A Soldier of the 71st

ARRIVAL at Cork - Correspondence with his brother -Sails for Portugal, with an expedition under Sir Arthur Wellesley - Battle of Roleia - Description of Vimeira - Battle of Vimeira
- Behaviour of the peasants after the battle.

It was on the 25th December 1807, after an absence of seventeen months from Britain, that I landed at the Cove of Cork in Ireland. A thrill of joy ran through my whole body, and prompted a fervid inward ejaculation to God, who had sustained me through so many dangers, and brought me to a place where I might hear if my parents had pardoned me, or if my misconduct had shortened the period of their lives. The uncertainty of this embittered all my thoughts, and gave additional weight to all my fatigues. How differently did the joy of our return act upon my fellow-soldiers! - to them it was a night of riot and dissipation. Immediately on our arrival, our regiment was marched to Middleton Barracks, where we remained one month; during which time I wrote to my father, and sent him the amount of the ten doubloons I had received from the good priest. In the course of post I received the following letter, enclosed in one from my brother. It had been returned to them by the post-office at the Isle of Wight.
"Edinburgh, 5th August, 1806.
"DEAR THOMAS, "We received your letter from the Isle of Wight, which gave us much pleasure. I do not mean to add to your sorrows by any reflection upon what is past, as you are now sensible of your former faults, and the cruelty of your desertion. Let it be a lesson to you in future. It had nearly been our deaths. Your mother, brothers, and myself, searched in every quarter that night you left us; but it pleased God we should not find you. Had we only known you were alive, we would have been happy. We praise God you are safe, and send you our forgivness and blessings. The money you have sent, we mean to assist to purchase your discharge, if you will leave the army and come to us again. You say you have made a vow to remain seven years. It was rash to do so, if you have vowed solemnly. Write us on receipt of this, that I may know what course to pursue. "YOUR LOVING PARENT."

"Edinburgh, 5th January 1808.

"DEAR BROTHER, "We received your letter with joy. It has relieved our minds from much uneasiness; but, alas! he who would have rejoiced most, is no more. My heart bleeds for you, on receipt of this; but, on no account, I beseech you, think your going away caused his death. You know he had been long badly, before you left us; and it pleased God to take him to his reward, shortly after your departure. He received your letter two days before his death. He was, at the time, propped up in bed. It was a beautiful forenoon. William and myself were at his bedside; Jean and our dear mother each held a hand. Our father said in his usual manner, "My dear children, I feel the time at hand, in which I am to bid adieu to this scene of troubles. I would go to my final abode content and happy, would it please God to let me hear of Thomas; if dead, that our ashes might mingle together; if alive, to convey to him my pardon and blessings; for ere now, I feel conscious he mourns for his faults." As he spoke, your letter arrived. He opened it himself; and, as he read, his face beamed with joy, and the tears ran down his cheeks "Gallant, unfortunate boy, may God bless and forgive you, as I do." He gave me the letter to read to my mother, aloud. While I read it, he seemed to pray fervently. He then desired me to write to you, as he would dictate. This letter was returned to us again. I now send it to you under cover of this. Your mother is well, and sends you her blessings; but wishes you to leave the army, and come home. The money you sent just now, and the five pounds before, will purchase your discharge. Send us the happy intelligence you will do so. I remain, "YOUR LOVING BROTHER."

On receipt of this letter, I became unfit to do or think on any thing but the fatal effects of my folly. I fell into a lowness of spirits, that continued with me until my arrival in Spain; when the fatigue and hardship I was forced to undergo, roused me from my lethargy.
I was now more determined to remain with the army, to punish myself, than ever. This I wrote to my brother, and desired him to make my mother as comfortable as possible with the money I had sent.

We remained only one month in Middleton barracks, when we were again marched to Cork barracks, where I remained until the 27th June 1808, when I was embarked with, the troops on an expedition under Sir Arthur Wellesley, consisting of nine regiments of infantry.
We remained at anchor until the 12th July, when we set sail for the coast of Portugal, where we arrived on the 29th July, at Mondego Bay.
We began to disembark on the 1st of August. The weather was so rough and stormy, that we were not all landed until the 5th. On our leaving the ships, each man got four pound of biscuit, and four pound of salt beef cooked on board. We marched, for twelve miles, up to the knees in sand, which caused us to suffer much from thirst; for the marching made it rise and cover us. We lost four men of our regiment, who died of thirst. We buried them where they fell. At night we came to our camp ground, in a wood, where we found plenty of water, to us more acceptable than any thing besides on earth. We here built large huts, and remained four days.
We again commenced our march alongst the coast, towards Lisbon. In our advance, we found all the villages deserted, except by the old and destitute, who cared not what became of them.
On the 13th, there was a small skirmish between the French and our cavalry, after which the French retired. On the 14th, we reached a village called Alcobaco, which the French had left the night before. Here were a great many wine stores, that had been broken open by the French. In a large wine cask, we found a French soldier, drowned, with all his accoutrements.

