Part 8

The Peninsula was at this period the centre of political interest. Portugal, deserted by her government, and Spain betrayed, the people of each rose in arms to recover the national independence. Dissensions had arisen in the royal family of Spain, occasioned by the sway of Emanuel Godoy, who bore the title of Prince of Peace. This minister was dismissed, but the court was unable to restore tranquillity. In this emergency, the French emperor was solicited to be umpire, and Napoleon ultimately placed the crown of Spain on his brother Joseph, who was transferred from the throne of Naples. The Spaniards flew to arms in consequence. The British government resolved to aid the Spanish and Portuguese patriots, and a British army was ordered to proceed to the Peninsula, under the command of Lieut.-General Sir Arthur Wellesley. The first battalion of the SEVENTY-FIRST regiment formed part of the force selected on this occasion.

The first battalion of the SEVENTY-FIRST regiment embarked at the Cove of Cork on the 17th of June 1808. Its strength consisted of fifty-two serjeants, twenty-two drummers, and eight hundred and seventy-four rank and file.

In June 1808 His Majesty King George III. was pleased to approve of the SEVENTY-FIRST bearing the title of _Glasgow_ regiment, in addition to the appellation of _Highland_ regiment.

In the first instance, the SEVENTY-FIRST were brigaded with the fifth, thirty-eighth, and fifth battalion of the sixtieth regiment, under Brigadier-General Henry Fane, and sailed for Portugal, in conjunction with the forces destined to aid the Spaniards and Portuguese, on the 12th of July. After a favourable passage, the troops anchored in Mondego Bay in the beginning of August, and a landing was effected in the vicinity of the village of Frejus.

Early in the morning of the 4th of August a small piquet of the enemy stationed in the neighbourhood fell back, and the operation of disembarking the troops was carried into effect without opposition. The army then moved on to a position across a deep sandy country, where it halted, and encamped for the night.

At this period a change took place in the arrangement of the brigades, and the first battalion of the SEVENTY-FIRST was placed, with the thirty-sixth and fortieth regiments, in that commanded by Major-General Ronald Craufurd Ferguson.

The division under Major-General Sir Brent Spencer, K.B., from Cadiz, consisting of about four thousand men, joined on the 8th of August; and, after a short halt, the army was again put in motion to occupy a more forward position, where it remained for some days. On the 17th of August the enemy, commanded by General Laborde, was encountered near _Roleia_. The position was attacked, and carried with great loss to the French, who retreated on Torres Vedras.

The light company of the SEVENTY-FIRST was the only part of the regiment engaged, the remainder being employed in manœuvring on the right flank of the French. The light company suffered a trifling loss, having but one man killed and a few wounded.

The SEVENTY-FIRST subsequently received the royal authority to bear the word “ROLEIA” on the regimental colour and appointments, in commemoration of this victory.

Lieut.-General Sir Arthur Wellesley, after the battle of Roleia, did not pursue the enemy by the high roads, but keeping to the right near the sea, marched to _Vimiera_, to cover the landing of a brigade commanded by Major-General Anstruther, which was effected on the 20th of August.

The morning of the 21st of August was given up to the troops, in order to prepare and repose themselves. The men were engaged in washing and cleaning their equipments, when the approach of the enemy, moving to the left, was discovered at eight o’clock in the morning, and the brigades commanded by Major-General Ferguson, Brigadier-Generals Nightingall, Acland, and Bowes, were consequently moved across a valley from the heights on the west to those on the east of Vimiera.

Marshal Junot, Duke of Abrantes, moved on his army to the attack of the position, and commenced it on the British centre, where the fiftieth regiment was posted, moving along the front gradually to the left, until the whole line became engaged.

A short time previously to this, the soldiers of the brigade were ordered to sit down, with their arms in their hands, keeping their formation. The enemy in the meantime cannonaded the whole line, and pushed on his sharpshooters and infantry. To oppose the former, Major-General Ferguson ordered the left sections of companies to move forward and skirmish. Upon the retreat of the enemy’s sharpshooters, the action became general along the front of this brigade, and the whole moved forward to the attack. Nothing could surpass the steadiness of the troops on this occasion, and the general and commanding officer set a noble example, which was followed by all.

