] In the action of Kioge the enemy, who numbered over 12,000 men, lost several hundred in killed and wounded, and 1200 prisoners, besides artillery, standards, waggons, and horses.  It was the only general action connected with the fall of Copenhagen.  On September 1st the place was summoned, and the same terms offered as before—viz. that the fleet must be surrendered to the keeping of Great Britain, to be returned at a general peace.  This offer being again rejected, the bombardment began on the 2nd, both by sea and land; the inhabitants sustained it with heroic resolution for three days, when, the town having caught fire, and much of it being burnt down, a flag of truce was sent to the British outposts on the 5th to treat for a capitulation.  But the time for equal negotiation was past, and the British would agree to nothing short of the unconditional surrender of the whole fleet, with the artillery and naval stores contained in the place, which terms were agreed to on September 7th.[10]

The magnificent prize consisted of 18 ships of the line, 15 frigates, 6 brigs, and 25 gunboats, besides 2 sail of the line and 3 frigates which had been destroyed; 3500 pieces of artillery were taken and quantities of stores.  The prize-money due to the troops engaged was estimated at £960,000.[11]  The Island of Heligoland was also captured, and became a depot for English goods to be smuggled into the Continent.

The regiment was cantoned at Blessingberg and at Osted; the men received a daily ration of I 1/2 lb. of wheaten bread or 2 lb. of rye-bread; officers of companies made their own arrangements for supplying their men with meat, “the men to be charged as cheap a rate for it as possible.”

Sir Arthur Wellesley requested the troops to be careful not to injure the harvest, and the soldiers seem to have made great friends with the farmers and others in whose houses they were cantoned.  The Danes and Scots had many tastes in common, especially the love of liquor and music.[12]  There was a good deal of drunkenness, which Colonel Napier attributes to the practice of the women bringing brandy and wine from Roskeld, “and Mrs Semple of the 1st Company having been found in the act, her provisions are to be stopped”; and in the case of another, whose conduct had been still worse, “it was the intention of Lieut.-Colonel Napier that she [134] should be drummed through the quarters of the regiment, but out of respect to the character of her husband, the lieut.-colonel will be satisfied with her disappearance for ever-and he gives her forty-eight hours to do so.”

The Grenadiers seem to have given the commanding officer nearly as much trouble as the ladies.  The parish clergyman’s ducks having been found in their cantonments, the corporal and twelve men, in whose apartment the ducks were discovered, have to furnish a guard and prevent any Grenadier passing out till the culprit who stole the poultry is given up.  And the officers of the company are not to leave their cantonments.

G.O., September 7th, 1807.—The Commander of the Forces congratulates the army on the capitulation of Copenhagen, which includes the capitulation of the Danish fleet.  The Grenadier detachments of the army will march into the citadel at four o’clock this evening.  A detachment will also embark at the same hour to occupy the dockyard, etc.  All hostilities will cease.

G.O.—Officers are requested to discontinue the practice of shooting deer in the woods of His Danish Majesty.  Danish officers are to be complimented by our guards and sentries as officers of allied armies.

On September 18th Sir Arthur Wellesley left for England, and his command was taken over by Brigadier-General Stewart.

The troops were drilled to a uniform field exercise and firelock exercise, “no deviation such as may have been ordered by general officers commanding particular districts.” The 43rd~ 52nd, and 92nd “are permitted to act as light infantry according to the rules and instructions approved and practised by light infantry.”

All the outposts were now called in, and on the 23rd September the 2nd Battalion 52nd, and 1st Battalion 92nd marched to Roskilde Kroe, and next day joined the army before Copenhagen.

Reserve Order, Blessingberg, September 22nd.—Prize lists to be made up as soon as possible.

On the 28th September a dispatch from Viscount Castlereagh, His Majesty's principal Secretary of State for the War Department, was published to the army expressing His Majesty's approbation of the conduct of his troops, both British and Hanoverian, and of the harmony and zealous co-operation which had prevailed in all departments of the naval and military service.  The Commander of the Forces thanked the general and other Staff officers and the regiments for their “patience, discipline, and exertions, to which, under Providence, he is indebted for the complete success of the whole expedition.”

