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WELLINGTON'SARMY

18091814

BY

C.W.C.OMAN

M.A.OXON.,HON.LL.D.BDIN.CHICHELEPROFESSOROFMODERNHISTORYINTHEUNIVERSITYOFOXFORD

WITHILLUSTRATIONS

SECONDIMPRESSION

LONDONEDWARDARNOLD

1913

[Allrightsreserved]



23)

PREFACE

MUCHhasbeenwrittenconcerningWellingtonandhisfamousPeninsularArmyinthewayofformalhistory:thisvolume,however,willIthinkcontainsomewhatthatisnewtomoststudentsconcerningitsorganization,itsdaybydaylife,anditspsychology.TounderstandtheexploitsofWellington'smen,itdoesnotsufficetoreadamerechronicleoftheirmarchesandbattles.Ihaveendeavouredtocollectinthesepagesnoticesofthoseaspectsoftheirlifewithwhichnostrategicalortacticalworkcandeal,thoughtacticsandevenstrategywillnotbefoundunnoticed.

MyspecialthanksareduetomyfriendMr.C.T.Atkinson,FellowofExeterCollege,Oxford,forallowingmetousetheadmirablelistofthebrigadeanddivisionalorganizationofthePeninsularArmywhichformsAppendixII.ItislargelyexpandedfromthearticleonthesametopicwhichheprintedeightyearsagointheHistoricalReview,andenablesthereadertofindouttheprecisecompositionofeveryoneofWellington'sunitsatanymomentbetweenApril,1808andApril,1814.IhavealsotoexpressmygratitudetotheHon.JohnFortescue,theauthorofthegreatHistoryoftheBritishArmy,foransweringagoodmanyquerieswhichIshouldhavefoundhardtosolvewithouthisaid.Theindexisbythesamelovinghandwhichhasworkedonsomanyofmyearliervolumes.

C.OMAN.

OXFORD,

September,1912.

CONTENTS



CHAPTERPAOE

I.INTRODUCTORYTHEOLDPENINSULARARMY..1

II.SOURCESOFINFORMATIONTHELITERATUREOPTHE

PENINSULARWAR9

III.THEDUKEOFWELLINGTONTHEMANANDTHE

STRATEGIST39

IV.WELLINGTON'SINFANTRYTACTICSLINEVERSUSCOLUMN61

V.WELLINGTON'STACTICSTHECAVALRYANDARTILLERY.94

VI.WELLINGTON'SLIEUTENANTSHILL,BERESFORD,GRAHAM115

VII.WELLINGTON'SLIEUTENANTSPICTON,CRAUFURD,AND

OTHERS129

VIII.THEORGANIZATIONOFTHEARMY:HEADQUARTERS.153

IX.THEORGANIZATIONOFTHEARMY:BRIGADESAND

DIVISIONS163

X.THEORGANIZATIONOFTHEARMY:THEREGIMENTS.178

XI.INTERNALORGANIZATIONOFTHEREGIMENT:THEOFFICERS195

XII.INTERNALORGANIZATIONOFTHEREGIMENT:THERANK

ANDFILE208

XIII.THEAUXILIARIES:THEGERMANSANDTHEPORTUGUESE220

XIV.DISCIPLINEANDCOURTMARTIALS....237XV.THEARMYONTHEMARCH255

XVI.IMPEDIMENTA:THEBAGGAGE:LADIESATTHEFRONT.268

viiiCONTENTS

CHAPTERPAttl

XVII.ANOTEONSIEGES2'9



XVIII.UNIFORMSANDWEAPONS.....292

XIX.THECOMMISSARIAT...30?

XX.ANOTEONTHESPIRITUALLIFE

APPENDIXI.ESTABLISHMENTANDSTATIONSOFTHEBRITISH

ARMYIN1809333

II.THEDIVISIONSANDBRIGADESOFTHEPENINSULARARMY,18091814,BYC.T.ATKINSON,M.A.,FELLOWOFEXETERCOLLEGE,OXFORD..343

III.BIBLIOGRAPHYOFENGLISHDIARIES,JOURNALS

ANDMEMOIRSOFTHEPENINSULARWAR.875

INDEX

385

LISTOFILLUSTRATIONS

PLATEI.ARTHURWELLESLEY,DUKEOPWELLINGTONFrontispieceFromaportraitbySirThomasLawrence

FACINGFAGR

II.LORDHILL,G.C.B.118

,,III.GENERALTHOMASGRAHAM,BARONLYNEDOCH,G.C.B.,

G.C.M.G126

FromthepicturebySirGeorgeHayter

IV.GENERALSIRTHOMASPICTON,K.O.B....138



V.OFFICEROFRIFLES,1809188

PRIVATE,INFANTRYOFTHELINE,1809...188

,,VI.OFFICEROFLIGHTDRAGOONS,UNIFORMOF1809.194

OFFICEROFLIGHTDRAGOONS,UNIFORMOF1813.194

VII.PRIVATEOFHEAVYDRAGOONS,1809...284

OFFICEROFFIELDARTILLERY,1809...284

,,VIII.SERGEANTANDPRIVATEOFINFANTRYINWINTER

MARCHINGORDER,1813296

WELLINGTON'SARMY

CHAPTERI

INTRODUCTORYTHEOLDPENINSULARARMY

WHILEworkingforthelastnineyearsattheHistoryofthePeninsularWar,Ihave(aswasinevitable)beencompelledtoaccumulatemanynotes,andmuchmiscellaneousinformationwhichdoesnotbearupontheactualchronicleofeventsinthevariouscampaignsthatliebetween1808and1814,butyetpossesseshighinterestinitself,andthrowsmanyasidelightonthegeneralcourseofthewar.Roughlyspeaking,thesenotesrelateeithertothepersonalcharacteristicsofthatfamousoldarmyofWellington,which,ashehimselfsaid,"couldgoanywhereanddoanything,"ortoitsinnermechanismthedetailsofitsmanagement.Ipurposetospeakinthesepagesoftheleadersandtheled;ofthedailylife,manners,andcustomsofthePeninsularArmy,asmuchasofitscompositionanditsorganization.Ishallbedealingwiththerankandfilenolessthanwiththeofficers,andmustevenfindspaceforafewpagesonthatcuriousandpolyglothordeofcampfollowerswhichtrailedattheheelsofthearmy,andfreiquentlyraisedproblemswhichworriednotonlycolonels'andadjutants,buteventheGreatDukehimself.

Thereisanimmenseamountofinterestingmaterialtobecollected,concerningtheinnerlifeofthePeninsularArmy,frompublicdocuments,suchasdespatches,generalorders,andregimentalreports,andrecordsofcourtsmartial.ButIshallbeutilizingtoamuchgreaterextentnonofficial



2THEOLDPENINSULARAKMY

information,collectedfromthecountlessdiaries,memoirs,andseriesofcontemporaryletters,whichhavecomedowntousfromthemenwhotookpartinthegreatwar.Norarethecontroversialpamphletstobeneglected,whichkeptappearingformanyayear,whenonesurvivoroftheoldarmyfound,inthewritingsofanother,statementswhichheconsideredinjurioustohimself,hisfriends,hisregiment,orhisdivision.ThebestknownandmostcopiousofthesediscussionsisthatwhichcentresroundthepublicationofNapier'sPeninsularWar;thesuccessiveappearanceofitsvolumesledtotheprintingofmanyprotests,inwhichsomeofthemostprominentofficersofWellington'sarmytookpartnotonlyLordBeresford,whowasNapier'sespecialbuttandbetenoir,andrepliedtothehistorianintermssometimesnottoodignifiedbutCole,Hardinge,D'Urban,andmanymore.Thissetof"strictures",astheywerecalled,mainlyrelatetotheAlbueracampaign.Buttherearesmaller,butnotlessinteresting,seriesofcontroversialpamphletsrelatingtotheConventionofCintra,toMoore'sretreat,tothecampaignof1810(Bussaco),thestormofBadajoz,andothertopics.

Thememoirsandautobiographies,ofcourse,possessthegreatestshareofinterest.Anditmaybenotedasaremarkablefactthatthosecomingfromtherankandfilearenotverymuchlessnumerousthanthosewhichcomefromthecommissionedranks.Iftherearescoresofdiariesandreminiscencesofcolonels,captains,andsubalterns,thereareatleastdozensoflittlebooksbysergeants,corporals,andprivates.Manyoftheseareveryquaintproductionsindeed,printedatlocalpressesatPerth,Coventry,Cirencester,Louth,AshfordevenatCorfu.Veryfrequentlysomeknotofmilitaryorcivilianfriendsinducedamuchtravelledveterantocommittopaperthetaleswhichhadbeenthedelightofthecanteen,orofthefiresideofsomevillageinn.Theyaregenerallyverygoodreading,butoftengiveratherthespiritofthetime

MEMOIRSOFTHERANKANDFILE3



andtheregimentthananaccuraterecordofitslongpastexploits.Oneortwooftheseveterans'artlesstalesshowallthecharacteristicsofthememoirsoftheprinceoftheirtribethedelightfulbutautolatrousMarbot.Ihavethoughtitworthwhiletogiveinanappendixthenamesandtitlesofthebestofthem.Oneortwo,aboveallthelittlebookof"RiflemanHarris"ofthe95th,welldeservetoberepublished,butstillawaitthathonour.PerhapsregimentalpatriotismmaysomedayprovideuswithaseriesofreprintsofthebestSoldiers'Tales.*

Itisaverynotablefact,whichrequires(buthasneverhithertoreceived)anexplanation,thatitispreciselywiththecominginofthenineteenthcenturythatBritishsoldiersandofficersalikebegantowritediariesandreminiscencesonalargescale,andingreatnumbers.Idonot,ofcourse,meantosaythattherewerenonesuchproducedintheeighteenthcentury.BesidesseriousmilitaryhistorieslikethoseofKane,Stedman,orTarleton,theredoexistacertainnumberofnarrativesofpersonaladventurewrittenbyofficers,suchasMajorRogerstheScout,orthegarrulousandoftenamusingdiarist(unfortunatelyanonymous)whomadethecampaignofCullodenwiththeDukeofCumberlandnottospeakofthesemiapochryphalCaptainCarleton.Buttheyarefew,andthewritingsfromtheranksarefewerstill,thoughtherearecertainsoldiers'letterswhichgobackasfarasMarlborough'stime,andoneortwosmallbookslikeBristow'sandScurry'sIndianreminiscences,andSergeantLamb'sJournalintheAmericanWarofIndependence,whichareworthmentioning.Butitisquitecertainthattherewasmorewritinggoingoninthearmyduringthetenyears18051815thaninthewholeeighteenthcentury.

Whatwastheexplanationofthephenomenon?Thereare,Ithink,twomaincausestobeborneinmind:the

*JohnShipp'sistheonlybookfromtherankswhichhasbeenreprintedwithinthelasttenyears,Ibelieve.Mr.FitchettreproducedafewchaptersofAntonandothersinhisratherdisappointingWellington'sMen.