On the morning of the 17th, we were under arms an hour before day. Half an hour after sunrise, we observed the enemy in a wood. We received orders to retreat. Having fallen back about two miles, we struck to the right, in order to come upon their flank, whilst the 9th, 29th, and 5th battalion of the 60th, attacked them in front. They had a very strong position on a hill. The 29th advanced up the hill, not perceiving an ambush of the enemy, which they had placed on each side of the road. As soon as the 29th was right between them, they gave a volley, which killed, or wounded, every man in the grenadier company, except seven. Unmindful of their loss, they drove on, and carried the intrenchments. The engagement lasted until about four o'clock, when the enemy gave way. We continued the pursuit, till darkness put a stop to it. The 71st had only one man killed and one wounded. We were manoeuvring all day, to turn their flank; so that our fatigue was excessive, though our loss was but small. This was the battle of Roleia, a small town at the entrance of a hilly part of the country.
We marched the whole of the 18th and 19th without meeting any resistance. On the 19th, we encamped at the village of Vimeira, and took up a position alongst a range of mountains.
On the 20th, we marched out of our position to cover the disembarkation of four regiments, under General Anstruther. We saw a few French cavalry, who kept manoeuvring, but did not offer to attack us.
On the 21st, we were all under arms an hour before day-break. After remaining some time we were dismissed, with orders to parade again at 10 o'clock, to attend divine service for this was a Sabbath morning. How unlike the Sabbaths I was wont to enjoy! Had it not been for the situation in which I had placed myself, I could have enjoyed it much.Vimeira is situated in a lovely valley, through which the small river Maceira winds, adding beauty to one of the sweetest scenes, surrounded on all sides by mountains and the sea, from which the village is distant about three miles. There is a deep ravine that parts the heights, over which the Lourinha road passes. We were posted on these mountains, and had a complete view of the valley below.
I here, for a time, indulged in one of the most pleasing reveries I had enjoyed since I left home. I was seated upon the side of a mountain, admiring the beauties beneath. I thought of home: Arthur's Seat, and the level between it and the sea, all stole over my imagination. I became lost in contemplation, and was happy for a time.
Soon my day-dream broke, and vanished from my sight. The bustle around was great. There was no trace of a day of rest. Many were washing their linen in the river, others cleaning their firelocks; every man was engaged in some employment. In the midst of our preparation for divine service, the French columns began to make their appearance on the opposite hills. "To arms, to arms!" was beat, at half-past eight o'clock. Every thing was packed up as soon as possible, and left on the camp ground.
We marched out two miles, to meet the enemy, formed line, and lay under cover of a hill, for about an hour, until they came to us. We gave them one volley, and three cheers - three distinct cheers. Then all was as still as death. They came upon us, crying and shouting, to the very point of our bayonets. Our awful silence and determined advance they could not stand. They put about, and fled without much resistance. At this charge we took thirteen guns, and one General.
We advanced into a hollow, and formed again: then returned in file, from the right in companies, to the rear. The French came down upon us again. We gave them another specimen of a charge, as effectual as our first, and pursued them three miles.
In our first charge, I felt my mind waver; a breathless sensation came over me. The silence was appalling. I looked alongst the line: It was enough to assure me. The steady determined scowl of my companions assured my heart, and gave me determination. How unlike the noisy advance of the French! It was in this second charge, our piper, George Clark, was wounded in the groin. We remained at our advance, until sunset; then retired to our camp ground. The ground was so unequal, that I saw little of this battle, which forced the French to evacuate Portugal.
On my return from the pursuit at Monte Video, the birds of prey were devouring the slain. Here I beheld a sight, for the first time, even more horrible; the peasantry prowling about, more ferocious than the beasts and birds of prey, finishing the work of death, and carrying away whatever they thought worthy of their grasp. Avarice and revenge were the causes of these horrors. No fallen Frenchman, that showed the least signs of life, was spared. They even seemed pleased with mangling the bodies. When light failed them, they kindled a great fire, and remained around it all night, shouting like as many savages. My sickened fancy felt the same as if it were witnessing a feast of cannibals.

Next morning we perceived a column of the enemy upon the sand-hills. We were all in arms to receive them, but it turned out to be a flag of truce. We returned to our old camp ground, where we remained three days, during the time the terms of a capitulation were arranging.
We then got orders to march to Lisbon.
On our arrival there, the French flag was flying on all the batteries and forts. We were encamped outside of the town; and marched in our guards, next day, to take possession, and relieve all the French guards. At the same time the French flag was hauled down, and we hoisted, in its stead, the Portuguese standard.
We remained in camp until the day the French were to embark. We were then marched in, to protect them from the inhabitants but, notwithstanding all we could do, it was not in our power to hinder some of their sick from being murdered. The Portuguese were so much enraged at our interference in behalf of the French, that it was unsafe for two or three soldiers to be seen alone. The French had given the Portuguese much cause to hate them; and the latter are not a people who can quickly forgive an injury, or let slip any means of revenge, however base.