G.O., October 16th, 1807.—The baggage of the 92nd Regiment [135] is to be embarked at the jetty head near the citadel this afternoon at three o'clock.

Distribution on board ships:—

Minotaur                                  336
Neptunus                                 600
Iris                                             200
                                                 1136

The regiment embarked on the morning of the 17th, and sailed on the 21st.  The crews of the English men-of-war were divided among the prizes, the soldiers assisting in working the ships.  The Neptunus, a fine new Danish 84-gun ship, by a mistake of the pilot, ran on a sandbank and was wrecked.  Some merchantmen, under convoy of the Sybil frigate, passing, came to their aid; the stores were got out of the ship, and the men were landed on the island of Hewan, belonging to Sweden, where they remained fourteen days, when ships came from England to take them off.  The weather was intensely cold, and being unprepared for it, the men suffered severely.  However, they landed safely at Chatham, on the 24th November, and marched to join the rest of the regiment at Weely Barracks.

By Horse Guards Order of 8th December all drafts from 2nd Battalions are to be made under the inspection of a general officer, in order that a fair and equal draft may be made in such a manner as to keep both battalions efficient for foreign service.

R.O.—Officers commanding companies will immediately get their men to sign a power of attorney for Archibald Campbell, Esq., late paymaster of the regiment, to empower him to draw their prize-money.  Men going on furlough to sign before they go.

At this time the battalion subscribed for a Garrison Lying-in Hospital for soldiers' wives.

R.O., Weely Barracks, January 23rd, 1808.—Corporal James Gray of the Light Company is appointed sergeant in the same company vice Dugald Cameron, promoted to a commission in the Royal East Middlesex Regiment of Militia.

In March the quartermaster is desired to serve out 3 1/2 yards of kilt tartan for each man; the men to have their kilts neatly made up, but are not to make their old kilts into pantaloons, but are to wear them till further orders.  From this it appears they sometimes had tartan and sometimes grey cloth fatigue trousers.

The Highland Brigade, consisting of the 1st Battalions 79th and 92nd, marched to Colchester on the 22nd March, leaving the 2nd 79th at Weely.

Hair-dressing was still a serious business:—

“The hair two inches from the head queued within one inch of -the end, of which one inch of hair is to be below the lace of the neck [136] of the coat.  The double knot of ribbon to be one inch in length, and the single ends to be two inches.  It is also wished that the side locks be set back with a little pomatum, as well as that of the forehead, but in no case to be stiffened with soap.”

As it was expected that the troops might be ordered on active service at the shortest notice, they were regularly exercised in marching short distances of from six to twelve miles.  “Officers are desired to see that the men have good dinners, and that everyone has a knife, fork, and spoon.”  Up to this time dinner was the only meal of which official notice was taken, but a breakfast mess was now recommended to be introduced as a salutary regulation, to which officers commanding battalions are requested “to turn their most anxious attention,” and the Order gives a recipe for a pottage made of either milk or small beer with oatmeal, suet, and molasses, which is highly recommended, to cost 7d. for six men.

The sentence of court-martial on Lieut.-General Whitelock, commander of the expedition for the reduction of the province of Buenos Ayres, was published, “for shamefully abandoning and delivering up to the enemy the strong fortress of Monte Video, which was committed to his charge,” and which was “sufficiently garrisoned and provisioned”; for which he was sentenced “to be cashiered, and declared totally unfit and unworthy to serve His Majesty in any military capacity whatever.”  This was read at the head of every regiment, as were the sentences for various causes on several officers commanding battalions, and on other officers for drunkenness, but none of them belonged to the Gordon Highlanders.

The regiment had not much time for rest or enjoyment of their prize-money, for on the 19th April they were held in readiness for immediate embarkation.  Ensign Hector Innes, in a letter to his family at Loanhead, Cullen, says:—

 COLCHESTER, 24th April 1808.

We received our route yesterday to march to Harwich for immediate embarkation, our destination supposed to be Norway in the first instance.  The town is a scene of dissipation, the soldiers having a great deal of money.  I could live but indifferently in England on an ensign's pay; living is extremely expensive, 14s. a week for dinner without beer; no supper, tea, etc. England seems a delightful country in some ways, but I would rather live in Scotland.