4THEOLDPENINSULARARMY

firstwasthegloriousandinspiringcharacterofWellington'scampaigns,whichmadebothofficersandmenjustifiablyproudofthemselves,andmoreanxiousthananyprevious



generationhadbeentoputonpaperthetaleoftheirownexploits.Itmusthavebeenamanofparticularlycheerfuldispositionwhocaredtocompilethepersonalnarrativeof\hisadventuresduringtheOldAmericanWar,whichwaslargelyarecordofdisaster,orevenintheupsanddownsoftheSevenYears'War,whenforeveryMindenorQuebectherehadbeenanevilmemorylikeTiconderogaorKlosterKampen.ItistothisinstinctivedisliketoopenupoldmemoriesofmisfortunethatwemayattributethefactthatthefirstBritishcampaignsoftheFrenchRevolutionaryWar,theunhappymarchesandbattlesoftheDukeofYork'sarmyin1793,1794,1795arerecordedinsingularlyfewbooksofreminiscencesthereareonly(tomyknowledge)thedoggerelverseofthe"OfficeroftheGuards,"withitsvaluablefootnotes,andthesimplememoirsofSergeantStevensonoftheScotsFusilierGuards,andCorporalBrownoftheColdstream.Thisisanextraordinarilysmalloutputforalongseriesofcampaigns,inwhichsome30,000Britishtroopswereinthefield,andwheregallantexploitslikethoseofFamarsandVillersenCauchiestookplace.Butthegeneraltalewasnotoneonwhichanyparticipantcouldlookbackwithpleasure.Hence,nodoubt,thewantofbooksofreminiscences.

ButIfancythatthereisanotherandaquitedistinctcausefortheextraordinaryoutburstofinterestingmilitaryliteraturewithwhichthenineteenthcenturybegins,andwemaynotethatthisoutburstcertainlycommencesalittlebeforethePeninsularWar.ThereexistseveralverygoodpersonalnarrativesbothoftheConquestofEgyptin1801,oftheIndianWarsduringtheViceroyaltyofLordWellesley,andoftheshortcampaignofMaida.AndthiscauseItaketobethefactthatthegenerationwhichgrewupunderthestressofthelongRevolutionaryWarwithFrancewasfarmoreseriousandintelligentthanthatwhichsaw

THESWORDANDTHEPEN5

itbegin,andrealizedthesupremeimportanceoftheendsforwhichGreatBritainwascontending,andthedangerwhichthreatenedhernationalexistence.Theempirehadbeenindangerbefore,bothintheSevenYears'War,andintheWarofAmericanIndependence,buttheenemyhadneverbeensoterrifyingandabhorrentastheJacobinsoftheRedRepublic.TheFranceofRobespierrewasloathedandfearedastheFranceofLouisXV.orLouisXVI.hadneverbeen.TothegreaterpartoftheBritishnationthewaragainsttheRevolutionsoonbecameakindof



Crusadeagainstthe"tripleheadedmonsterofRepublicanism,Atheism,andSedition."ThefeelingthatGreatBritainhadtofightnotsomuchforempireasfornationalexistence,andforallthatmadelifeworthhavingreligion,morality,constitution,laws,libertymademendesperatelykeenforthefight,astheirancestorshadneverbeen.

Amongthemanyaspectswhichtheirkeennesstook,onewasmostcertainlythedesiretorecordtheirownpersonalpartinthegreatstrife.ItisinsomesuchwayonlythatIcanexplainthefactthattheactuallycontemporarydiariesandjournalsbecomesogoodasthewarwearson,comparedtoanythingthathadgonebefore.Memoirsandreminiscenceswrittenlaterdonotcountintheargument,becausetheywerecompiledandprintedlongaftertheFrenchwarwasover,anditsgreatnesswasunderstood.Buttheabundanceofgoodmaterialwrittendown(andoftensenttothepress)duringthecontinuanceofthewarisastounding.InsomecaseswecanbesurethatweowetherecordtothereasonthatIhavejustsuggested.Forexample,wecertainlyowetoitthelongandinterestingmilitarydiariesofLordLynedoch(theSirThomasGrahamofBarrosa),whomostdecidedlywentintotheRevolutionaryWarasaCrusaderandnothingless.AsIshallexplainwhendealingwithhisremarkablecareer,hestartedmilitarylifeatfortyfour,mortgaginghisestatestoraiseabattalion,andsuddenlyfromaWhigM.P.ofthenormaltypedevelopedintoa


persistentandconscientiousfighteragainstFranceandFrenchideaswhethertheywereexpressed(aswhenfirsthedrewthesword)inthefrenziedanticsoftheJacobins,or(asduringhislatteryears)inthegrindingdespotismofBonaparte.Hisdiaryfromfirsttolastistherecordofonewhofeelsthatheisdischargingtheelementarydutyofagoodcitizen,bydoinghisbesttobeattheFrenchwherevertheymaybefound.

Itakeitthatthesameideawasatthebottomoftheheartofmanyamanoflessernote,whokepthispenbusyduringthosetwentyeventfulyears.Somefranklysaythattheywentintotheservice,contrarytotheoriginalschemeoftheirlife,becausetheysawthedangertothestate,andwerereadytotaketheirpartinmeetingit."Thethreatofinvasionfiredeveryloyalpairofshouldersforaredcoat."*



OfthemenwhosememoirsandlettersIhaveread,somewouldhavebeenlawyers(likeSirHusseyVivian),otherspoliticians,othersdoctors,otherscivilservants,othersmerchants,iftheGreatWarhadnotbrokenout.Ishouldimaginethattheproportionofofficerswhohadtakentheircommissionforotherreasonsthanthattheyhadanoldfamilyconnectionwiththearmy,orlovedadventure,wasinfinitelyhigherduringthisperiodthanithadeverbeenbefore.AveryappreciablenumberofthemweremenwithastrongreligiousturnathingIimaginetohavebeenmostunusualinthearmyoftheeighteenthcentury(thoughwemustnotforgetColonelGardiner).Oneyoungdiaristheadsthejournalofhisfirstcampaignwithalongprayer.fAnotherstartsforthefrontwithafinallettertohisrelativestotheeffectthat"whilestrivingtodischargehismilitarydutieshewillneverforgethisreligiousones:hewhoobservestheformeranddisregardsthelatterisnobetterthanacivilizedbrute."J

*Kincaid,RandomShotsfromaRifleman,p.8.fThiswasWoodberryofthe18thHussars.jSirWilliamOomm'sLife,p.31.

THEMENOFRELIGION7

TherewerePeninsularofficerswholedprayermeetingsandfoundedreligioussocietiesnotentirelytothedelightoftheDukeofWellington,*whoseownverydryandofficialviewofreligionwasasintolerantof"enthusiasm"asthatofanyWhigbishopofMidGeorgiantimes.SomeofthemostinterestingdiariesofthewararethoseofmenwholikeGleig,Dallas,andBoothby,tookHolyOrderswhenthestrifecametoanend.Oneortwooftheauthorsfromtheranksshowthesametendencies.QuartermasterSurteeswasundergoingtheagoniesofaverypainfulconversion,duringthecampaignof1812,andfoundthatthememoriesofhisspiritualexperienceshadbluntedanddulledhisrecollectionofhisregimentalfortunesduringthattime.fAverycuriousbookbyanIrishsergeantofthe43rddevotesmanymorepagestoreligiousreflectionsthantomarchesandbivouacs.JAnotherwriterofthesametypedescribeshimselfonhistitlepageas"TwentyoneyearsintheBritishFootGuards,sixteenyearsanoncommissionedofficer,fortyyearsaWesleyanclassleader,oncewounded,andtwoyearsaPrisoner."

OnthewholeIaminclinedtoattributethegreatim



provementalikeinthequantityandthequalityoftheinformationwhichwepossessastotheinnerlifeofthearmy,duringthesecondhalfofthegreatstrugglewithFrance,notonlytothefactthatthedangertotheempireandthegreatinterestsatstakehadfiredtheimaginationofmanyaparticipant,butstillmoretotheotherfactthatthebodyjofofficerscontainedamuchlargerproportionofthoughtfuliandseriousmenthanithadeverdonebefore.Andthesamewasthecasemutatismutandiswiththerankandfile

*SeehiscuriousdispatchfromCartaxodatedFebruary6th,1811,concerningpreachingofficers.

tHedescribeshimselfas"rollingonthefloorlikeonedistracted,withthepainsofhellgettinghold,andhopeseemingtobeforevershutoutofmymind."Surtees,p.172.

JHecallshislittlebookMemoirofaSergeantlateofthe43rdLightInfantry,previouslytoandduringthePeninsularWar,includinganaccountofhisConversionfromPoperytotheProtestantReligion.

JohnStevensonoftheScotsFusilierGuards.


also.Notbutwhatofcoursesomeofthemostinterestinginformationissuppliedtousbycheerfulandgarrulousrattlepatesofaverydifferenttype,whohadbeenattractedintotheservicebytheadventureofthesoldier'slife,andrecordmainlyitspicturesqueoritshumorousside.

CHAPTERII

SOURCESOFINFORMATIONTHELITERATUREOFTHEPENINSULARWAR

ITwillbewell,perhaps,togiveashortaccountofthemainsourcesfromwhichourknowledgeofthePeninsularArmyisderived.Theofficialonesmustbecitedfirst.Themostimportantofallare,naturallyenough,theWellingtonDispatches.Ofthesetherearetwoseries;thefirst,intwelvevolumes,waspublishedduringtheDuke'slifetimebyColonelGurwoodbetween1837and1839.Thesecond,orsupplementaryseries,infifteenvolumes,waspublishedwithcopiousnotesbythesecondDukeofWellington



between1858and1872.

TheserieseditedbyGurwoodisabsolutelynecessarytoeverystudentofthePeninsularWar,butismosttiresometohandle,andisbynomeanscomplete.TheDukeforbadethepublicationofagreatnumberofhismoreconfidentialletters,andorderedportionsofotherstobeomitted.Hehadastrongnotionthatagreatdealofhistoricalinformationcouldbe,andoughttobe,suppressed;thisfacthascausedmuchtroubletothemodernhistorian,whowishestoobtainnotamereofficialandexpurgatedviewofthewar,butafullandcompletesurveyofit.ToshowWellington'sattitudeitmaybesufficienttoquotehisanswertoWilliamNapier,whoaskedforleavetoutilizeallhispapers."Hecouldnottellthewholetruthwithouthurtingthefeelingsofmanyworthymen,andwithoutdoingmischief.Expatiatingonthesubject,herelatedmanyanecdotesillustratingthisobservation,showingerrors

10LITERATUREOFTHEPENINSULARWAR

committedbygeneralsandothersespeciallyatWaterlooerrorssomateriallyaffectinghisoperationsthathecouldnotdojusticetohimselfifhesuppressedthem,andyetbygivingthempublicityhewouldungraciouslyaffectthefavourofmanyworthymen,whoseonlyfaultwasdullness."*

TheGurwoodeditionofthedispatcheswaspublishedsomefifteenyearsafterNapiermadehisapplication,butnumbersoftheoldPeninsularofficerswerestillalive,andtheDukeadheredtohisalreadyexpressedopinionthatitwouldnotbewelltoexposeoldquarrelsandoldblunders.Paragraphs,accordingly,areoftenomittedinthereprint,andinalargemajorityofcases,whereblamewasimputedorreproofsadministeredtoanyindividual,thenamewasleftblank.Thismakestheeditionmosttiresometoread.Itisexasperatingtofindthate.g."nothinghasgivenmemoreconcerninthelateoperationsthantheconductof

Lieut.ColoneloftheRegt."forthat"nomeans

existsofpunishingmilitarydisordersandirregularitiesof

thekindcommittedbyBrigadierGeneralandColonel

."Oragain,whenWellingtonwritestothePatronage



SecretaryattheHorseGuardsthat"Iammuchobligedto

youforrelievingmefromMajorGeneralandColonel

.IhaveseenGeneralandIthinkhewilldo

verywell,andsowill"f;orthat"appearstobea

kindofmadman,"and"isnobverywise,"thereader

isreducedtodespair.Theonlywayofdiscoveringthenames,whichareoftenthoseofofficersofhighrank,whofigurerepeatedlyinanynarrativeofthePeninsularWar,istogototheoriginaldispatchesattheRecordOffice,or,whenthecommunicationisaprivateandnotapublicone,tothelettersatApsleyHouse.Meanwhile,fewhavetheleisureorthepatiencetodothis,sothatWellington'sjudgmentsonhislieutenantsarestillpracticallyinaccessible

Itwas,perhaps,stillnecessarytoleavealltheseblanks

*LifeofSirW.Napier,i.235,236.tDispatches,vii.p.559.1Ibid.vi.p.485.