The grenadier company of the SEVENTY-FIRST greatly distinguished itself, in conjunction with a subdivision of the light company of the thirty-sixth regiment. Captain Alexander Forbes, who commanded the grenadier company, was ordered to the support of some British artillery, and, seizing a favorable opportunity, made a dash at a battery of the enemy’s artillery immediately in his front. He succeeded in capturing five guns and a howitzer, with horses, caissons, and equipment complete. In this affair alone the grenadier company had Lieutenants John Pratt and Ralph Dudgeon and thirteen rank and file wounded, together with two men killed.[22]

The French made a daring effort to retake their artillery, both with cavalry and infantry; but the gallant conduct of the grenadier company, and the advance of Major-General Ferguson’s brigade, finally left the guns in the possession of those who had so gallantly captured them.

George Clark, one of the pipers of the regiment, and afterwards piper to the Highland Society of London, was wounded in this action, and being unable to accompany his corps in the advance against the enemy, put his pipes in order, and struck up a favourite regimental air, to the great delight of his comrades. This is the second instance in which the pipers of the SEVENTY-FIRST have behaved with particular gallantry, and evinced high feeling for the credit and honor of the corps.[23]

During the advance of the battalion, several prisoners were taken, among whom was the French general, Brennier. Corporal John M^cKay, of the SEVENTY-FIRST, who took him, was afterwards promoted to an ensigncy in the Fourth West India Regiment.

The result of this battle was the total defeat of the enemy, who subsequently retreated on Lisbon, with the loss of twenty-one pieces of cannon, twenty-three ammunition waggons, with powder, shells, stores of all descriptions, and 20,000 rounds of musket ammunition, together with a great many officers and soldiers killed, wounded, and taken prisoners.

The conduct of the battalion, and of its commanding officer, Lieut.-Colonel Pack, was noticed in the public despatches, and the thanks of both Houses of Parliament were conferred on the troops.

The following officers of the SEVENTY-FIRST were wounded in the battle of _Vimiera_: Captains Arthur Jones and Maxwell Mackenzie; Lieutenants John Pratt, William Hartley, Augustus M^cIntyre, and Ralph Dudgeon; Ensign James Campbell, and Acting Adjutant R. M^cAlpin.

The SEVENTY-FIRST subsequently received the royal authority to bear the word “_Vimiera_” on the regimental colour and appointments, in commemoration of this battle.

The “_Convention of Cintra_” was the result of this victory, and it was signed on the 30th of August. By its provisions the French army evacuated Portugal, which country became freed from its oppressors.

The British army was ordered to move forward to Lisbon, some of the reinforcements for it having preceded it by water, and occupied the forts at the mouth of the Tagus. The French army having by this convention fallen back on Lisbon, the British proceeded to the vicinity of Fort St. Julien, and encamped.

All the objects of the expedition being carried into effect, and the French troops embarked for France, the British army remained for some time at Lisbon and its vicinity. At this period (September) Lieut.-General Sir John Moore, having assumed the command, made dispositions for entering Spain.

The first battalion of the SEVENTY-FIRST was now brigaded with the thirty-sixth and ninety-second regiments under Brigadier-General Catlin Craufurd, and placed in the division under the command of Lieut.-General the Honorable John Hope, afterwards the Earl of Hopetoun. On the 27th of October the division was put in motion, and after a short stay at Badajoz resumed the march, proceeding by Merida, Truxillo, Jaraicejo, Puerto-de-Merivette, and crossing the Tagus at the bridge of Almaraz, directed its route upon Talavera-de-la-Reyna. From this town the column proceeded to the Escurial, seven leagues to the north-west of Madrid.

Intelligence was here received of the enemy’s approach towards Madrid, and two companies of the SEVENTY-FIRST, under Major Archibald Campbell, were pushed forward to occupy the important pass in the Guadarama Mountains, which separate Old from New Castile. After a halt of a few days, the division was put in motion over the Guadarama Pass to Villa Castin, at which place Lieut.-General the Honorable John Hope, in consequence of the intelligence which he received of the enemy’s movements, made a night march to the left, by Avila and Peneranda, and finally proceeded to Alba-de-Tormes. At the latter place a junction was formed with a detachment from the army under Lieut.-General Sir John Moore, then at Salamanca. The army under Sir John Moore was shortly afterwards put in motion towards Valladolid, and subsequently to the left, to form a junction with Lieut.-General Sir David Baird’s division, which had landed at Corunna.

