The American Sharpe Read online

  17th There is pay issuing now to the army in guineas, there has been a proclamation issued by the Portuguese government that they are to be taken by the Portuguese at 23 pesetas and 2 vintems and an half. I perceive by the General Orders of some days back that the following regiments being weak have been formed into Provisional Battalions, viz 4 company’s 2nd Battalion 31st & 4 company’s 2nd Battalion 66th form the 1st Provisional Regiment. 4 company’s Queens6 & 4 company’s 53rd, 2nd Provisional Battalion. 4 company’s 2nd Battalion 24th 4 company’s 2nd Battalion 58th, 3rd Provisional Battalion. 4 company’s [2nd Battalion] 30th 4 company’s 2nd Battalion 44th, 4th Provisional Battalion. The light battalions of the King’s German Legion are removed from the light to the 1st Division.

  Memo. The staff of the remaining companies of the above regiments forming provisional battalions, with the men unfit for service [to] go home.

  18th I was informed by our commissary that they pay for beef 140 reas or ten pence half penny English money per pound for beef and 120 or nine pence for mutton. The 1st Brigade draws 3,027 rations, 2nd between 2 & 3,000.

  19th – 20th Blank

  21st A general court martial has opened in the division, General Vandeleur president.

  22nd A mail from England.

  23rd Blank

  24th Lieutenant John Gardiner7 joined this day from England.

  25th Today being Christmas day, we had cock fighting and various other sports. Percival8 & Cox9 joined today from England, very rainy day.

  26th General Ballesteros10 has resigned his command in consequence of Lord Wellington being appointed Generalissimo of the Spanish armies.

  27th Blank

  28th It is said that if Ballesteros had obeyed Lord Wellington’s orders, we should never have retired from Madrid & the operations against Burgos would not have been interrupted.

  29th – 30th Blank

  31st Drank the old year out this night in great style.

  January 1813

  1st General Alten and staff dined with us today. We had a mail from England today which brought glorious news from Russia11, it is reported that the French are fortifying the line of the Douro.

  2nd I remark now that the people here are ploughing up their green corn.

  3rd Another mail, more glowing news. I walked to Fuentes de Onoro today and saw the position Lord Wellington occupied, when he was attacked here by the French about 2 years ago.12 It is reported that the French have evacuated & dismantled Valencia.

  4th Blank

  5th It is reported that the enemy are concentrating at Salamanca, General Hill is at Coria, a thick fog today.

  6th The same report today concerning the concentrating at Salamanca, it is also reported that we are to march to Alverca, foggy day.

  7th It is reported today that there are only a few of the enemy at Salamanca and that those few are going away, clear day and frosty.

  8th Another mail, papers to the 22nd December, more glorious news from Russia, raining, fair at Almeida.

  9th Blank

  10th The 1st Battalion went out to the plain between this & Espeja & met there the 3rd Battalion collected on the plain, fine day.

  11th Rain

  12th White frost, fine

  13th Rain

  14th White frost. I rode today with Leach to Vilar Formoso, a dirty little Portuguese village on the bank of the Turon which river divides the two countries & came home through Fuentes d’Onoro.

  15th Frosty

  16th – 17th Blank

  18th The Light Division have got up a theatre by subscription; the chapel at Gallegos is the theatre, the first performance is to be this evening and is to be the comedy of She Stoops to Conquer13. The hussars are invited to dine with us today. I went out shooting today did not dine at the mess, rainy day.

  19th – 24th Blank

  25th A clear warm day, out shooting, had good sport, mail from England. I remarked that they begin to plough their fallow land about here now.

  26th Lord Wellington returned to head quarters yesterday, he came by Lisbon which place he entered on the 17th.

  27th Fine day.

  28th Ditto. By last papers it appears that Maitland has demanded a court martial.14

  29th Fine day & rather frosty.

  30th Very windy, hard frost last night.

  31st Same weather as yesterday, this is the only really cold weather we have had this winter, it has been without exception the mildest winter I ever knew.

  February

  1st Cold, but not so cold as yesterday. Mail from England.