GURWOODANDTHEDUKE'SDISPATCHES11

in1837.AndGurwoodwasnodoubtactinginstrictobediencetotheDuke'sorders.Butnothingcanexcusehisownslackeditingofthemassivetomesthathepublished.Therearenotablesofcontentstothevolumes,nordoesthetitlepageofeachindicatethedatesbetweenwhichitruns.TofindoutwhichvolumewillcontainaletterofNovember,1810,wemusttakedownVols.VI.andVII.,andseefromthedateofthelastdispatchinoneandthefirstintheother,whenthebreakcomes.SupposingwewishtodiscoverhowmanycommunicationsweresenttoGrahamorSpencerin1811,thereisnootherwayofachievingourobjectthanrunningthrougheverypageofthetwovolumesinwhichthecorrespondenceofthatyeariscontained!Thereisasocalledindextothewholeseries,butitispracticallyuseless,fromthesmallnumberofheadingsgiven.ThereaderwilllookinitvainlyforobviousplacesnamessuchasChaves,CasalNovo,CastelloBranco,Vera,St.Pierre,forpersonalnamessuchasLapisse,LatourMaubourg,Bonnet,Montbrun,Abadia,PenneVillemur,O'Donnell,DelParque,Erskine,Anson,VictorAlten,Barnard,Beckwith.OntheotherhandhewillfindsillyheadingssuchasunderL,"Lies,encouragementof,"or



underI,"InvincibilityofBritishTroops."Perhapsthemostridiculousentryinthisabsurdcompilationisthatof"LightDivision,"towhichthereisannexedjustonenote,"satisfactoryconductof,onApril6,1811,"asifthatwasthesoleoccasiononwhichitwasnecessarytomentionthatdistinguishedunitoftheBritisharmy.Therearenoheadingsunderregimentsatall,sothatifonewishestoseewhattheDukesaidaboutthe52ndortheBlackWatch,onesimplygetsnohelp.

ButthereisanothertrickofGurwood'swhichisevenworsethanhiswantoftablesofcontentsoradequateindexentries.HeomittedalltheelaboratestatisticswhichusedtoaccompanytheDuke'sdispatches,withoutexception.Thebeautifultablesofcasualtieswhichexplainthedistributionoflossesbetweenregimentsand


divisions,areineverycaseboileddownintothreebaldtotalsof"killed,wounded,andmissing."forthewholearmy,noindicationofunitsbeingleft.EvenLordLondonderry'smodesttwovolumes,thefirstattemptatageneralhistoryofthePeninsularWar,givefarmoreusefulinformationontheallimportanttopicsofstrengthsandlossesthanallGurwood'stomes.Forthatsensibleauthorrightlysawthatnothingcouldbemoreserviceabletothereaderthananoccasionaltableoftheorganizationandnumbersofthewholealliedarmy,andthatthedetailedcasualtylistofsuchafightasTalaveraorAlbueraisindispensable.ThepurblindGurwoodpreferredtoputinanote,"thedetailofdivisions,regiments,andbattalionshasbeenomitted,beingtoovoluminous,"*whenhewasdealingwithanimportantreturn.Thehistorianoweshimsmallthanksforhispreciousopinion.

ItisanimmenserelieftopassfromGurwood'sillarrangedworktothevolumesoftheWellingtonSupplementaryDispatches,whichwerepublishedbythesecondDukebetween1858and1872.ThoughthemassofPeninsularmaterialcontainedinthisseriesiscomparativelysmall,itcomprisesagreatquantityoffamiliarandprivatecorrespondence,whichhadbeendeliberatelyomittedfromtheearlierpublication.And,moreover,itisadmirablyedited;thesecondDukeknewwhatwasimportantandwhatrequiredexplanation,appendedvaluableandcopiousnotes,andwasable(sincetheeldergenerationwasnowpracticallyextinct)toabandontheexasperating



reticenceusedbyGurwood.Moreover,headdedavastquantityofletterswrittennotby,butto,hisfather,whichservetoexplaintheoldDuke'ssometimecrypticrepliestohiscorrespondents.EvenafewnecessaryFrenchdocumentshavebeenadded.Altogetherthesevolumesareexcellent,andmakeonewishthattheeditingofthewholeoftheWellingtonpapershadfallenintothesamehands.

*Thispreposterousremarkmaybefoundonp.28ofvol.vi.

WELLINGTON'S"GENERALORDERS"13

ThereisathirdseriesofOfficialpublicationswhichthoughnotso"generallynecessaryforsalvation"astheDispatches,foranystudentofthePeninsularWar,isveryvaluableandneedscontinuallytobeworkedup.ThisisthesevenvolumesofGeneralOrders,from1809to1815,whicharestrictlycontemporarydocuments,astheywerecollectedandissuedwhilethewarwasinprogressthe180910volumeswereprintedin1811,the1811volumein1812,andsoon.Thelast,orWaterloovolume,hadthedistinctionofbeingissuedbytheBritishMilitaryPressinParis,"bySergeantBuchan,3rdGuards,"asprinter.TheGeneralOrderscontainnotonlyallthedocumentsstrictlysocalled,thenoticesissuedbythecommanderinchiefforthearmy,butaninvaluableprecisofallcourtsmartialotherthanregimentalones,andarecordofpromotions,gazettingsofofficerstoregiments,rulesastoissueofpayandrations,anddirectionsastoallmattersofdetailrelatingtoorganization,hospitals,depots,stores,routes,etc.Ifanyonewishestoknowonwhatdaythe42ndwasmovedfromthefirsttotheseconddivision,whenpreciselyGeneralCraufurdgotleavetogohomeonprivatebusiness,whatwastheacceptedvalueoftheSpanishdollarorthePortugueseCruzadoNovoatdifferentdates,whenexpressedinEnglishmoney,orwhatwasthebountygivenwhenatimeexpiredmanconsentedtorenewhisserviceforalimitedperiod,thesearethevolumesinwhichhewillfindhiscuriositysatisfied.Theycannotbecalledinterestingreadingbuttheycontainfactsnotelsewheretobefound.

ThereisanexactlycorrespondingseriesofGeneralOrdersforthePortugueseArmy,insixyearlyvolumes,calledOrdensdoDia:itwasissuedbyMarshalBeresford,andcontainsallthedocumentssignedbyhim.Wheneverastudentisinterestedinthecareerofoneofthenumerous



BritishofficersinthePortugueseservice,hemustseekoufetherecordsofhisdoingsinthesevolumes.Theyareop$e*sytowoyfcin,astheyhavenoyearlyindices,and


muchpatienceisrequiredtodiscoverisolatednoticesofindividuals.ThesevolumesarepracticallyinaccessibleinEngland.ItwaswiththegreatestdifficultythataLisbonfriendhuntedmeupacopyafterlongsearch,andIamnotawarethatthereisanotheronthissideofthesea.ButbyitsuseonlycanwetracetheserviceofanyAngloPortugueseofficer.Therewassupposedtobean"Ordem"everymorning,andwhennothingwasforthcominginthewayofpromotions,courtmartialreports,ordecrees,Beresford'schiefofthestaffusedtopublishasolemnstatementthattherewasnonews,asthus

QuartelGeneraldeChamusca,7.1.1811.

Nadadenovo.AdjudanteGeneralMosinho.

Thishappenedonanaverageabouttwiceaweek.

InadditiontotheseprintedseriesthereisanimmenseamountofunprintedofficialcorrespondenceintheRecordOfficewhichbearsonthePeninsularWar.ItwillbefoundnotonlyintheWarOfficesection,butinthosebelongingtotheForeignOfficeandtheAdmiralty.Asanexampleofthemysteriesofofficialclassification,ImaymentionthatalldocumentsrelatingtoFrenchprisonerswillhavetobelookedforamongtheAdmiraltyrecords,underthesubheadingsTransportandMedical.If,asoccasionallyhappens,onewishestofindoutthenamesandregimentsofFrenchofficerscapturedonsomeparticularoccasion,e.g.Soult'sretreatfromOporto,orthestormofBadajoz,itistotheAdmiraltyrecordsthatonemustgo!Officerscanalwaysbeidentified,butitisaherculeantasktodealwiththerankandfile,fortheyusedtobeshotintooneofthegreatprisons,Norman'sCross,Porchester,Stapleton,etc.,inarbitrarybatches,withnoregardtotheirregimentalnumbers.Itwouldtakeaweektohuntthroughtheprisonrecordswiththeobjectofidentifyingthenumberofprivatesofthe34thLegercapturedatRodrigo,sincetheymayhavegoneinsmallpartiestoanyoneofadozen



THERECOKDOFFICEANDITSWEALTH15

destinations.Manyoftheprisonregistershavelostoneorotheroftheirouterboards,andthehandlingofthemisagrimybusinessforthefingers,sincetheyarepracticallyneverconsulted.