Content Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2002 Susan H Law and her licensors. All rights reserved.

(signed) John Waters

A Spy for Wellington 1774-1842 John William Waters

Waters, Sir JOHN WILLIAM (1774 - 1842), lieutenant-general, one of the nine children of Morgan and Grace Waters of Ty Fry, was born in 1774 at Cefn Cribwr, Glamorgan. His father and mother died young.
His elder brother Edmund supported his brother's military inclinations and put up money for him to purchase a comission as an ensign, and in 2 Aug 1797* their father's former friend, the Marquess of Bute, also used his influence to secure the new recruit a position with the First Royals. The Marquis went further , and recommended the young officer to his own brother, General Charles Stuart, who was at the time preparing to leave with his forces to Portugal.
John, who had become lieutenant on 15 Feb.1799, joined the 2nd battalion in Portugal and served with it in the expedition ot the Helder in 1799, and in the expedition to Egypt in 1801. In reward for his conduct during the mutiny at Gibraltar in 1802** the Duke of Kent obtained a company for him in the York Rangers on 24 Sept 1803. Waters remained, however with the Royal Scots and went with it to the West Indies. On 28 Feb. 1805 he was promoted to Captain in that regiment (The Royal Scots) to which two new battalions had been added, and soon afterwards he returned to England.

In August 1808, owing to the Duke of Kent's recommendation, Captain John Waters was made aide-de-camp to General Charles William Stewart (afterwards third Marquis of Londonderry). He went with him to Portugal, and served in Moore's campaign.

Sent out to obtain intelligence of the French movements in December 1808, he bought from the Spaniards at Valdestillas (Tordesillas /La Coruña) an intercepted despatch from Berthier to Soult, which gave Moore most important information, and at once altered his plans.

He was promoted Major on 16 Feb. 1809, and was attached to the Portuguese Army (with the local rank of lieutenant-colonel), but employed on intelligence duties, for which he was praised by Wellington, who wanted him definitely placed on his staff.

Wellington wrote of him on 26 Oct., when he was going home for a time with Stewart:

'He has made himself extremely useful to the British army by his knowledge of the languages of Spain and Portugal, by his intelligence and activity. I have employed him in several important affairs, which he has always transacted in a manner satisfactory to me; and his knowledge of the language and customs of the country has induced me to send him generally witht he patrols employed to ascertain the position of the enemy, in which services he has acquitted himself most ably.'
The most conspicuous instance of his serviceableness was at the passage of the Douro on 12 May 1809.

The French had broken the bridge and removed the boats, and they had ten thousand men on the opposite bank.

'Colonel Waters, a quick, daring man, discovered a poor barber who had come over the river with a small skiff the previous night; and these two being joined by the prior of Amarante, who gallantly offered his services, crossed the water unperceived, and returned in half an hour with three large barges' (Napier, bk. vii. chap. ii.)
In these barges, the first troops passed.

.......... (em construção)

On 3 April 1811, before the action of Sabugal began, Waters was made prisoner.

From the Dispatches of the Duke of Wellington To Marshal Sir W.C. Beresford KB, 4.April 1811 (day after the clash at Sabugal):

"...You will be concerned to hear that Waters is at last taken prisoner. He crossed the Coa alone, I believe, yesterday morning, and was looking at the enemy through a spying glass, when four hussars pounced upon him. Nobody has seen him since yesterday morning; and we have the account from prisoners, who tell the story of an Officer attached to the staff, a Lieutenant Colonel, blond, with a petit chapeau, they saw him with Regnier." and
'He had crossed the Coa to reconnoitre the enemy's position, as had been frequently his practice, without having with him any escore, and he was surrounded by some hussars and taken. He had rendered very important services upon many occasions in the last two years,and his loss is sensibly felt' (Wellington to Lord Liverpool, 9 April 1811, Despatches, vii. 433).

He refused his parole, and was sent ot Salamanca under a guard of four gendarmes. He was better mounted than they, and having watched his opportunity, he put spurs to his horse. He was on a wide plain, with French troops before and behind him; and as he rode along their flank, some encouraged, others fired at him. Passing between two of their columns he gained a wooded hollow, and baffled his pursuers. Two days afterwards he reached the British headquarters 'where Lord Wellington, knowing his resolute, subtle character, had caused his baggage to be brought, observing that he would not be long absent' (Napier, book xii. ch. 5).