  2nd The cacadores march to Ituero today.

  3rd Mail from England, General Vandeleur moves his head quarters to Guinaldo today.

  4th The theatrical geniuses of the division perform The Rivals15 this evening. The hussars are invited to dine with us. A warm day, the 2nd Battalion march to El Bodon today.

  5th A fine warm day. Conversing with a Spanish peasant who was ploughing today, he asked me if the Spanish troops kill all their working bullocks wherever they go, to feed on.

  There are various reports concerning the French, one day we hear that they are advancing, another that they are evacuating the country. Went to the play last night, it was very well performed indeed, the theatre scenery is excellent.

  6th The nights are now frosty & the days clear & warm.

  7th Papers arrived yesterday, glorious news from Russia, a cloudy mild day.

  8th – 10th Blank

  11th Windy.

  12th Rainy. The Rivals is to be performed over again tonight & Lord Wellington will be there. The hussars & 2nd Battalion are invited.

  13th Went to the play last night, it went off uncommonly well, a fine day.

  14th Rainy.

  15th Fine, rather cloudy.

  16th Drew a bill on England today for £27 10s. There is a scarcity of meat and they talk of issuing salt fish in lieu of meat.

  17th Blank

  18th The 1st Battalion are invited to dine with the 3rd today.

  19th I dined with the 3rd Battalion at Espeja yesterday and returned home today, a fine day.

  20th Fine.

  21st Windy but warm.

  22nd The Spaniards have levied a contribution on this place. A fresh supply of bullocks has arrived to our division, they are Portuguese bullocks and are much finer bullocks than we in general have. The usual weight of bullocks is 350lbs. the commissary has signed for a lot at 500lbs, one was killed today that weighed upwards of 800lbs.

  23rd Rain.

  24th Rain. The 40th Regiment & 6th Cacadores have been engaged with the enemy near Coria. Our battalion are invited to dine with the hussars today, I do not intend to go.

  25th Rode to Freineda today, it is a very fine day. I saw Lord Wellington’s stud, they are in fine order, he has 13 saddle horses, it is a dirty village. Came home through Fuentes d’Onoro, no troops there.

  26th The 3rd Battalion dined with us today, fine day.

  27th Ditto. We have made a racket court here against the church.

  28th We are invited to dine with the 2nd Battalion at El Bodon today. Fine day. It is said that the 4th Division have come from their cantonment on the Douro to this side of the Coa.

  March

  1st Returned from El Bodon today, a fine day.

  2nd Fine, but not quite so hot. It is said that Soult & 10 men per company have gone to France16. The carnival which began on the 28th ended today, the women claim the command while it lasts.

  3rd Fine weather, rather windy.

  4th Fine weather & windy.

  5th Fine weather but very windy.

  6th Same weather.

  7th The Raising of the Wind17 & Fortunes Frolic18 were performed last night & very well done.

  8th – 9th Blank

  10th The soldiers perform The Brothers19 & The Poor Soldier20 tonight.

  11th I was not at the soldier’s play last night but understand it was very well done. Layton goes to England the day after tomorrow, I have bought
a pony from him for which I gave a bill for £13 15s.

  12th The 43rd dine with us today.

  13th There is a Grand Fete today at Rodrigo for the installation of General Cole as Knight of the Bath.21

  14th Cox who had been sent on command to Celorico returned today & Johnston with him.

  15th Not quite so windy.

  16th Mild day.

  17th Mild day.

  18th Same weather.

  19th Cloudy warm day with a few drops of rain, I wish much it may rain to bring on the grass. It is said the French are advancing.

  20th Cloudy & looks like as if it would soon rain. The horse artillery and General Alten and staff dine with us today and the British officers of the 17th Portuguese Regiment who have come to this brigade instead of the 20th. Colonel Barnard went to Espeja yesterday to resume the command of the 3rd Battalion. General Kempt22 was expected at Gallegos last night to take command of the 1st Brigade, Colonel Beckwith having been appointed on the staff in America. A mail arrived the night before last.