WhilenearlythewholeoftheWellingtondispatcheshavebeenprinted,itisonlyasmallpartoftheDuke's"enclosures",addedtoeachdispatch,thathavehadthesamegoodfortune.Thesealwaysrepayacursoryinspection,andareoftenhighlyimportant.ThegreaterpartofSirJohnMoore'scorrespondencewithLordCastlereagh,andmanydispatchesofMoore'ssubordinatesBaird,Leith,andLordW.Bentinckwithanumberofvaluablereturnsandstatistics,areprintedinalargevolumeentitledPapersRelativetoSpainandPortugal,PresentedtoParliamentin1809."Thereare,tothebestofmyknowledge,nosimilarvolumesrelatingtoGraham'scampaignfromCadizin1811,orMaitland'sandMurray'soperationsontheeastsideofSpainin181314.Agooddealofinformationaboutthelatter,however,maybegotfromtheenormousreportofthecourtmartialonMurray,forhiswretchedfiascoatthesiegeofTarragona,whichisfullofvaluablefacts.ThedetailsoftheotherminorBritishenterprisesinthePeninsulasuchasthoseofDoyle,Skerret,SirHomePopham,andLordBlayney,allremaininmanuscript,readilyaccessibletothesearcher,butnottoooftenconsulted.TheForeignOfficesectionattheRecordOfficeishighlyvaluablenotonlytothehistorianofdiplomacy,buttothepurelymilitaryhistorian,becauseStuart,Vaughan,HenryWellesley,andtheotherrepresentativesoftheBritishGovernmentatMadrid,Seville,andCadiz,usedtosendhome,alongwiththeirowndispatches,numberlessSpanishdocuments.TheseincludenotonlyofficialpapersfromtheRegency,butprivatedocumentsofgreatvalue,lettersfromgeneralsandstatesmenwhowishtokeeptheBritishagentinformedastotheirviews,whentheyhaveclashedwiththeresolvesoftheirowngovernment.TherearequiteanumberofmilitarynarrativesbySpanish


officers,whoaresetonexcusingthemselvesfromresponsibilityforthedisastersoftheircolleagues.Andthepoliticianssometimespropose,inprivateandconfidentialminutes,verycuriousplansandintrigues.SirCharles



VaughankeptacertainnumberoftheseconfidentialpapersinhisownpossessionwhenheleftCadiz,anddidnotturnthemovertotheForeignOffice.Theylie,alongwithhisprivatecorrespondence,intheLibraryofAllSouls'CoUege,Oxford.

SincewearedealingwiththeBritisharmy,notwiththegeneralhistoryofthePeninsularWar,Ineedonlymentionthatunpublisheddocumentsbythethousand,relatingtotheFrench,Spanish,andPortuguesearmies,maybefoundatParis,Madrid,andLisbon,andthattheresearcherisinvariablywelcomedandcourteouslytreated.Itmaybeworthwhiletomakeanote,forthebenefitofbeginners,totheeffectthattheFrenchmilitarydocumentsarenotconcentratedinonemass,butaredividedbetweentheArchivesNationales,andtheArchivesdelaGuerreattheMinistryofWar.Ifareturnoradispatchisnottobefoundinoneoftheserepositories,itmayyetturnupintheother.TheSpanishrecordsarevery"patchy,"fullonsomecampaigns,almostnonexistentonothers.Forexample,thedocumentsonthelucklessOcanacampaignof1809aremarvellouslyfew;theredoesnotexistasinglecomplete"morningstate",byregimentsanddivisions,ofAreizaga'sunhappyarmy.Ifancythatthewholeoftheofficialpapersofhisstaffwerecapturedintherout,anddestroyedbyignorantplundererstheydidnotgetintotheFrenchcollections.HencetherehaveonlysurvivedthefewdispatcheswhichAreizagaandsomeofhissubordinatessenttotheSpanishMinistryofWar.

SomuchforOfficialRecords.Passingontothepublicationsofindividualactorsinthewar,wemustdrawasharplinebetweenthosewhichwereissuedduringorimmediatelyafterthecampaignswithwhichtheydeal,andthose

CONTEMPORARYJOURNALS17

whichwerewrittendown,withorwithouttheaidofcontemporarynotesorjournals,manyyearsafter.Theformer,ofcourse,possessapeculiarinterest,becausethewriters'narrativeisnotcolouredbyanyknowledgeofwhatisyettocome.AnofficerwritingofCorunnaorTalaverawiththememoryofVittoriaandWaterloouponhim,necessarilytookupadifferentviewofthewarfromthemanwhosetdownhisearlycampaignwithoutanyideaofwhatwastofollow.Earlychecksandhardshipsloomlargerinthehourofdoubtanddisappointment,thanwhentherecollectionofthemhasbeendimmedbysubsequenthoursof



triumph.Theearlymaterial,therefore,isveryvaluable,butitisnotsocopiousasthatwhichwaswrittendownlater,anditlargelyexistsintheformoflettersanddiaries,bothofwhicharelessreadablethanformalnarratives.AsgoodtypesofthissortofmaterialwemaynameOrmsby'sandKerPorter'sJournalsoftheCampaignof180809,Hawkers'JournaloftheTalaveraCampaign.Stothert'sDiaryof180911,andGeneralMacKinnon'sJournalofthesamethreeyears,allofwhichwerepublishedwithinafewmonthsofthelastentrywhicheachcontains.Nexttothesecomethebookswhichconsistofcontemporarymaterial,publishedwithoutalterationfromtheoriginalmanuscripts,butonlymanyyearsaftertheyhadbeenwritten.Thebestoftheseforhardfacts,oftenfactsnottobefoundelsewhere,isthediaryofTomkinsonofthe16thLightDragoons:*withitmaybementionedtheJournalofGeorgeSimmonsofthe95th,publishedin1899withthetitle,"ABritishRifleMan,"ftheJournalsofSirWilliamGomm,180815,JSirGeorgeWarre'sLettersof180812,whichonlysawthelighttwoyearsago,andLarpent'sPrivateJournal,printedin1852.||Thesevolumes

*Onlyprintedin1894.tEditedbyCol.WilloughbyVerner.

jPublished1881.Invaluableasaprivaterecordforthestaff.Editedbyhiskinsman,thepresentProvostofEton.||LarpentwasalawyerwhoactedasWellington'sJudgeAdvocate.

O


allhaveshortnotesbytheeditors,butthetextisthewritingofthePeninsulartime,untamperedwithandunaltered.

Thesebooksandtheirminorcontemporariesstandinaclassbythemselves,ascontemporarymaterialreflectingaccuratelythespiritofthetimes.Muchmorenumerous,however,arethebookswhich,thoughproducedbyactorsintheGreatWar,appearedatdatesmoreorlessremotefromtheyearswhoseeventstheynarrate.Theformalhistoriesarecomparativelyfew,thereasonbeingthatNapier'smagnificent(ifsomewhatprejudicedandbiassed)volumescompletelyputoffotherpossibleauthors,whofeltthattheylackedhisgeniusandhispowerofexpression,fromtheideaofwritingalongnarrativeofthewarasa



whole.Thiswasamisfortune,sincetheonebookwhichallstudentsofmilitaryhistoryaretherebydriventoread,wascomposedbyabitterpoliticalpartisan,whoissetonmaligningtheTorygovernment,hasanaltogetherexaggeratedadmirationforNapoleon,andownedmanypersonalenemiesintheBritisharmy,whoreceivescantjusticeathishands.Atthesametimewemustbegratefulthattheworkwaswrittenbyonewhowasanactualwitnessofmanyofthecampaignsthatherelates,conscientiouslystrovetogetatallotherfirsthandwitnesses,andransackedtheFrenchaswellastheBritishofficialpapers,sofarashecouldobtainaccesstothem.Themeritsofhisstyleareallhisown,andwillcausetheHistoryofthePeninsularWartobereadasanEnglishclassic,asClarendon'sHistoryoftheGreatRebellionisread,evenwhenresearchhasshown(asinClarendon'scase)thatmuchofthenarrativeneedsreconstruction,andthatthegeneralthesisonwhichitisconstructedlacksimpartiality.

TheonlyothergeneralhistoriesofthewarwhichappearedwereSouthey's(threevols.published1832)andLordLondonderry's.*Theformerwaswrittenbyaliterarymanwithoutanymilitaryexperience,whohadseennothing

*ItishardlynecessarytomentionJones'sslightSketoh(1818)orGoddard'smassofundigestedcontemporarymaterial(1814).

ofthePeninsuladuringtheyearsofthestruggle,andhadasalmosthisonlymerit,agoodknowledgeoftheSpanishsources,ofwhichhewastoouncritical.Thebookfelldead,beingunabletocompetewithNapier,andlackingalltheauthorityofpersonalknowledgewhichwasthelatter'sstrongpoint.ThesmallerbookofLordLondonderry(twovolumes,published1829)isbynomeanswithoutmerit,buthasmanyfaults,alwayshoveringontheedgebetweenformalhistoryandpersonalreminiscences.WhereverCharlesStewarthadnotbeenpresent,hepasseslightlyovertheepisodesofwar,andobviouslyhadtakennoverygreatpainstocollectfirsthandmaterial.Atthesametimethebookhasvalue,asgivingtheviewsofahighlyplacedstaffofficer,whohadtheopportunityofseeingeveryepisodefromthepointofviewofHeadQuarters,andhadstrongconvictionsandtheoriesofhisown.Hehadalsothesavinggraceoflovingstatistics,andprintedmanyvaluableappendicesof"morningstates"andcasualtylists,thingsofwhichNapierwasfartoosparing,andwhichGurwoodsuppressedaltogether.AsageneralrecordthebookcouldnotcopewithNapier,andhasbeenforgottensomewhat



undeservedlynolessthanSouthey'svastquartos.Thereisabsolutelynoothergeneralhistorybyacontemporarywhichneedsmention.OfcourseIomitforeignsources,whichhelpuslittlewithregardtotheBritisharmy,thoughtheyareindispensableforageneralstudyofthewar.Foy'sunfinishedGuerredelaPeninsule,ifwemayjudgefromthevolumeswhichappearedbeforehisdeath,wouldhavebeenaveryprejudicedaffairhisaccountoftheBritishtroopsinVol.I.isabittersatire,contrastingoddlyenoughwithhisconfessionsconcerningtheirmeritsinhisJournal,ofwhichalargeportionwaspublishedafewyearsagobyGirodde1'AinunderthetitleVieMilitaireduGeneralFoy.Afterallthedetractioninhisformalhistory,itisinterestingtoreadthefrankletterwhichsays,in1811,thatforasetbattleonalimitedfrontheacknowledgesthesuperiorityoftheEnglishinfantrytotheFrench,"Ikeepthisopinion


tomyself,"headds,"andhaveneverdivulgedit,foritisnecessarythatthesoldierintheranksshouldnotonlyhatehisenemy,butalsodespisehim."*Foykepttheopinionsocloselytohimself,thatnoonewouldhavesuspecteditwhohadreadonlyhisformalhistoryofthePeninsularWar.