 

R.O.—The men who have not fired ball, including a draft lately joined from the 2nd Battalion,[13] are to fire fifteen rounds.

They were to take with them on service sixty rounds and three flints a man.

Six women per company to embark with their children.

[137] On 28th April 1808, the 1st Battalion marched to Harwich.  “They will march in old clothing and new bonnets and kilts, and carry new coats and trousers in the packs.”  The Gordons embarked the same day with a strength of 3 field officers, 9 captains, 22 subalterns, 4 staff, 50 sergeants, 22 drummers, and 934 rank and file, and sailed on May 4th for Yarmouth, the place of rendezvous appointed for the troops destined to form the armament under Lieut.-General Sir John Moore, consisting of 10,000 men intended to assist Sweden in maintaining her independence, which was menaced by France and Russia.  At Yarmouth the expedition was joined by Major-General the Hon. Sir John Hope (Colonel of the 92nd) as second in command.

On May 18th Mr Innes writes from Gottenburgh Roads:—

We arrived here yesterday in great health and spirits after eight days from Yarmouth; we are to go up the Baltic to take possession of the islands of Zealand and Boresholm; we are in fine spirits and impatient for a landing.  We have about 15,000 men, and will have 50,000 Swedes co-operating with us.  Subs. can live better abroad than in England, and we have an allowance of wine.  On our voyage we drove a Danish Indiaman ashore and captured some small craft.

June 2nd.—Lieut.-Colonel Murray, A.G., was sent with dispatches to the King at Stockholm, and on his return was ordered immediately to England.  The Commander of the Forces and Staff have lodgings in Gottenburgh, and have landed their horses, but few officers are allowed to land.

During their stay the troops were exercised in disembarking and embarking in boats, and the men had plenty of fresh fish to vary the salt pork and biscuit.

Negotiations were carried on between Sir John Moore and the King of Sweden, for the purpose of concerting operations; but as it appeared that the views of the Swedish monarch as to the disposal of the forces differed greatly from the intentions of the British Government, the expedition was recalled, to be employed in the operations in the Spanish Peninsula.

The fleet accordingly sailed on July 3rd, with orders to rendezvous at Yarmouth, but were met by a dispatch vessel with orders which changed their destination to the Downs; where they arrived after a rough passage on July 20th, and proceeded to Spithead, where a draft of seventy rank and file of good appearance joined from the 2nd Battalion.  Here they took in provisions and water for six weeks; neither officers nor soldiers were allowed to land. They had been nearly three months at sea, generally on salt provisions, and there were several cases of scurvy among the men, these being sent ashore to Gosport Hospital.

At this period political interest was centred in Spain and Portugal. In October 1807, France and Spain had agreed [138] to divide Portugal between them; the Portuguese Royal Family had fled for refuge to Brazil, and a French army under Junot had entered Lisbon.  No sooner was Napoleon in possession of that country, than he induced the weak Charles IV, King of Spain, to meet him at Bayonne, where he extorted from him, and from his son Ferdinand, a renunciation of the Spanish throne in his own favour.

It was declared that the Spanish Bourbons had ceased to reign.  Joseph Bonaparte, who had been crowned King of Naples, was removed to Spain, whilst Napoleon's brother-in-law, Murat, took his place at Naples.[14]  A French army at once invaded Spain, and Joseph Bonaparte entered Madrid on July 20th, 1808.  The Spaniards immediately rose against the French usurper, established a “supreme Junta of Spain and the Indies” at Seville, and proclaimed Ferdinand VII as King.  The news of the rising was received throughout Britain with joy; Whig and Tory agreed in the determination to support the Spaniards and Portuguese, and to strike a bold stroke to rescue the world from the power of Napoleon.  Supplies in profusion were sent to the Spanish Loyalists, and a small army of about 10,000 men, under Sir Arthur Wellesley, was sent to the Peninsula.  The first efforts of the patriots were successful; in July a French force which had invaded Andalusia surrendered to the Spaniards at Baylen.[15]  Joseph Bonaparte was driven out of his new capital, and had retired to Vittoria, when the British army, reinforced by General Spencer from Cadiz, and numbering about 14,000 men, landed near Figueras, in Mondego Bay, on the 1st of August.  On the 15th, the first British blood which flowed in the Peninsular War was drawn in a skirmish at Obidos.  Wellesley defeated Laborde in the combat of Roliça on the 17th, and in the battle of Vimiera[16] on the 21st had forced Junot to retreat, and was about to follow up his success, when Sir Harry Burrard, who had left the fleet on which Sir John Moore’s troops were embarked, and had arrived that morning, but had generously declined to take the command from Sir Arthur during the battle, gave orders for the army to halt and remain in position at Vimiera, till the reinforcements under Sir John Moore should arrive.  On August 22nd Sir Hew Dalrymple arrived from Gibraltar and assumed the command of the army, so that in thirty hours a battle had been fought, and three generals had commanded the, forces.