Previously to this period, the Spanish armies under General Blake, near Bilboa on the left, General Castanos in the centre, and General Palafox lower down the Ebro on the right, had been completely defeated; and Lieut.-General Sir John Moore consequently made arrangements for a retreat on Portugal by Ciudad Rodrigo; but it having been represented to him that Madrid held out against the French, he was induced to effect a junction with Lieut.-General Sir David Baird, in order to make a diversion in favour of Madrid, by attacking Marshal Soult on the river Carion.

The British force, twenty-nine thousand strong, joined at Toro on the 21st of December, and on the 23d of that month Sir John Moore advanced with the whole army. The cavalry had already met with that of the enemy, and the infantry were within two hours’ march of him, when an intercepted letter informed the British commander that Napoleon, who had entered Madrid on the 4th of December, was then in full march for Salamanca and Benevente. A retreat on Corunna, through Gallicia, was immediately decided on, that through Portugal being then impracticable.

Accordingly the several divisions marched towards the Esla, the greater part crossing by the bridge of Benevente on the 26th of December, when, after a day’s halt, the cavalry under Lieut.-General Lord Paget and Brigadier-General the Honorable Charles Stewart had an engagement with some of the Imperial Guards that had forded the river Esla under General Le Fevre, who was made prisoner, with several of his men.

At this period the situation of the British army was dispiriting in the extreme. In the midst of winter, in a dreary and desolate country, the soldiers, chilled and drenched with the heavy rains, and wearied by long and rapid marches, were almost destitute of fuel to cook their victuals, and it was with extreme difficulty that they could procure shelter. Provisions were scarce, irregularly issued, and difficult of attainment. The waggons, in which were their magazines, baggage, and stores, were often deserted in the night by the Spanish drivers, who were terrified by the approach of the French. Thus baggage, ammunition, stores, and even money were destroyed to prevent them falling into the hands of the enemy; and the weak, the sick, and the wounded were necessarily left behind. The SEVENTY-FIRST suffered in proportion with the rest, and by weakness, sickness, and fatigue lost about ninety-three men.

[Sidenote: 1809.]

On the 5th of January 1809, a position was taken up at Lugo, where some skirmishing occurred, in which three companies of the SEVENTY-FIRST were engaged, and repulsed the enemy.

Lieut.-General Francis Dundas was appointed from the ninety-fourth regiment to be Colonel of the SEVENTY-FIRST on the 7th of January 1809, in succession to Lieut.-General Sir John Francis Cradock, K.B., removed to the forty-third regiment.

The retreat was again commenced on the 9th of January; and on the 11th the army, still nearly fifteen thousand strong, reached _Corunna_. The British army, having accomplished one of the most celebrated retreats recorded in modern history, repulsing the pursuing enemy in all his attacks, and having traversed two hundred and fifty miles of mountainous country under very disheartening circumstances, accompanied by severe privation, was not destined to embark for England without a battle.

The transports not having arrived, a position was occupied in advance of _Corunna_, and some sharp skirmishing ensued, in which four companies of the SEVENTY-FIRST were warmly engaged, and lost several men in killed and wounded. Lieutenant William Lockwood was severely wounded. On this ground the battle of _Corunna_ was fought, on the 16th of January; but the SEVENTY-FIRST, being placed on the extreme left of the British line, had little to do therein. The result of the action was glorious to the British army, but was darkened by the loss of Lieut.-General Sir John Moore, who received a severe wound during the battle, and died at ten o’clock on the same night. His remains were wrapped in a military cloak, and interred in the Citadel of Corunna, over which Marshal Soult, with the true feeling of a soldier, erected a monument.

Lieut.-General Sir David Baird, who succeeded to the command upon Sir John Moore being wounded, was also wounded, and the command devolved upon Lieut.-General the Honorable John Hope.