AnotherFrenchgeneralhistoryisMarshalJourdan'sGuerred'Espagne,issuedonlytenyearsagobytheVicomtedeGrouchy,thoughlargepartsofithadbeenutilizedinDucasse'sLifeandCorrespondenceofKingJosephBonaparte.ThiscoversthewholewardowntoVittoria,andisnotableforitsacuteandoftenunanswerablecriticismofSoultandMassena,Marmont,and,notleast,ofNapoleonhimself.ItislesssatisfactoryasavindicationofJourdan'sowndoings.Marmont'sautobiographyonlycovershisfifteenmonthsofcommandfromMay,1811,toJuly,1812:whileSt.Cyr'sandSuchet'sveryinterestingaccountsoftheirownperiodsofactivityrelateentirelytoCataloniaandtheeasternsideofthePeninsula.St.CyrdoesnottouchBritishaffairsatall;SuchettreatshiscampaignsagainstMaitlandandMurrayinamuchmorecursorystylethanhisprevioussuccessesagainsttheSpanisharmies.|TheotherFrenchformalnarrativesbycontemporariesandeyewitnessesareforthemostpartmonographsonparticularcampaignsinwhichthewriterstookpartsuchasThiebault'sworkonJunotinPortugalfullofdeliberateinaccuracieswhichwaspublishedin1817,andLapene'sConqueted'Andalousie,en181012,andCampagnesde



181314(bothpublishedin1823involumesofdifferentsize)whichdealonlywiththearmyofSoult.Thereare,however,twogeneralhistoriesbyGermanofficersSchepeler(whoservedwiththeSpaniards),andEiegel(whoservedwiththeFrench)whichbothrequiremention.Theformerisespeciallyvaluable.^

*JournalinGirodde1'Ain,p.98.

fHiswellwrittentwovolumes(issued1829)aresaidtohavebeenverylargelytheworkofhisaidedecamp,St.CyrNugues.JVacani'sItaliangeneralhistoryofthewarisveryslightonthe

TORENO,BELMAS,JOHNJONES21

AmongPeninsularhistorianstwodeservespecialnotice.TheCondedeToreno,aSpanishstatesmanwhohadtakenpartinthewarasayoungman,producedin1838threemassivevolumeswhichare,nexttoNapier,thegreatestbookthatmakesthiswaritssubject.Heisafirsthandauthorityofgreatmerit,andshouldalwaysbeconsultedfortheSpanishversionofevents.Hewasagreatmasterofdetail,andyetcouldpaintwithabroadbrush.Itissometimesnecessarytorememberthatheisapartisan,andhashisfavouritesandhisenemies(especiallyLaRomana)amongthegeneralsandstatesmenofSpain.Butonthewholeheisahistorianofhighmeritandjudgment.WithToreno'sworkmustbementionedthefivesmallvolumesofthePortugueseJoseAccursiodasNeves,publishedin1811,whenMassenahadbutJustretreatedfrombeforetheLinesofTorresVedras.ThisisaveryfullandinterestingdescriptionofJunot'sinvasionofPortugal,andofthesufferingsofthatrealmwhichcametoanendwiththeConventionofCintra.ItistheonlydetailedpictureofPortugalin1808.Unfortunatelytheauthordidnotcompletethestoryof180910.

Attheendofthisnoteonhistoricalworks,asdistinguishedfrommemoirsordiariesofadventure,wemustnametwoexcellentbooks,oneEnglishandoneFrench,onthespecialsubjectofsiegeoperations.Thesetwomonographsbyspecialists,bothdistinguishedengineerofficersSirJohnJones'JournaloftheSiegesinSpain181113,andColonelBelmas'JournauxdesSiegesdanslaPeninsule180813,publishedrespectivelyin1827and1837areamongthemostvaluablebooksdealingwiththePeninsularWar,bothcontainingawealthofdetailandexplanatorynotes.TheworkofBelmasisespeciallyrich



inreprintsoforiginaldocumentsbearingonthesieges,andinstatisticsofgarrisons,losses,ammunitionexpended,etc.Theyweresocomplete,andsupplementedeachotherso

Englishside,beingmainlydevotedtothedoingsoftheItaliansinCatalonia.


well,thatlittlewasdonetoaddtotheinformationthattheygive,tillMajorJ.Leslie'sadmirableeditionoftheDicksonPapersbegantoappearafewyearsago,andappreciablyincreasedourknowledgeoftheEnglishsideofthesiegeoperations.

Havingmadeanendoftheformalhistorieswrittenbycontemporariesandeyewitnesses,itremainsthatweshouldspeakofaclassofliteraturemuchlargerinbulk,andgenerallymuchmoreinteresting,consideredinthelightofreadingforthegeneralstudentthebooksofautobiographiesandpersonalreminiscenceswhichwerewrittenbyparticipantsinthewarsometimeafterithadcometoanendatanytimefromtentofortyyearsafter1814.Theirnameislegion.Iamcontinuallydiscoveringmoreofthem,manyofthemprintedobscurelyinsmalleditionsandfromlocalpresses,sothattheveryknowledgeoftheirexistencehasperished.Andsomanyunpublishedmanuscriptsofthesortexist,inFrancenolessthaninEngland,thatitisclearthatwehavenotevenyetgottotheendofthestockoforiginalmaterialbearingonthewar.Someofthemostinteresting,e.g.thelivelyautobiographyofBlakeneyofthe28th,*andthatofNey'saidedecampSpriinglin,thaveonlyappearedduringthelastfewyears.

Thesevolumesofpersonaladventuresdiffergreatlyinvalue:somewerewrittenupconscientiouslyfromcontemporarydiaries:otherscontainonlyfragments,themoststrikingorthemosttypicalincidentsofcampaignswhoselessinterestingeverydayworkhadbeenforgotten,oratleasthadgrowndim.Unfortunatelyinoldagethememoryoftenfindsithardtodistinguishbetweenthingsseenandthingsheard.Itisnotuncommontofindawriterwhorepresentshimselfashavingbeenpresentatsceneswherehecannothavebeenassisting,andstillmorefrequentto

*PublishedundertheratherromantictitleofABoyinthePeninsularWar(whichsuggestsaworkoffiction),byJulianCorbett,in1899.



tPublishedintheRevueHispaniquein1907.

INACCURACIESOFMEMOIRWRITERS23

detecthimapplyingtoonedateperfectlygenuineanecdoteswhichbelongtoanother.Oneortwoofthemostreadablenarrativesfranklymixupthesequenceofevents,withanotethattheexactdatingcannotbereconstructed.Thisisnotoriouslythecasewiththemostvividofallthebooksofreminiscencesfromtheranksthelittlevolumeof"RiflemanHarris,"whosetalesaboutGeneralRobertCraufurdandtheLightDivisionflowoninastring,inwhichchronologyhastotakeitschance,andoftenfailstofindit.

Anothersourceofblurredorfalsifiedreminiscencesisthatanauthor,writingmanyyearsaftertheeventswhichhehastorecord,hasgenerallyreadprintedbooksaboutthem,andmixesupthissecondaryknowledgewiththefirsthandtaleofhisadventures.Napier'sPeninsularWarcameoutsocomparativelyearly,andwassouniversallyread,thatscreedsfromithavecreptintoaverygreatnumberofthebookswrittenafter1830.Indeed,somesimpleveteransbetraythesourceoftheirtales,concerningeventswhichtheycannotpossiblyhavewitnessedthemselves,byrepeatingphrasesorepigramsofNapier'swhichareunmistakeable.Someevenfillupablankpatchintheirownmemorybyaprecisofapageorachapterfromthegreathistory.Itisalwaysnecessarytotakecarethatwearenotacceptingasacorroborationofsometale,thatwhichisreallyonlyarepetitionofit.Thediaryofasergeantofthe43rdmentionedabove,*containsanintolerableamountofboileddownNapier.ItisfarmorecurioustofindtracesofhiminthefamousMarbot,whohadclearlyreadMathieuDumas'translationwhenitcameoutinFrench.

Thebooksofpersonaladventure,aswemaycallthewholeclass,mayroughlybedividedintothreesections,ofdecreasingvalueinthewayofauthority.Thefirstandmostimportantconsistsofworkswrittenuponthebaseofanolddiaryorjournal,wherethememoryiskeptstraightastothesequenceofeventsbythecontemporaryrecord,

*Seep.7.




andtheauthorisamplifyingandwritinguprealfirsthandmaterial.FavourableexamplesofthisareLeach'sRoughSketchesoftheLifeofanOldSoldier*LeslieofBalquhain'sMilitaryJournal.^whichinspiteofitstitleisnotinjournalshape,butreadsasacontinuousnarrative,andSirGeorgeBell'sRoughNotesofFiftyYears'Service,^allofwhicharedefinitelystatedbytheauthorstohavebeenfoundedontheirnotebooksofthewartime,andthereforecanasarulebetreatedasfirsthandevidence.Theycangenerallybetrustedasauthoritiesagainstanydivergenttalesbasedonthenarrativesofwriterswhowrotetheirreminiscenceswithoutanysuchfoundation,andwheretheygetoffthelinesofcontemporaryevidencetheyusuallygivethereaderwarning.Forexample,LeachgivesvaluablematerialtoshowtheinaccuracyofNapier'sexaggeratedestimateofthelengthandpaceoftheLightDivision'smarchtoTalavera,whoseerroneousfigureshavebeenrepeatedinsomanysubsequentbooks.AndyetLeachwasnotconsciousofthefactthatthedatawhichhegiveswereincompatiblewithNapier'sstory,andrepeatsitinageneralwaybecausehepublishedhisbookseveralyearsaftertheappearanceofNapier'ssecondvolume,andhad(likemanyothermembersoftheLightDivision)absorbedthelegendasamatteroffaithonNapier'sauthority.ItwasreservedforSirJohnBell,whohadservedunderCraufurdbutjoinedtoolateforTalavera,toexplodethestory.Buthisdemonstrationofitsinaccuracyhasnottravelledfar,whiletheoriginallegendhasgoneallroundtheworld,andisstillreproduced,asanexampleofunparalleledrapidityofmovement,inseriousmilitaryworks.

Infinitelylessvaluablethanthebooksfoundedonprivatediariesorlettersofcontemporarydate,arethosewhichwerewrittendownlongafterthewar,fromunaided

*Published1831.AfirstrateauthorityforRifleBrigadeandLightDivisionmatters.

tOfthe29thRegt.Publishedonlyin1887.

JPublished1867.

NottobeconfusedwithSirGeorgeBell.

GLEIG,BLAKENEY,HENNEGAN25



memoryonly.Theyare,ofcourse,progressivelylessvaluableforevidenceaccordingasthedateatwhichtheywereinditedrecedesfromtheperiodwithwhichtheydeal.Gleig'scharmingTheSubaltern,printedasearlyas1825,maybebettertrustedformattersofdetailthanBlakeney'sequallyvividnarrativewrittenintheremoteislandofPaxosabout1835,andBlakeneyismorevaluablethanHennegan'shighlyromanticSevenYearsofCampaigning,publishedonlyin1847,whenthirtywintershadblurredreminiscence,andallowedoftheaccretionofmuchsecondhandanddoubtfulmaterialroundtheoriginalstory.Thestrengthofmen'smemoriesdiffers,sodoestheirappreciationoftherelativevalueofadramaticnarrativeascomparedwithaphotographicrecordofpersonalexperiences.Butinageneralwaywemustallowthateveryyearthatelapsesbetweentheeventandthesettingdownofitsnarrativeonpaperdecreasesprogressivelythevalueoftherecord.Asanexampleofthewayinwhichthefailingpowersofoldagecanconfuseevenapowerfulmemory,wemaymentionthecuriousfactthatWellingtonhimself,twentyyearsafterhislastcampaign,seemstohavetoldtwoauditorsthathehadvisitedBliicher'scampontheveryeveofWaterloo,thenightbetweenthe17thand18thofJune,1815,astatementquiteincredible.*ItwasapparentlyablurredmemoryofhisrealvisittothePrussianheadquartersontheearlyafternoonofthe16th,ofwhichampledetailsareknown.