  21st Fine warm day, it appears from the English papers that Joseph Bonaparte23 has gone from Valladolid to Madrid, Suchet24 is in Valencia & Soult25 in Toledo.

  22nd It rained this morning until about 9 o’clock, the rest of the day cloudy and windy.

  23rd Very windy, but not cloudy, saw the first swallow today & have seen this year.

  24th Fine clear day, rather windy.

  25th Fine warm day, bathed for the first time this year. [section in code]

  26th Windy day & rather cloudy.

  27th It appears by the Lisbon Gazette of 22nd of this month, that Sir J. Murray26 has landed at Alicante to take command of the Anglo-Sicilian Army. By the same gazette there is a Portuguese lottery advertised. Spanish gazettes, copied in the above, state confidently that Soult has gone to France and taken some proportion of the army with him. English papers also say that Caffarelli27 has gone, the Army of Portugal it appears, is commanded by Count d’Erlon28 so that Count Souham29 who came from France to take command of that army and who wrote such a flaming dispatch of the retreat of the British Army from Burgos must have taken his departure also. Today a cloudy day with high cold winds and sleet.

  28th Windy but not cold.

  29th Fine warm days, we were inspected by our new brigadier, General Kempt. The men were in very high order, the 6 companies had on parade 505 rank & file, besides sergeants & buglers.

  30th Fine day.

  31st Very warm. A packet arrived last night. Towards afternoon it rained a little.

  April

  1st Fine day.

  2nd Windy & cloudy, sleet.

  3rd Fine day, 2nd Battalion dined with us today. Packet from England. General Kempt also dined with us.

  4th Windy day. As there is a talk of a part of the regiment being detached to Castillejo de dos Casas, I walked there today, I think we shall be very very comfortable.

  5th Fine day.

  6th The regiment is invited to dine with the 43rd today. I do not go.

  7th Fine day. I sold my long bat & forage to Mckenzie30 for £6.

  8th We had a brigade field day this day on the plain between this & Espeja, the movements were done very badly indeed.

  9th Fine day. I rode to Almeida today. The dinner hour is altered to four o’clock and we have an evening parade at 6.

  10th It is at last settled that our company & Smith’s go to Castillejos. Showery today.

  11th Showery with sunshine.

  12th Same weather.

  13th Ditto ditto. I understand there is to be no detachment of companies from this place.

  14th Rode to Freineda today. Saw a peasant in the village of Almeida today sewing lint.

  15th The theatricals of the division performed at Gallegos this evening, She Stoops to Conquer and The Apprentice31, Lord Wellington was there. Rained at intervals today.

  16th Such officers as chose to send may get them full rations of corn about seven leagues from here, they go tomorrow.

  17th No rain. It is in order for the two right companies to go to Castillejo de dos Casas on Monday after the field day which will be on that day. We began collecting green forage by a General Order yesterday.

  The horse artillery moved some days ago from Aldea del Obispo to make room for General Castanos32 & staff.

  18th We walked over today and divided the town of Castillejo. No rain.

  19th After the brigade field day on Espeja plain our two companies marched & occupied Castillejo. We are to meet half way to parade. No rain.

  20th I have a good quarter, Stewart33 is doubled up with me, we have good forage here.

  21st Met the four companies half way to parade this morning and had a march beyond Aldea del Obispo.

  22nd The regimental mess breaks up today.

  23rd Paraded half way this morning again. The Spaniards complain greatly of want of rain.

  24th Paraded half way this morning for muster. Stewart mustered the regiment today, McKenzie has been appointed paymaster of the depot.

  25th Met half way to parade and had a march to Aldea del Obispo. I rode to Almeida today & saw that the lint which I saw sown on the 14th has sprung up.

  26th A windy day with sleet.

  27th Very windy & rainy.

  28th Same weather. I saw a peasant the other day at Almeida ploughing. I asked him the price of the field he was ploughing, he said he did not know but pointing to the next, said that was worth 35 dollars. I paced it and it was 26 paces long & 7 ditto broad. The peasantry about the frontiers here now [are] very active, they are ploughing all their land. There is a great deal of land ploughed up now that has not been cultivated since the first invasion of the country by the French.