On 15 April Wellington appointed him an assistant adjutant-general, and on 30 May he was made brevet lieutenant-colonel.
He served throughout the war, being present at Talavera, Busaco, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, the battles of the Pyrenees (during which he was wounded while talking to Wellington), the Nivelle and Nive, Orthes and Toulouse. At Badajoz and Salamanca he acted as adjutant-general and was mentioned in Wellington's Salamanca despatch.

He received the gold cross with four clasps, and was made C.B. in 1815.
He was at Waterloo, and again acted as adjutant-general after Sir Edward Barnes was wounded and signed the returns of the battle, though he was himself wounded also.
He received the Russian order of St. Anne (2nd class).
After being for a time on half-pay, be became a captain and lieutenant-colonel in the Coldstream Guards on 15 May 1817. He was promoted colonel on 19 July 1821, and was again placed on half-pay on 15 Feb. 1827.
He became major-general on 22 July 1830, was made Captain of Yarmouth Castle, Isle of Wight, on 22 April 1831, and K.C.B. on 1 March 1832.
He was given the colonelcy of the 81st foot on 15 June 1840, and was promoted lieutenant-general on 23 Nov. 1841. He died at his home in Park Place, St James' , London on 21st November 1842, at the age of sixty-eight, and was buried at Kensal Green.

* In 1797 a 5th Battalion of the 60th was raised under Baron Francis de Rottenburg, whose treatise on Riflemen and Light Infantry formed the basis of Moore's training.
This was the first British unit to be dressed in the green jacket and armed with the rifle in place of the smoothbore musket and it represented the first British attempt
at developing specialised light infantry for the European battlefield.

**On 24 May 1802, the Duke of Kent began an appointment as governor of Gibraltar, with express orders by the government to restore discipline among the troops. However, the Duke's harsh discipline precipitated a mutiny by soldiers in the Royal Fusiliers and the 25th Regiment on Christmas Eve 1802. The Duke of York, then the commander-in-chief of the British Army, recalled John Waters in May 1803 after receiving reports of the mutiny.
The Duke of Kent formally held the governorship of Gibraltar until his death, although the Duke of York forbade him to return. As a consolation for the end of his active military career, he was promoted to the rank of field marshal and appointed Ranger of Hampton Court Park on 5 September 1805. The Duke of Kent continued to serve as honorary colonel of the 1st Regiment of Foot (the Royal Scots) until his death.

Sources:
A Spy for Wellington, John William Waters, by Barrie Griffiths

Napoleon Series Archive 2003

vol XX Oxford: Oxford University Press; 1960. Page 905 - 906

Portugal 1780

explore MAP

mapa bacia Tejo

"Les femmes font les pires folies pour allumer une passion et prennent la fuite devant l'incendie"

Madame Junot herself is a little woman, with a stature indecisive between the fat and the en bon point. Her face could never have been pretty or beautiful, but piquant, original, and voluptuous, Her eyes are dark and full of fire, and her bosom, though she must be between fifty and sixty, firm and smooth as satin. So that in spite of wrinkles, rouge, and a certain air of age about the mouth, one can understand, that two years ago M. Balzac was her lover, and that, at the present moment, there are many with similar pretensions.

She has a ton bref and tant soit peu brutal, which has as much of the vivandière as the maréchale ¡n it ; but she is spirituelle, quick, and full of that kind of passion to speak, which puts a conversation at once en train. skteches of paris

"Cette femme a vu Napoléon enfant, elle l'a vu jeune homme encore inconnu, elle l'a vu occupé des choses ordinaires de la vie, puis elle l'a vu grandir, s'élever et couvrir le monde de son nom! Elle est pour moi comme un bienheureux qui viendrait s'asseoir à mes côtés, après avoir vécu au ciel tout près de Dieu !"

Ainsi parlait Honoré de Balzac de Laure Junot, duchesse d'Abrantès. Et il est vrai que peu d'existences composent un roman d'amours et d'aventures aussi mouvementé que la sienne, avec une pareille succession d'imprévus et un pareil heurt de contrastes.

Madame Junot, 1800

The Court of Napoleon Or, Society Under the First Empire; with Portraits of Its Beauties, Wits and Heroines By Frank Boott Goodrich, Jules Champagne

abbots, monks, friars in command as officers

in History of the Peninsular War By Robert Southey

The King has no palace in Lisbon

in Memoirs of Napoleon, His Court and Family by Laure Junot duchesse d'Abrantès

Napoleão envia Junot para Lisboa

"Il est nécessaire que tu t'éloignes quelque temps de Paris cela est convenable pour détruire tous les bruits qui ont couru sur ma sœur et sur toi. Je défie un être au monde d'en parler encore en voyant la confiance dont je vais t investir. Tu auras à Lisbonne une autorité sans bornes. Tu ne correspondras qu'avec moi . Tu resteras toujours gouverneur de Paris. Allons mon vieil ami le bâton de maréchal est là bas.
Il lui tendit la main. Junot la saisit et pleura comme un faible enfant:
Et cependant vous m éloignez de vous, répétait il toujours"
Memoires de Madame la duchesse d'Abrantes By Abrantes, Laure Junot Abrantes:

"Livres défendus même pour ceux qui ont des permissions"

"Mais pour donner une idée des livres qui étaient refusés à l'époque dont je parle je vais transcrire ici une liste des ouvrages refusés et refusés avec motif. J'ai cette liste par un hasard tout singulier. Les Espagnols qui la liront se rappelleront parfaitement qu'en i8o5 et 18o6, et même 18o8, les ouvrages que je vais citer étaient encore plus qu à l'index. J'ajouterai le motif donné par l'inquisition.