At eight o’clock on the night of the 16th of January the troops quitted their position, leaving the piquets posted, and a few men to keep up the fires, and then marched into Corunna, where they embarked for England on the following day.

In commemoration of this battle, and of the conduct of the battalion during the expedition, the SEVENTY-FIRST, in common with the army employed under Lieut.-General Sir John Moore, received the royal authority to bear the word “CORUNNA” on the regimental colour and appointments.[24]

The thanks of both Houses of Parliament were conferred on the troops, and were communicated to Lieut.-Colonel Pack by Lieut.-General Sir David Baird in the following letter:--

“_Portsmouth, 30th January 1809._

“SIR,

“I have great pleasure in transmitting to you copies of letters from the Lord Chancellor and the Speaker of the House of Commons, enclosing the Resolutions of both Houses of Parliament, dated 25th of January 1809, which contain the thanks of those Houses to the army lately engaged before Corunna.

“In communicating to you, Sir, this most signal mark of the approbation of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, allow me to add my warmest congratulations upon a distinction which you, and the corps under your command on that day, had a share in obtaining for His Majesty’s service.

“I have, &c. “(Signed) DAVID BAIRD, “_Lieut.-General_.

“_Officer commanding First Battalion_ “SEVENTY-FIRST regiment.”

After the battalion had landed at Ramsgate, it was marched to Ashford in Kent, where it continued for some time, collecting the men, who from contrary winds were driven into different ports.

While at Ashford the battalion was brigaded with the Warwick militia and the ninety-first regiment, under Brigadier-General the Baron de Rottenburg. Great sickness prevailed at this station, and Surgeon James Evans and several of the soldiers died of typhus fever.

On the 20th of March 1809 the Royal authority was granted for the SEVENTY-FIRST to be formed into a _light infantry_ regiment, when it was directed that the clothing, arming, and discipline should be the same in all respects as the forty-third, fifty-second, sixty-eighth, and eighty-fifth regiments.

The first battalion marched, on the 27th of April 1809, for Brabourne-Lees barracks, and was brigaded with the sixty-eighth and eighty-fifth light infantry regiments. Every exertion was here made to increase the strength and improve the discipline of the corps. In June the first battalion was increased by a large reinforcement, consisting of several officers and 311 non-commissioned officers and privates from the second battalion, which continued to be stationed in North Britain. Several volunteers from the militia were also received at this period.

Immense preparations had been made by the British Government to fit out the most formidable armament that had for a long time proceeded from England. The troops amounted to 40,000 men, commanded by Lieut.-General the Earl of Chatham; the naval portion consisted of thirty-nine ships of the line, thirty-six frigates, and numerous gun-boats and bomb-vessels, and other small craft, under Admiral Sir Richard Strachan. The object of the expedition was to obtain possession of the islands at the mouth of the _Scheldt_, and to destroy the French ships in that river, with the docks and arsenals at Antwerp. The first battalion of the SEVENTY-FIRST, towards the end of June, received orders to prepare for the above service, and marched, on the 28th and 29th of that month, in two divisions, encamping near Gosport.

On the 16th of July the battalion, consisting of three field officers, six captains, twenty-seven subalterns, five staff, forty-eight serjeants, and 974 drummers and rank and file, embarked at Portsmouth on board His Majesty’s ships _Belleisle_ and _Impérieuse_, and towards the end of the month sailed for the Downs.

The battalion was brigaded, under Brigadier-General the Baron de Rottenburg, with the sixty-eighth and eighty-fifth light infantry, in the division commanded by Lieut.-General Alexander Mackenzie Fraser, and in the corps of Lieut.-General Sir Eyre Coote, K.B.

The expedition sailed from the Downs on the 28th of July, and having arrived off the Roompet Channel, preparations were made for landing; small craft to cover the landing were also sent in shore, and the light brigade, composed of the sixty-eighth, SEVENTY-FIRST, and eighty-fifth light infantry, were landed under their fire. In an instant they were in contact with the enemy’s sharpshooters, who fell back, skirmishing. Being pushed hard, four guns, with their equipment, and several prisoners were taken by two companies of the SEVENTY-FIRST, under Captains George Sutherland and Henry Hall, and one company of the eighty-fifth regiment.