  29th Rainy today but not so cold.

  30th Fine day with very little rain.

  May

  1st Very rainy.

  2nd Same weather. Rode to Almeida, on my return met 3 wagons of the Waggon Train who were going to Almeida to be attached to our division.

  3rd Showery and sunshine.

  4th Fine day, no rain.

  5th Mckenzie cashed me a bill for £25, I paid 6 shillings and 1 penny a dollar.

  6th Fine day. There was a brigade field day ordered today on Espeja plain. We marched to the ground and were sent home again, General Kempt having fallen from his horse the other day.

  7th Very rainy. Rode as far as Fort Concepcion on my way to Almeida, the rain coming on very heavy, took shelter in the fort until it was over and then returned home.

  8th Went to Fort Concepcion today with my gun, there are in the main body of the work 52 embrasures. There is one gate with a draw bridge on the side of the work that looks toward Aldea del Obispo and in the centre of the 3 curtains are passages into the ditch from which there are many sally ports out into the country and in each angle of the curtain a passage up to the ramparts. In the ditch opposite each curtain is a work, all of which are so completely destroyed that it is impossible to ascertain their exact form, but they appear to have six embrasures each, the gateway leads through one of them. The circular outwork outside the ditch appears to have had 10 embrasures, one half of it is completely destroyed. The outer work of all is so completely destroyed that it is impossible to form an idea of what it was.

  Today is a fair day at Almeida as is the 8th of every month. There are an immense number of hawks in Fort Concepcion, one of which I shot. Showery today.

  9th Went to Almeida today, rode round the outside of the works of the town, it has six bastions in front of each curtain. In the ditch is a work, one of them is what I have often thought would be useful, viz a double work or one within another. Showery.

  10th There was a brigade field day this day on Espeja plain. Lord Wellington I understand reviews the Blues34 tomorrow near Sabugal. A fine day without rain.

  11th A fine hot day. Went out to day to try and shoot some quail which are very abundant here, could not get them to rise. I shot a half grown hare.

  12th Rode today down to
the bridge of the Coa where Craufurd’s fight took place35. The ground is amazingly rocky and uneven. The bridge has three arches, one of which has been destroyed by the French and repaired with wood. Came home through Almeida, a fine day.

  13th Went out quail shooting today, Killed a brace & missed a good many more. Showery.

  The 52nd Regiment had moved from Guinaldo to [La] Albergueria [de Arganan] to make room for some Spanish troops but have marched back again. General Alten had the mounted officers of the division at points today.

  14th Rainy day.

  15th Went to Vale da Mula to cut forage, a Portuguese sentry there said it was the Governor of Almeida’s order that [it] be cut there. Showery day.

  16th Fine hot day.

  Chapter 9

  The Great Advance

  The improvement in the weather and the beginning of the season for cutting forage indicated that it was time for the army to march. Despite the dreadful retreat that ended the 1812 campaign, hopes were extremely high in the allied ranks that the French could be expelled from Spain in the next campaign. The French losses in Russia and the subsequent depletion of the French armies in Spain gave the allies great confidence. The French planned to concentrate their forces along the river lines, forcing Wellington to sustain heavy losses crossing them. With this in mind, their initial operations were centred around Salamanca to defend the expansive River Tormes.

  But Wellington had other ideas. Whilst Lord Hill’s force, including the Light Division, accompanied in person by Wellington distracted the French from the main attack, by manoeuvring in their direction. The bulk of Wellington’s army, led by Sir Thomas Graham, struck north east and succeeded in turning the flank of the French defensive positions and forcing them to abandon their prepared positions. Now that the plan was fully operational, Wellington joined Graham’s force and Hill subsequently joined with his corps, reuniting the entire army. The French continued to retire until they arrived at the valley which holds the city of Vitoria where King Joseph finally ordered his forces to halt and form, to repulse the allied advance. The great battle everyone had expected had finally arrived.