Failingmemory,theloveofawellroundedtale,aspiceofautolatry,andanappreciationofthepicturesque,haveimpairedthevalueofmanyaveteran'sreminiscences.EspeciaUyifheisawellknownraconteur,andhasrepeatedhisnarrativemanytimesbeforehesetsitdownonpaper,doesittendtoassumearomanticform.Theclassicalexample,ofcourse,isMarbot,whosememoirscontain

*SeeforadissectionanddisproofofthisstoryRopes'sWaterloo,pp.238242,3rdedition.Mr.Horsburgh(p.138)andothersacceptthestory.ButdespiteLadyShelley'snoteitisreallyincredible.


manythingsdemonstrablyfalse,e.g.thathebroughtthenewsoftheDosMayoinsurrectionatMadridtoNapoleon,orthatin1812hetookhisregimentfromMoscowtotheneighbourhoodofPoltava,andbroughtitback(400miles!)inlessthanafortnightwithaconvoyofprovisions,orthathesaw6000mendrownedonthebrokeniceofthelakeof



SatschanattheendofthebattleofAusterlitz.*Marbotis,ofcourse,anextremeexampleofamusingegotism,butparallelsonaminorscalecouldbequotedfrommanyofhiscontemporaries,whowrotetheirtaletoolate.WemaymentionThiebault'saccountofthecombatofAldeadaPonte,whenhedeclaresthathefought17,000AngloPortugueseandproduced500casualtiesintheirranks,whenhewasreallyopposedbyoneBritishbrigadeandtwoPortuguesebattalions,wholostprecisely100menbetweenthem.Yettheaccountissolengthyanddetailed,thatifwehadnottheBritishsourcesbeforeus,weshouldbeinclinedtothinkthatwewerereadinganaccuratenarrativeofarealfight,insteadofaromanticinventionreconstructedfromablurredmemory.ItwastheonlyPeninsularfightinwhichThiebaultexercisedanindependentcommandandeveryyearaddedtoitsbeautiesasthegeneralgrewold.

While,therefore,wereadthelaterwrittenPeninsularnarrativeswithinterest,andoftenwithprofit,asreflectionsofthespiritofthetimeandthearmy,wemustalwaysbecautiousinacceptingtheirevidence.Andwemustbeginbytryingtoobtainajudgmentonthe"personalequation"wastheauthorahardheadedobserver,oraloverofromanticanecdotes?Whatproportion,ifany,ofthefactswhichhegivescanbeprovedincompatiblewithcontemporaryrecords?Oragain,whatproportion(thoughnotdemonstrablyfalse)seemunlikely,infaceofotherauthorities?Hadhebeenreadingothermen'sbooksonalargescale?Ofthistheusualproofiselaboratenarrativeconcerning

*ForadissectionofMarbot'sblundersseetheessayonhismethodsinHollandRose'sPittandNapoleon,pp.156166.

BOOKSOFKEGIMENTALADVENTURE27

eventsatwhichhecannotpossiblyhavebeenpresent,withorwithoutcitationofthesourcefromwhichhehasobtainedtheinformation.Itisonlywhentheauthorhaspassedhisexaminationwithcreditonthesepoints,thatwecanbegintotreathimasaseriousauthority,andtotrusthimasevidenceforscenesatwhichweknowthathewasactuallypresent.Manyawriterofpersonaladventuresmayfinallybegivenhiscertificateasgoodauthorityfortheannalsofhisownbattalion,butfornothingmore.Itisevenpossiblethatwemayhavetomakethefurtherrestrictionthathemaybetrustedontheluckydays,butnotonthelesshappyones,inthehistoryofhisownbeloved



corps.Reticenceasto"untowardincidents"isnotuncommon.Astothingsoutsidetheregiment,therewasoftenagooddealofuntrustworthygossipabroad,whichstuckinthememoryevenafterlongyearshadpassed.

Amongallthebooksofregimentaladventure,IshouldgivethefirstplaceforinterestandgoodwritingtoLieut.Grattan'sWiththeConnaughtRangers.Itisnottoomuchtosaythatiftheauthorhadtakentoformalhistory,hisstyle,whichisvividwithoutexaggeration,andoftendignifiedwithoutpomposity,wouldhavemadehimaworthyrivalofNapierasanEnglishclassic.HisdescriptionsoftheaspectandpsychologyofthestormersmarchingdowntotheadvancedtrenchesatCiudadRodrigo,andofthecrisisofthebattleofSalamanca,areasgoodasanythingthatNapiereverwrote.Areaderpresentedwithmanyofhisparagraphswouldsaywithouthesitationthattheywereexcerptsfromthegreathistorian.UnfortunatelyGrattansufferedfromoneofthefaultswhichIhavenamedabovehewillgiveuntrustworthyinformationaboutepisodesatwhichhewasnotpresentitisatbestsuperfluousandsometimesmisleading.Butforwhatthe88thdidatBussacoandFuentes,atBadajozandSalamanca,heisverygoodauthority.Andheisalwaysapleasuretoread.TwogoodbooksGleig'sTheSubaltern,andMoyleSherersRecollectionsofthePeninsulahaveashareoftheliterary


meritofGrattan'swork,butlackhispower.Theygiverespectivelythedaybydaycamplifeofthe85thin181314,andofthe48thin181113,inapleasantandlifelikefashion,andsincebothwerepublishedwithintenyearsoftheendofthewarGleig'sin1825,Sherer'sin1824thewriters'memorieswerestillstrong,andtheirstatementsoffactmaybereliedupon.Bothhavethemeritofstickingcloselytopersonalexperience,andofavoidingsecondhandstories.

ThoselivelytalesofadventureKincaid'sAdventuresintheRifleBrigade,SirHarrySmith'sAutobiography,andBlakeney'smemoir(whichitseditorcalledABoyinthe.PeninsularWar)*wereallwrittenatamuchlaterdate,fromtwentytothirtyyearsafterWaterloo,andshowtheirremotenessfromthetimethattheydescribenotsomuchbywantofdetail,norofpicturesquepowerofdescription,allthreeauthorsweregoodwieldersofthepenasbytheselectionofthefactsthattheyrecord.Muchoftheevery



daylifeoftheregimenthasbeenforgottenorgrowndim,andonlythegreatdays,orthemoststrikingpersonalexperiences,orquaintandgrotesqueincidents,arerecorded.Thisveryfactmakesthemallverygoodreadingtheycontain(sotospeak)alltheplumsofthecakeandcomparativelylittleofthelessappetizingcrust.HarrySmith'schaptersarepracticallythetaleofhisOdysseyinthecampaignsof181213alongwiththeheroiclittleSpanishwifewhomhehadpickedupandmarriedatthestormofBadajoz.Kincaidisahumouristheremembersallthegrotesqueincidents,ludicroussituations,practicaljokes,andmisadventures,inwhichheandhiscomradeswereconcerned,andpoursthemoutinastringofanecdotes,looselyconnectedbyanarrativeofwhichhesaysthatherefusestoberesponsiblefortheexactsequenceordating.Itisveryamusing,andsomeofthemorestrikingstoriescanbeverifiedfromotherandbetterauthorities.But

*Blakeneywroteabout1835,atPaxosintheIonianIsles;Smithin1844,inIndia;Kincaidin1847.

EEMINISCENCESFROMTHERANKS29

thegeneraleffectisoftenasifwewerereadingachapteroutofLever'sCJtarlesO'Malley,orsomesucholdfashionedPensinsularromance.Blakeney'sbookgivesabetterimpressionforsolidity,andhefillsupmanyanincident,otherwiseknowntousonlyinoutline,withpicturesquedetailwhichbearseveryappearanceoftruth.ButIhaveonceortwicefoundhisnarrativerefusingtosquareinwithcontemporarydocuments,andwhenthisisthecasethestorywrittentwentyfiveyearsaftertheeventmustgotothewall.*Hemustbeusedwithcaution,thoughheisgivingagenuinerecordtothebestofhisability.

Nearlyallthereminiscencesfromtheranksaresubjecttothesesamedisabilities.Withhardlyanexceptiontheywerewrittendownlongyearsaftertheeventsrecorded.Usuallythenarratorhadnobooksornotestohelphim,andwegetagenuinetale,uninfluencedbyoutersources,butblurredandforeshortenedbythelapseoftime.Thedetailsofpersonaladventureareperfectlyauthentictothebestoftheveteran'smemory;incidentsofbattle,ofcamphardships,ofsomefamouscourtmartialandsubsequentpunishmentparade,comeoutinaclearcutfashion.Buttherearelonggapsofforgottenmonths,frequenterrorsofdating,andoftenmistakesinthepersonstowhomanexploit,anepigram,oramisadventureareattributed.



Yettheselittlevolumesgivethespiritoftherankandfileinthemostadmirablefashion,andenableustorealizetheinnerlifeofthebattalionasnoofficialdocumentcando.Thereareafewcaseswheretheauthorhasgotholdofabook,generallyNapier'sgreathistory,andtoagreatextentspoilshisworkbylettinginpassagesofincongruouseloquence,orstrategicaldisquisition,intothehomelystuffofhisrealreminiscences.f

*HisextraordinarilyvividnarrativeofthefortunesofBrowne'sprovisionalbattalionatBarrosaconflictsindetailwithcontemporaryevidencewhichthereisnoreasontodoubt,e.g.astothenumbersofthebattalion,andastotheexactbehaviourofGeneralWhittingham.

fAstrongcaseisthatofthesergeantofthe43rd,mentionedabove,onp.7,wholetsinscrapsofNapierintohispatchworkwiththemostunhappyeffect.

30LITERATUREOPTHEPENINSULARWAR

Onesoldier'slittlevolumestandsoutfromalltherestforitsliterarymerititistheworkofamanofsuperioreducation,whohadenlistedinamomentofpiqueandhumiliationtoavoidfacingathometheconsequencesofhisownconceitandfolly.Thisshortstoryof150pagescalledJournalofT.S.,aSoldierofthe71stHighlandLightInfantry,180615,waswrittendownasearlyas1818,*whenmemorywasstillfresh.Itsvalueliesinthefactthattheauthorwrotefromtheranks,yetwassodifferentineducationandmentalequipmentfromhiscomrades,thathedoesnottaketheirviewsandhabitsforgranted,butproceedstoexplainandcommentonthem."Icouldget,"ashenotes,"nopleasurefromtheiramusements,butfounditnecessarytohumourtheminmanythings,andtobeobligingtoall.Iwasthoughtsaucy,andlittlecourtedbythem,theynotlikingmydrymannerastheycalledit."Hisnarrativeisthatofanintelligentobserverofthebehaviouroftheregiment,inwhosepsychologyheisdeeplyinterested,ratherthanthatofatypicalsoldier.Havingareadypenandakeenobservanteye,heproducedalittlebookofextraordinaryinterest.Thechronicleofhismarches,andthedetailsoftheactionswhichherelates,seemveryaccuratewhencomparedwithofficialdocuments.

SergeantDonaldsonofthe94thwasanothernotableScotwhosebook,TheEventfulLifeofaSoldier,iswellworthreading.HewasnotsowelleducatedasT.S.,norhadhethesamevividliterarystyle.Buthewasanintelli



gentman,andpossessedawidersetofintereststhanwascommonintheranks,sothatitisalwaysworthwhiletolookuphisnotesandobservations.HisdescriptionofthehorrorsofMassena'sretreatfromPortugalin1811isaverystrikingpieceofluridwriting.AfterhimmaybementionedaquartermasterandasergeantSurteesandCostellobothoftheRifleBrigade,whosereminiscencesarefulloftypicalstoriesreflectingthevirtuesandfailings

*ButonlypublishedbyConstable&Co.in1828.Formoreofhisstory,seethechapteron"TheRankandFile."