"Livres défendus même pour ceux qui ont des permissions"
in
Memoires de Madame la duchesse d'Abrantes

The French despised this poor oppressed people

"The French in the pride of their strength and their ignorance of the national character despised this poor oppressed people too much to be in any fear of what despair might impel them to and one remarkable effect of the general misery tended at once to increase their contempt and their security. There exists in Portugal a strange superstition concerning King Sebastian"

http://books.google.com/books?id=lzkPAAAAYAAJ&dq=queluz+junot&pg=PA134&ci=110,944,788,197&source=bookclip

The King's German Legion

The loss of the British at Talavera, in killed and wounded, was scarcely less than 5000. The two French armies of Victor and Soult were coming up, by forced marches, to cut off the retreat of the british to Portugal. Cuesta would neither march nor fight, and Wellington, more embarrassed than assisted by his stubborn ally, threw himself behind the Tagus. Spain, now left to itself, was instantly overrun by the French, and Wellington, with the eye of genius, saw where the true defence of Portugal was to be made, and, with the heart of a hero, resolved to defend it to the last. In February, 1810, he commenced the design of arming the line of Torres Vedrae. The advance of the French now made the duty of the outposts remarkably active, and the German dragoons, always distinguished for their vigilance, excited so much wrath in the enemy, that the French General commanding the outposts was said to have offered 100 doubloons to any party who would cut down one of the small cavalry picquets. Of course a good deal of skirmishing took place between the outposts. In those affairs a private in the hussars was remarkable for his alertness and dexterity. His skill in horsemanship and the use of the sword made him so conspicuous to the French, that they used to cry out, " Ah, nous voila, Monsieur Schrœder." It has been ascertained that, between the years 1810 and 1812, this brave fellow cut down twelve of the enemy, wounded many, and took twenty-seven prisoners.

The conduct of the cavalry on this day was an object of general admiration. Crawford made a speech to the hussars in German, and praised them in a written order. They received the still higher testimonial of a letter from Wellington, stating his high satisfaction at their conduct, and declaring, that he would take the first opportunity of laying before the King his opinion of their excellent corps. The battle of Busaco, on the 27th of September, followed, which cost the French about 5000 men. On the retreat of the army, the light division and a squadron of the Legion remained on the heights of Busaco, to observe the French movements. Here their exploits were of another, yet scarcely less interesting description.

Early in the morning, large bodies of men were seen in the valley, and the squadron were sent down to ascertain what they were. They found them to be peasants of the surrounding country, who, infuriated by the rapine of the French, had come evidently for the purpose of cutting the throats of all whom they found alivo on the fleld. They had now between three and four hundred wounded men in their hands, abandoned by the extraordinary inhumanity of Massena, and expecting to be massacred every moment. The sight of the hussars gave them new hope ; they implored their protection ; and the honest Germans, procuring some litters, conveyed them from the field to a neighbouring convent, where they were taken care of by the monks. The whole march to Torres Vedras was a continual cavalry fight, and the last exploit, before entering the lines, was a dash of a hussar squadron against the French advance of chasseurs, who were imprudent enough to march at too great a distance from their infantry. The hussars turned on them so suddenly, that they broke, leaving an officer and ninctoen men in their hands. On the night of the 14th of November, Massena commenced that retrograde movement which delivered Portugal ; gave the first turn of the tide to the affairs of Europe ; stripped the French General of his laurels and placed Wellington in the first rank of military fame.

In September, 1811, Marmont, at the head of 54,000 infantry and 5000 horses, marched to raise the blockade of Ciudad Rodrigo. The cavalry action at El Bodón was a conspicuous affair.

The position was a rocky ridge, intersected by strorc defiles, held by three squadrons of the hussars, two of the llth, and the 5? regiment, with some guns, the whole under the command of General Victor Alten. The French, under General Montbrun, amounting to two thousand cavalry, followed by infantry and guns, rapidly advanced in three columns against the front and flanks of the position....