The 1st Battalion 92nd, along with the troops under Sir John [139] Moore, after a calm and slow passage, arrived at Mondego Bay on the 21st of August, and were to land there on Sunday the 22nd, when an express from Sir Arthur Wellesley arrived, and the transports proceeded to Maceira[17] Bay, where the 1st Battalion landed on the 27th, with great difficulty, owing to the swell on the rocky coast; several boats were upset, but none of the regiment were drowned.  They at once marched inland, and pitched their tents close to the battlefield of Vimiera, which exhibited a horrible spectacle, strewn as it was with dead bodies, which the inhabitants were burning, according to the custom of the country.[18]  They were told that very large sums of money were found in the knapsacks of the French soldiers, who had pillaged the country in all directions.

Next day they marched twelve miles to Ramalhal, “half-roasted” by the sun, and in the night were “half-drowned by torrents of rain”; their route lay through a country of bleak hills and fertile valleys, where the superabundance of fruit sent some to the sick list.  They were at a small village near Torres Vedras on 30th August, on which day the famous Convention of Cintra was signed, by which it was arranged that the French should evacuate the whole kingdom of Portugal, and be conveyed to France with their field artillery, and sixty rounds of ammunition for each gun, all other artillery and ammunition to be delivered up to the British; they were to carry with them cavalry horses and private property; their sick and wounded to be taken care of till fit to be sent to France, and the fortresses of Elvas, Almeida, Peniche, and Palmela to be delivered up as soon as British detachments could take possession of them.  Also the Russian fleet in Lisbon Harbour, which had been blockaded by Admiral Sir Charles Cotton, to be conveyed to Britain with all its stores, and to remain in deposit till six months after a general peace, but their officers and crews to be returned at once to Russia; also the Spanish troops in custody of the French armies to be liberated.[19]

This convention was received with indignation both in the Peninsula and in the British Islands.  The Portuguese, who had been in no hurry to confront the invader in the field, were loud in their complaints of an arrangement by which they were freed from his presence.  The Spaniards complained that the liberated Frenchmen would reappear on their frontier, and it was said, with some truth, that the clause allowing private property to be removed would enable the French to carry off the spoils which formed their ill-gotten gains; while in Britain the people had been raised to the highest pitch of enthusiasm by the decisive victories of Roliça and Vimiera, and expected nothing less than to see Marshal Junot and [140] 20,000 French soldiers arrive as prisoners at Spithead.  So general was the condemnation that the Government consented to a Court of Inquiry.  Sir Hew Dalrymple, Sir Harry Burrard, and Sir Arthur Wellesley were ordered home and appeared before the Court, which, after full investigation, arrived at the conclusion that, considering the extraordinary manner in which three general officers had been successively invested with the direction of the army, it was not surprising that the victory of Vimiera had not been more vigorously followed up; and that unquestionable zeal and firmness had been exhibited by all three generals.  But, notwithstanding this acquittal, neither Sir Hew Dalrymple nor Sir Harry Burrard were again employed in any important command, and it required all the family influence, and all the early celebrity of the hero of Assaye and Vimiera,[20] to save the future conqueror of Napoleon from being cut short on the threshold of his career, for no fault whatever of his own, by the very people upon whom he had conferred an inestimable benefit.[21]

The 1st Battalion 92nd marched from Torres Vedras to Lisbon, where they remained till the French troops were embarked, when they were moved ten miles to Campo Sancto, and encamped there, being brigaded with the 36th and 71st Regiments in the Division of Sir John Hope (colonel of the regiment).

 

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