MEMOIRSOFFRENCHVETERANS31

ofthefamousLightDivision.Fortheviewsandwaysofthoughtoftheordinaryprivateofthebettersort,thelittlebooksof"RiflemanHarris,"alreadycitedabove,Lawrenceofthe40th,andCooperofthe7thFusiliers,*arevaluableauthority.Theyareadmirableevidenceforthewayinwhichtherankandfilelookedonabattle,aforcedmarch,oraprolongedshortageofrations.Butwemustnottrustthemovermuchasauthoritiesonthegreatermatterofwar.

ThereisaconsiderablebulkofFrenchreminiscencesdealingwiththepurelyBritishsideofthePeninsularWar.BesideMarbot'sandThiebault'smemoirs,ofwhichIhavealreadymademention,threeorfourmoremustnotbeneglectedbyanyonewhowishestoseeWellington'sarmyfromtheoutside.ByfarthemostvividandlivelyofthemisLemonnierDelafosseoftheSlstLeger,whoseSouvenirsMilitaireswerepublishedatHavrein1850.Heisabitterenemy,andwantstoprovethatWellingtonwasamediocregeneral,andoughtalwaystohavebeenbeaten.Buthedoeshisbesttotellatruetale,andacknowledgeshisdefeatshandsomelythoughhethinksthatwithbetterlucktheymighthavebeenvictories.Failingmemorycanbedetectedinoneortwoplaces,wherehemakesanofficerfallatthewrongbattle,ormisnamesavillage.FantindesOdoards,also(oddlyenough)ofthe31stLeger,keptajournal,sothathisreminiscencesof180811areveryaccurate.HeisspeciallyvaluableforMoore'sretreatandSoult'sOportocampaign.AfarmorefairmindedmanthanDelafosse,heisfullofacknowledgmentsofthemeritofhisBritishadversaries,andmakesnosecretofhisdisgustfortheSpanishwar,anightmareofplunderandmilitaryexecutionsnaturallyresultingfromanunjustaggression.AthirdvaluableauthorisColonelSt.



Chamans,anaidedecampofSoult,whomhecordially

*SergeantLawrence'sAutobiographywasnotpublishedtill1886.Cooper'sSevenCampaignsinPortugal,etc.,cameoutin1869.


detested,andwhosemeannessandspiritofintrigueheisfondofexposing.Heisofalightandhumorousspiritverydifferentfromanotheraidedecamp,Ney'sSwissfollower,Spriinglin,whosejournal*isamostsolidandheavyproduction,ofvalueforminutefactsandfiguresbutnotlively.UnlikeSt.Chamansinanotherrespect,heisdevotedtohischief,theMarshal,ofwhomhewasthemostloyaladmirer.ButIimaginethatNeywasamuchmoregenerousandloveablemasterthanthewilySoult.

OtherusefulFrenchvolumesofreminiscencesarethoseofGuingretofthe6thcorps,fullofhorribledetailsofMassena'sPortuguesemisfortunes;ofD'lllens,acavalryofficerwhoservedagainstMooreandWellesleyin180809;andofVigoRoussillon,ofthe8thLine,whogivestheonlygoodFrenchnarrativeofBarrosa.Parquinisameresabreur,whowrotehismemoirtoolate,andwhoseanecdotescannotbetrusted.HesurvivedtobeoneofthefollowersofNapoleonIII.inhisearlyandunhappyadventuresatBoulogneandelsewhere.OtherFrenchwriters,suchasRoccaandGonneville,werelonginSpain,butlittleincontactwiththeBritish,beingemployedontheCatalancoast,orwiththearmyoftheSouthontheGranadaside.SomuchfortheworksofactorsintheGreatWar,whorelatewhattheyhavethemselvesseen.Weneedspendbutamuchsmallerspaceonthebooksofthelatergenerations,whicharebutsecondhandinformation,howevercarefullytheymayhavebeencompiled.

TheBritishregimentalhistoriesoughttobeofgreatvalue,sincetheseriescompiledbytheorderoftheHorseGuards,underthegeneraleditorshipofRichardCannon,inthe1830's,mighthavebeenenrichedbytheinformationobtainablefromhundredsofPeninsularveterans,whowerestillsurviving.Unfortunatelynearlyeveryvolumeofitisnomorethanbadhackwork.InthemajorityofthevolumeswefindnothingmorethancopiousextractsfromNapier,ekedoutwithreprintsoftheformalreports

*OnlyprintedquitelatelyintheRevueHispaniquefor1907.



EEGIMENTALHISTORIES33

takenfromtheLondonGazette.Itisquiteexceptionaltofindevenregimentalstatistics,suchasmighthavebeenobtainedwitheasefromthepaylistsandotherdocumentsinpossessionofthebattalion,orstoredattheRecordOffice.Detailsobtainedthroughenquiryfromveteranofficerswhohadservedthroughthewararequiteexceptional.Someofhisvolumesarelessaridandjejunethanothersandthisisaboutallthatcanbesaidinfavourofeventhebestofthem.

Allthegoodregimentalhistories,withoutexception,areoutsidetheofficial"Cannon"series.Someareexcellent;itmaybesaidthat,asageneralrule,thosewrittenlatestarethebest:thestandardofaccuracyandoriginalresearchhasbeenrisingeversince1860.AmongthosewhichdeserveaspecialwordofpraiseareColonelGardyne'sadmirableTheLifeofaRegiment(theGordonHighlanders),publishedin1901;Cope'sHistoryoftheRifleBrigade(fullofexcerptsfromfirsthandauthorities)whichcameoutin1877;Moorsom'sHistoryofthe52ndOxfordshireLightInfantry(thefirstreallygoodregimentalhistorywhichwaswritten),publishedin1860;Davis'sHistoryofthe2ndFoot(Queen'sWestSurrey),andColonelHamilton's14thHussars.Bythetimethatthesebegantoappear"thelevelofresearchwasbeginningtorise,anditwasnolongerconsideredsuperfluoustovisittheRecordOffice,ortomakeenquiriesforunpublishedpapersamongthefamiliesofoldofficers.Allthosementionedabovearelargevolumes,buteventhesmallerhistoriesarenowcompiledwithcare,andtheirsizeisgenerallytheresultnotofscampedwork(asofold),butofthefactthatsomeregimentshave,bythechanceoftheirstations,seenlessservicethanothers,andthereforehavelesstorecord.Imaymentionasbooksonthesmallerscalewhichhaveprovedusefultome,Hayden'shistoryofthe76th,Smyth'softhe20th,andPurdon'softhe47th.Arareexampleoftheannalsofasmallerunit,abatterynotabattalion,isColonelWhinyates'storyofCTroop,R.H.A.,whichhecalledFromCorunnatoSebastopol,in

D




whichmuchloyalandconscientiousworkmaybefound.ButthehistoryofthewholeoftheArtilleryofthePeninsularArmy,PortugueseaswellasEnglish,isnowbeingworkedoutinadmirabledetailintheDicksonPapers,editedbyMajorJohnLeslie,R.A.,whoknowseverythingthatcanbeknownabouttheunitsofhiscorpswhichservedunderWellington.SirAlexanderDickson,itmayberemarked,wasCommandingOfficeroftheArtilleryinthelatercampaignsof1813andin1814,andbeforeheobtainedthatposthadbeeninchargeofallthethreesiegesofBadajozaswellasthoseofOlivenzaandCiudadRodrigo.SincehehadbeenlenttothePortugueseartillery,hispapersgivecopiousinformationastotheauxiliarybatteriesofthatnationwhichwereattachedtothePeninsularArmy.ItisdevoutlytobewishedthatsomeofficerwouldtakeupacorrespondingtaskbycompilingtheannalsoftheRoyalEngineersinthePeninsularWar.Connolly'sHistoryoftheRoyalSappersandMiners(publishedsofarbackas1857),hasmuchgoodinformation,butinfinitelymorecouldbecompiledbysearchingtheRecordOffice,andcollatingthememoirsofBoothby,Burgoyne,Landmann,andotherengineerofficerswhohaveleftjournalsorreminiscences.

AlongwiththeBritishregimentalhistoriesshouldbenamedtwosetsofvolumeswhichareofthesametype,thoughtheyrelatetolargerunitsthanaregiment,anddonotdealwithourowntroops.ThefirstclassdealswithourGermanauxiliaries,andisheadedbyMajorLudlowBeamish'svaluableandconscientiousHistoryoftheKing'sGermanLegion.Thiswaswrittenin1832,butisaveryfavourableexampleofresearchforabookofthedate,whenCannon'smiserableseriesrepresentedthelevelofEnglishregimentalhistory.Thetwovolumescontainmanyoriginallettersanddocuments,andsomeexcellentplatesofuniforms.In1907CaptainSchwertfegerwentoverthesamegroundinhisGeschichtederKoniglichDeutschenLegion**Hanover,1907,2vols.

PORTUGUESEAUTHORITIES35

andaddedappreciablytoBeamish'sstoreoffacts.TheBrunswickOelsregiment,whichservedWellingtonfrom1811to1814,hasalsoaGermanbiographerinColonelKortfleisch,whohasservedinthe88thGermanInfantry,whichnowrepresentsthatancientcorps.ThereisnosimilarhistoryfortheCJiasseursBrittaniques,thelastoftheoldPeninsularforeigncorps.



ForthePortugueseArmyagooddescriptionofthestateofaffairsin1810,whenithadjustbeenreorganized,iscontainedinHalliday'sPresentStateofPortugal,publishedin1812.Chaby'sExcerptosHistoricos*containsagooddealofvaluablematerialforitssubsequenthistory,butissadlyillarrangedandpatchy.OnlythePortugueseartilleryinthePeninsularWarhasbeendealtwithinMajorTeixeiraBotelho'sSubsidiesparaaHistoriadaArtilheriaPortegueza,whichisveryfullandwelldocumented.ThelifeofaBritishofficerservingwithaPortugueseregimentcanbestudiedintheMemoirsofBunbury(20thLine),fandBlakiston(5thCagadores)4

Afterregimentalhistories,thenextmostimportantsourceofinformation,inthewayofbooksnotwrittenbythosewhoservedunderWellington,ispersonalbiographies.CaptainDelavoye'sLifeofLordLynedoch(SirThomasGraham)isperhapsthemostusefulamongthem,notsomuchforanymeritofstyleorarrangement,asfortheexcellentuseofcontemporarydocumentsnotavailableelsewhere.AlargeportionofthevolumeconsistsofexcerptsfromGraham'slongandinterestingmilitaryjournal,andlettersfromandtohimareprintedinextenso.ThuswegetfirsthandinformationonmanyeventsatwhichnootherBritishwitnesswaspresent,e.g.Castanos'campaignontheEbroin1808,aswellascommentsonbetterknownoperations,suchasSirJohnMoore'sCorunna

*PublishedatLisbonin4vols.,186280.

tHisbookiscalledReminiscencesofaVeteran,andwaspublishedsolateas1861.