In the retreat towards Rodrigo, on the 15th of November, Victor Alten's cavalry forming the rear-guard, consisting of but six squadrons, the French came on with their old superiority of number, and attacked him with fourteen squadrons. An instance of intrepidity and intelligence of one of the hussars which occurred here, deserves to be recorded. Colonel Waters, well known as one of the most distinguished officers of the British staff, lying sick in a village through which the rear squadron of hussars passed on the retreat, Captain Àly, commanding the squadron, well aware of the loss which the army would sustain by the Colonel's capture, sent a brave soldier, named Etherott, to try to bring him off; the squadron passed on, while the hussar, going to the Colonel's quarters, took him out of his bed, dressed him, got his horse ready, and leading him from the village, made an attempt to join the squadron ; but the French had already intercepted their march, and no resource remained but that of making a long detour.

The Colonel's illness prevented his riding fast, and by the time they reached a village where the hussar expected to find a ford, the French were already at their heels. No ford could be found, and they were obliged to swim their horses over the stream. The enemy were now every where round them, and the Colonel, much exhausted by his fatigue, was unable to go further, and was obliged to be hidden for an entire day, during which the hussar watched him.

At length this anxious journey was recommenced ; but it was not till after several days' travel, and crossing several rivers, during which time they were in perpetual hazard of falling into the hands of the French patrols, that the brave hussar brought his charge in safety to headquarters.

The war was now verging to its close. Wcllington's matchless defence of Portugal had first opened the eyes of Europe. The defeat of a veteran french army of 90,000 men! under one of the most renowned generals of France, Massena, in the field of Bussaco; his being baffled in the march in his final repulse from the position of the British army at Torres Vedras, proved that the enemy had still to learn lessons in war, and that the master who was to teach them those lessons was come at last. Napoleon's retreat from Moscow broke down, by the hand of Providence, a force whose immense superiority in numbers to those of any other Continental power might have long resisted the intrepidity of man. .

At the end of April 1813, Wellington commenced his march from Portugal, perhaps the most extraordinary movement in the annals of modern Europe. Carrying the Allied army in six weeks from the Esla to the Ebro; moving through districts where none but muleteers had ever thought of passing before ; and capturing every position on the way, until he arrived in front of the French grandanny. Then, June 21, attacking it in position at Vittoria; breaking it in centre and wings, killing and taking 6000 men, capturing all its cannon (150 pieces of brass ordnance), four hundred caissons, its ammunition, baggage, and treasure ; and among other spoils, the baton of Marshal Jourdan. This was the true crowning battle of the great war/ There were subsequent encounters in the Pyrenees and_on the soil of France, but Vittoria was the mortal blow. As Vittoria had virtually completed the Spanish war, Waterloo was to put the close to the war of Europe.

page 755

Sir John William Waters

excellent horsemen, good linguists, cool heads

The best of these agents were four British officers, Grant, Waters, Hay, and
Cocks ; all excellent horsemen, good linguists, and, needless to say, ...

in Secret Diplomacy: A Record of Espionage and Double-dealing: 1500-1815

in Studies in the Napoleonic Wars

A campanha de Sir Arthur Wellesley, Portugal 1808

""

he would not be long absent!

Massena entered Portugal with sixty-five thousand men, his reenforcements while at Santarem were about ten thousand, and he repassed the frontier with forty-five thousand ; hence the invasion of Portugal cost him about thirty thousand men, of which fourteen thousand might have fallen by the sword or been taken.
Not more than six thousand were lost during the retreat; but had Lord Wellington, unrestrained by political considerations, attacked him vigorously at Redinha, Condeixa, Casal Nova, and Miranda de Corvo, half the French army would have been lost. It is unquestionable that a retreating army should fight as little as possible.

When the French reached the Agueda, their cavalry detachments, heavy artillery, and convalescents, again augmented the army to more than fifty thousand men, but the fatigues of the retreat and the want of provisions would not suffer them to show a front to the allies; wherefore, drawing two hundred thousand rations from Ciudad, they fell back to Salamanca, and Lord Wellington invested Almeida.
The light division occupied Gallegos and Espeja, the rest of the army were disposed in villages on both sides of the Coa, and the head-quarters were transferred to Villa Formosa.

Here Colonel Waters, who had been taken near Belmonte during the retreat, rejoined the army. Confident in his own resources, he had refused his parole, and, when carried to Ciudad Rodrigo, rashly mentioned his intention of escapingto the Spaniard in whose house he was lodged.
This man betrayed him, but a servant, detesting his master's treachery, secretly offered his aid; Waters only desired him to get the rowels of his spurs sharpened, and when the French army was near Salamanca, he being in the custody of gendarmes, waited until their chief, who rode the only good horse in the party, had alighted, then giving the spur to his own beast, galloped off!
An act of incredible resolution and hardihood, for he was on a large plain, and before him, and for miles behind him, the road was covered with the French columns.
His hat fell off, and, thus distinguished, he rode along the flank of the troops, some encouraging him, others firing at him, and the gendarmes, sword in hand, close at his heels; nevertheless he broke at full speed, between two columns, gained a wooded hollow,and, having baffled his pursuers, evaded the rear of the enemy's army.