A battery and flagstaff on the coast were taken possession of by the tenth company of the SEVENTY-FIRST, and in lieu of a flag a soldier’s red jacket was hoisted on it.

This advance having succeeded at all points, and the enemy having fallen back on _Flushing_ and _Middleburg_, the army was disembarked. The advance then dividing, proceeded by different routes. The SEVENTY-FIRST moved by the sea dyke on a fort called _Ter Veer_, the situation and strength of which was not sufficiently known, an enemy’s deserter having given but imperfect intelligence respecting it.

After nightfall the column continued to advance in perfect silence, with orders to attack the post with the bayonet, when, on a sudden, the advance-guard fell in with an enemy’s party, who came out for the purpose of firing some houses which overlooked the works. The column following the advance-guard had entered an avenue or road leading to the fort, when the advance commenced the action with the enemy, who, retiring within the place, opened a tremendous fire from his works with artillery and musketry. Some guns pointing down the road by which the battalion advanced did great execution, and the SEVENTY-FIRST had Surgeon Charles Henry Quin killed, and about eighteen men killed and wounded. The column, after some firing, retired, and the place was the next day regularly invested by sea and land. It took three days to reduce it, when it capitulated, with its stores, and a garrison of 800 men.

_Flushing_ having been invested on the 1st of August, the SEVENTY-FIRST, after the surrender of Ter Veer, were ordered into the line of circumvallation, and placed on the extreme left, resting on the Scheldt. The preparations for the attack on the town having been completed, on the 13th a dreadful fire was opened from the batteries and bomb-vessels, and congreve rockets having been thrown into the town, it was on fire in many places. The ships having joined in the attack, the enemy’s fire gradually slackened, and at length ceased. A summons being sent in, a delay was demanded, but being rejected, the firing recommenced.

On the 14th of August one of the outworks was carried at the point of the bayonet by a party of detachments and two companies of the SEVENTY-FIRST under Lieut.-Colonel Pack.

In this affair, Ensign Donald Sinclair, of the SEVENTY-FIRST, was killed; Captain George Spottiswoode and a few men were wounded.

_Flushing_, with its garrison of 6,000 men, capitulated on the 15th of August, and the right gate was occupied by a detachment of 300 men of the first or Royal Scots, and the left gate by a detachment of similar strength of the SEVENTY-FIRST under Major Arthur Jones. The naval arsenal, and some vessels of war which were on the stocks, fell into the hands of the British.

The SEVENTY-FIRST shortly after proceeded to Middleburg, where the battalion remained for a few days, when it was ordered to occupy _Ter Veer_, of which place Lieut.-Colonel Pack was appointed commandant, and Lieutenant Henry Clements, of the SEVENTY-FIRST, town major. The battalion remained doing duty in the garrison until this island, after destroying the works, &c., was finally evacuated on the 22d of December.

On the 23d of December the battalion embarked in transports, and sailed for England, after a service of five months in a very unhealthy climate, which cost the battalion the loss of the following officers and men.

Serjeants, Drummers, Officers. and Rank and File. Died on service 1 57 Killed 2 19 Died after return home 2 9 -- -- Total 5 85

In passing Cadsand, that fort opened a fire on the transports, one of which, having part of the SEVENTY-FIRST on board, was struck by a round shot, which carried off Serjeant Steel’s legs above the knees.

On the 25th of December the first battalion of the SEVENTY-FIRST disembarked at Deal, and marched to Brabourne-Lees barracks, in Kent, where it was again brigaded with the sixty-eighth and eighty-fifth light infantry, and was occupied in putting itself in an efficient state for active service.

[Sidenote: 1810.]

Upon the SEVENTY-FIRST being made light infantry, they were permitted to retain such parts of the national dress as might not be inconsistent with their duties as a light corps. A correspondence on the subject took place between Lieut.-Colonel Pack and the Adjutant-General in April 1810, and the following reply was received from head-quarters.

“_Horse Guards, 12th April 1810._

“SIR,