The third day he reached head-quarters, where Lord Wellington had caused his baggage to be brought, observing that he would not be long absent!

History of the War in the Peninsula and in the South of France
from A.D. 1807 to A.D. 1814
By Sir William Francis Patrick Napier

Souvenirs d'une ambassade et d'un séjour en Espagne et en Portugal, par Laure Junot

"Le jour où je devais entrer en Espagne on mit à ma voiture le plus singulier attelage que j'eusse jamais vu। Cet attelage était composé de sept mules n'ayant d'autre frein que la voix et la volonté de leur conducteur, elles ne tiennent à la voiture que par une simple corde"

Mémoires de Madame la duchesse d'Abrantès: ou Souvenirs historiques sur ... By Laure Junot Abrantès

Ce fut le jeudi saint de année de 1805, à quatre heures du soir, que j'arrivai devant Lisbonne. Je fus frappée d'admiration et sans me rappeler aucune des louanges qui m'avaient été répétées mille fois de Paris à Madrid, je me laissai charmer par cette magnifique et splendide décoration qui s offrit à moi. Il n'éxiste aucune ville qui présente je crois le coup d œil de Lisbonne vue en arrivant d'Espagne; cette plaine d'eau, formée par le Tage, qui est dans quelques endroits d'une lieue et demie de largeur, bordée à l'autre rive par une ville immense bâtie en amphithéâtre sur les collines qui bordent le fleuve, tandis que sa rade remplie d'une foule innombrable de vaisseaux présente une forêt de mâts portant les couleurs de cent nations différentes"

Battle of Rolissa

The Life of Arthur, First Duke of Wellington; By George Robert Gleig

Battle of Roliça

The Battle of Roliça (August 17 1808) the British under Wellesley defeated the French under General Henri Delaborde, near the village of Roliça in Portugal. Formerly spelled Roleia in English, it was the first battle fought by the British army during the Peninsular War.

On July 30th, 1808 General Wellesley remet Admiral Cotton's convoy with Wellesley's troops at Mondego bay. Wellington chose this as his landing point because students from Coimbra University had seized the fort making this a safer landing than any place nearer Lisbon.
The disembarking of Wellesley's original 9,000 troops and supplies with the 5,000 they met off Portugal lasts from August 1st through the 8th. Some landing craft capsized in the rough surf making the first British casualties in the Peninsula drowning victims.

The army marched off on the 10th on the hot and sandy 12 mile march to Leira. Wellington arrived the 11th and soon began arguing with General Freire the commander of 6,000 Portuguese troops about supplies and the best route to Lisbon. The result had Wellesley marching his preferred route, close to the sea and his supplies, with 1,700 of the Portuguese under the command of Colonel Trant, a British officer in service with the Portuguese Army.

The army then began its march toward Lisbon following a force of the French army. The French were under the command of General Henri François, Comte de Laborde. These troops were sent by Junot to harass and hold the British while he brought his larger army into position to oppose the Anglo-Portuguese forces. By August 14th the British reached Alcobaça and moved on to Obidos. Here the British vanguard, mostly 95th rifles, met pickets and rearguard of the French forces. The 4,000 French were outnumbered approximately 3 to 1.

Battlefield
The village of Roliça is placed in the center of a horseshoe shape of steep hills approximately one mile wide and two deep. The open end opens North North East toward Obidos where the 95th had met the French the day before. The hills around Obidos and Roliça were well wooded.

The French began the day to the north of Roliça backed up to the higher ground allowing them to block or protect the roads south toward Lisbon. On the hill about 1 mile to the south of the village where the French first fell back, there were four defiles, or gullies leading into the new French position. The field below these hills were grassy, but boulders and the steep sides to the gullies made attack in formation impossible. In the first stages of the battle, de Laborde pulled his troops back to the top of the hill.

Armies
The British were formed in six brigades under General Hill, General Ferguson, General Nightingale, General Bowes, General Crawfurd, and General Fane with the Portuguese under Colonel Trant. Colonel Trant with the Portuguese and 50 cavalry formed the right and were to turn the French left. Generals Ferguson and Bowes with 3 companies of riflemen and some light artillery were to force the French right and hold against the possible arrival of French General Loisson. General Hill and generals Nightingale, Crawfurd, Fane with the remaining Portuguese, and the rest of the guns and cavalry were to push the centre.
The French were under de Laborde consisting of five battalions, including one Swiss, and five guns.

Battle
Wellesley arrived at Obidos August 16th and moved toward Roliça on the 17th. At the beginning of the battle, deLaborde occupied a position to the North north West of the village of Roliça. Wellesley attempted to manoeuvre his forces into a double enclosure, moving to each flank of the French position. This could be attempted since the Anglo-Portuguese army outnumbered the French forces present by over 3 to 1.

He sent Colonel Trant to the west, and a stronger force under Generals Ferguson and Bowes with 6 guns to the east, while he distracted the French with a show of force and noise in the center. Wellesley tried the manoeuver twice starting at 9:00 in the morning, but the battlewise French fell back each time. At this time the French final position was to the south and east of the village at the top of a steep hill.

At this point things were made interesting by a mistake. Colonel Lake of the 29th Regiment of Foot in the center dashed up a gully toward the French position, and arrived behind Laborde. This cost Lake his life and lost most of the men in the 29th. This prompted a general attack in relief by the outnumbering British.
The fight was rough and uphill with Laborde hoping for support to arrive from Loison. He repulsed three assaults by the British until nearly 4:00 in the afternoon. At this time Wellesley reached positions at the top of the hill and Ferguson arrived over the hills to the east.

General de Laborde began to withdraw in good order with effective aid from his cavalry until his armies discipline broke and his army ran.
Without British Cavalry to press the pursuit, they successfully withdrew to Montachique near Torres Vedras.

Aftermath
The British won with 487 casualties. Over half that number from the precipitate 29th. The French lost 700 men and three of their five guns. General de Labord himself was wounded. The following day Wellesley found that the 4,000 additional British troops had arrived from England were off the coast. He marched his men to cover their disembarkation rather than follow de Laborde.

Further reading
* The Recollections of Rifleman Harris, Benjamin Harris and Henry Curling, 1848.
* The French Army 1600-1900

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the exploring officers

DURING our stay at Sobral* I saw another artifice employed by the English, and one of sufficient importance to be worth noting. It is often said that thoroughbred horses are of no use in war, because their price is so high and they require so much care that it would be almost impossible to provide a squadron, much more a regiment, with them. Nor indeed do the English use them on campaign; but they have a habit of sending single officers, mounted on fast thoroughbreds, to watch the movements of a hostile army. These officers get within the enemy's cantonments, cross his line of march, keep for days on the flanks of his columns, always just out of range, till they can form a clear idea of his number and the direction of his march. After our entry into Portugal, we frequently saw observers of this kind flitting round us. It was vain to give chase to them, even with the best-mounted horsemen. The moment the English officer saw any such approach he would set spurs to his steed, and nimbly clearing ditches, hedges, even brooks, he would make off at such speed that our men soon lost sight of him, and perhaps saw him soon after a league further on, note-book in hand, at the top of some hillock, continuing his observations. This practice, which I never saw anyone employ like the English, and which I tried to imitate during the Russian campaign, might perhaps have saved Napoleon at Waterloo by affording him a warning of the arrival of the Prussians. Anyhow, these English ' runners,' who were the despair of the French general from the moment we left Spain, increased in boldness and cunning as soon as we were in front of Sobral. One could see them come out of the lines and race with the speed of stags through the vines and over the rocks to inspect the positions occupied by our troops.

*de Monte Agraço

Napoleonic Literature - The Memoirs of Baron de Marbot - Volume II - Chapter XV

Sir Waters, colonel

in Mémoires du général Bon de Marbot

Passage of the Douro, 1809 may 12

(...) Then Sir John Murray, with the British cavalry, was sent off to cross the Douro some miles further up; and at dawn of day on the 12th of May, Sir Arthur with his staff, partially concealed from the unsuspicious french outposts by a bend in the river, was eagerly searching for means of crossing to the other side.
The eye of the British general rested upon a large unfinished building on the opposite shore, called a seminary. Could he find or contrive means of crossing, it would, he saw, afford a strong point d’appui for the passage of the troops.
At this moment, Colonel Waters, a zealous and adventurous staff-officer, brought the welcome intelligence that, having met a poor barber crossing in a skiff at some distance up the river, he, aided by the influence of the prior of Amarante, had persuaded the barber not only to lend his boat, but to return with them to the other side, and assist in unfastening and bringing across three barges.
This was great news. The barges were quickly reported ready, and a brief ‘Let the men cross’ gave the order for this daring enterprise.
The first detachment landed unobserved, and took quiet possession of the unfinished seminary; the second and the third were equally fortunate; but before the fourth could cross, the quick firing of the French sentinels, soon followed by the hurried roll of Soult’s drums, announced that they were discovered; and the British troops, who had hitherto been kept out of sight, crowded to the banks of the river, and greeted the French – who presently poured out of Oporto in order to attack the seminary before its defenders became too numerous – with loud shouts of exultation and defiance.
The struggle at the seminary soon became furious – deadly. Paget was wounded. Hill succeeded him, but so doubtful at one time appeared the issue that Sir Arthur, but for the remonstrances of his staff, and the reflection that Hill would do all that man could to maintain the position, would himself have crossed over.

in Chambers's Papers for the People
By William Chambers, Robert Chambers
Page 19

Where have we been? :)