JTwelveYearsofMilitaryAdventure,published1829.Publishedin1880.


retreat,andtheBarrosaexpeditionof1811.Unfortunatelybothjournalandlettersfailforthecampaignof1813,inwhichGrahamtooksuchadistinguishedpart.

H.B.Robinson'sMemoirsofSirThomasPicton*wasabookofwhichNapierfellfoultherearemanycausticcommentsonitinhiscontroversialappendices.Butitisnotnearlysobadaworkasmighthavebeenexpectedfromhiswayoftreatingit.IndeedIfancythatNapier



waspayingoffanoldLightDivisiongrudgeagainstPictonhimself,whomhepersonallydisliked.Thenarrativeisfair,andthequantityofcontemporarylettersinsertedgivethecompilationsomevalue.Sidney'sLifeofLordHillfisfarinferiortoRobinson'sbook:theauthordidnotknowhisPeninsularWarwellenoughtojustifythetaskwhichhetookinhand,andtheletters,ofwhichhefortunatelyprintsagoodmany,aretheonlyvaluablematerialinit.ItiscuriousthatbothPictonandHillhadtheirliveswrittenbyclergymen,whentherewerestillagoodmanyoldPeninsularofficerssurvivingwhomighthaveundertakenthetask.

OftheotherchieflieutenantsofWellington,Beresfordhasneverfoundabiographer,thoughthepartwhichheplayedinthewarwassoimportant.Theremustbeanimmenseaccumulationofhispaperssomewhere,inprivatehands,butIdonotknowwheretheylie.TheonlyaccountofhimconsistsofafewpagesinausefulbutratherformalandpatchylittlebookbyJ.W.Cole,entitled,MemoirsofBritishGeneralsDistinguishedduringthePeninsularWar.%LordCombermere(StapletonCotton)wasinhighcommandthroughoutWellington'scampaigns,butwashardlyuptohisposition,thoughheearnedhischief'stolerancebystrictobediencetoorders,agreatermeritintheDuke'seyesthanmilitarygeniusorinitiative.ThereisabiographyofhimbyLadyCombermereandCaptainW.Knollys(1866)butthePeninsularchaptersareshort.OfSirLowryCole,Sir

*Published1835,2vols.fPublished1845.

JTwovols.,published1856.

BIOGRAPHIESOFGOUGH,COLBORNE,ETC.37

JohnGaspardLeMarchant,andseveralotherprominentdivisionalgeneralsandbrigadiers,theonlybiographiesarethoseinJ.W.Cole'sbookmentionedabove.SirJamesLeith,morefortunate,hadasmallvolumededicatedtohismemorybyananonymousadmirerin1818,butitwaswrittenwithoutsufficientmaterial,Leith'sprivatecorrespondencenot(asitseems)beingintheauthor'shands,whileofficialdocumentswerenotforthemostpartavailableatsuchanearlydate.Thereisagooddeal,however,concerningthishardfightinggeneral'spersonalityandadventurestobegleanedfromthememoirsofhisnephewandaidedecamp,LeithHay.



OfofficerswhodidnotattaintothehighestrankunderWellington,butwhoinlateryearsmadeagreatcareerforthemselves,therearetwobiographieswhichdevotealargesectiontoPeninsularmatters,thoseofLordGoughbyR.S.Rait(twovols.,1903),andofLordSeaton(Colborneofthe52nd)byMooreSmith.Thesearebothexcellentproductions,whichgivemuchprivatecorrespondenceofthetime,andhavebeenconstructedonmodernlines,withfullattentiontoallpossiblesourcesfirstandsecondhand.TheyarebothindispensableforanyonewhowishestomakeadetailedstudyofthePeninsularcampaigns.TherearealsoshortmemoirsofSirDenisPack*andLordVivian,feachproducedbyagrandsonofthegeneral,andgivingusefulextractsfromjournalsandcorrespondence.ThecampaignofSirJohnMoorecan,perhaps,hardlybeconsideredasfallingintothestoryofWellington'sarmy,butitisimpossibletoavoidmentioningthefull(andhighlycontroversial)biographyoftheheroofCorunnabySirJ.F.Maurice,^whichcontainsaninvaluablediary,andmuchcorrespondence.Itisanindispensablevolume,atanyrate,forthosewhowishtostudythefirstyearofthePeninsularWar,andtomarkthedifferencebetweenthepersonalitiesandmilitarytheoriesofMooreandWellington.

*ByD.BeresfordPack,1905.tByHon.ClaudVivian,1897.JTwovols.,1904.


OfformalanddetailedhistoriesofthePeninsularWarwritteninrecentyearsthereisoneinSpanishbyGeneralArteche,averyconscientiousandthoroughgoingworkeratoriginaldocuments,whogotupagoodmanyEnglishauthorities,butbynomeansall.FortheSpanishversionofthewholewarheisabsolutelynecessary.So,forthePortugueseversion,istheimmenseworkofSorianodaLuz,whichislargelyfoundedonNapier,butoftendiffersfromhim,andbringsmanyunpublisheddocumentstolight.ColonelBalagnyhasstartedahistoryofthewarinFrenchonaverylargescale,delightfullydocumented,andshowingadmirableresearch.Infivevolumeshehasonlyjustgotinto1809,sothewholebookwillbealargeone.Mr.Fortescue'sfinehistoryoftheBritishArmyhasjuststartedonthePeninsularcampaigninitslastvolume.Tomyownfourvolumes,soonIhopetobefive,Ineedonlyalludeinpassing.ThereisoneimmensemonographonDupont'sCampaignbyaFrenchauthor,ColonelTiteux,whichdoesnottouchEnglishmilitaryaffairsatall.Twosmallerbut



goodworksofthesametypebyColonelDumasandCommandantClercareboth,oddlyenough,dedicatedtothesamecampaign,Soult'sdefenceofthePyreneanfrontierin181314:theformeristhebetterofthetwo:bothhaveendeavoured,inthemodernfashion,tousethereportsofbothsides,nottowritefromthedocumentsofoneonly;butDumashasabetterknowledgeofhisEnglishsourcesthanClerc.

ItisbeyondmypowertoguesswhysimilarmonographsonseparatecampaignsofthewardonotappearinEnglishalso.Butthefewbrochurespurportingtotreatofsuchwhichhaveappearedoflateonthissideofthechannel,aremostlycrambooksforexaminations,restingonnowideknowledgeofsources,andoftenconsistingoflittlemorethanananalysisofNapier,withsomesupplementarycommentshazarded.TheycontrastveryunfavourablywithabooksuchasthatofColonelDumas.

CHAPTERIII

THEDUKEOFWELLINGTONTHEMANANDTHESTRATEGIST

Somuchforoursources.Wemaynowproceedtodiscoverwhatwecandeducefromthem.AndwemustinevitablybeginwithaconsiderationofthegreatleaderoftheBritisharmy.IamnotwritingalifeofWellington,stilllessacommentaryonhiscampaignswithwhichIamtryingtodealelsewhere.Myobjectisrathertopainthimasheappearedtohisownarmy,andashisactsandhiswritingsrevealhimduringthecourseofhisPeninsularcampaigns.TheArthurWellesleyof1809isdifficulttodisentangleinourownmemoriesfromthefamiliarfigureofVictorianreminiscences.Wethinkofhimasthe"GreatDuke,"thefirstandmosthonouredsubjectofthecrown,roundwhomcentresomanystories,moreorlesswellfounded,illustratinghisdisinterestedness,hishatredofphrases,insincerities,sentiment,andhumbuggenerally,hispunctiliousness,hisbleakfrugality,andhisoccasionalscathingdirectnessofspeechforhecouldnever"sufferfoolsgladly."Hehadbecomealegendlongbeforehedied,andittakesaneffortofmindtodifferentiatetheoldmanof1850fromthegeneralof1809,whohadstill,intheeyesofmostmen,hisreputationtomake.ForthosewhounderstoodthegreatnessofhisIndianexploitswerefew.ItwasnotNapoleononlywhothoughtthattocallWellesleya"sepoygeneral"wassufficienttoreducehisreputationtothatofafacilevictorovercontemptibleenemies.\



WhenhetookcommandofthePeninsularArmyintheAprilofthatyear,ArthurWellesleywasthirtynine:he

40WELLINGTONMANANDSTRATEGIST

hadjustreachedearlymiddleage.Hewasaslightbutwirymanofmiddlestature,wellbuiltanderect,withalongface,anaquilinenose,andakeenbutcoldgreyeye.Hisreputationasasoldierwasalreadyhigh;butfewsavethosewhohadservedunderhiminIndiaunderstoodthefullscopeofhisabilities.Manyundervaluedhim,becausehewasamemberofawellknown,butilllovedfamilyandpoliticalgroup,andhadowedhisearlypromotionandopportunitiesofdistinguishinghimselftothatfact.ItwasstillopentocriticstosaythatthemanwhohadcommandedabattalionintheoldRevolutionaryWarattheageoftwentythree,andwhohadheadedanarmyinIndiabeforehewasquitethirty,hadgotfurthertothefrontthanhedeservedbypoliticalinfluence.Anditwastrue(thoughthefactissooftenforgotten),thatinhisearlyyearshehadgotmuchhelpfromhisconnections,thathehadobtainedhisuniquechanceinIndiabecausehewasthebrotherofaviceroy,andthatsincehisreturnfromtheEasthehadbeenmoreofapoliticianthanageneral.Washenot,evenwhenhewonVimeiro,SecretaryforIrelandintheTorygovernmentoftheday?Itwasapostwhoseholderhadtodabbleinmuchdirtywork,whendealingwiththeneedypeers,thegrovellingplacemongers,andtheintriguinglawyersofDublin.Wellesleywentthroughwithitall,andnotbyanymeansinaconciliatoryway.Hepassedthenecessaryjobs,butdidnothidefromthejobbershisscornforthem.WhentheSecretaryforIrelandhadtodealwithanyonewhomhedisliked,heshowedahappymixtureofaristocratichauteurandcoldintellectualcontempt,whichsentthepetitionerawayinabitterframeofmind,whetherhispetitionhadbeengrantedorno.Unfortunately,hecarriedthismannerfromtheIrishSecretaryshipontotheHeadquartersofthePeninsularArmy.Itdidnottendtomakehimloved.

FortunatelyforGreatBritain,itdoesnotalwaysfollowthat,becauseamanhasbeenpushedrapidlytothefrontbypoliticalinfluence,heisthereforeincompetentor

WELLINGTONANDTHEWHIGS41



unworthyoftheplacegivenhim.EveryonewhocameintopersonalcontactwithArthurWellesleysoonrecognizedthatCastlereaghandtheotherministershadnoterredwhentheysentthe"SepoyGeneral"toPortugalin1808,andwhenthey,despiteofalltheclamourfollowingtheConventionofCintra,despatchedhimasecondtimetoLisbonin1809,thistimewithfullcontrolofthePeninsularArmy.FromthefirstopeningofhisVimeirocampaignthetroopsthatheledhadthefirmestconfidenceinhimtheysawtheskillwithwhichhehandledthem,andcriticismverysoondiedaway.ItwasleftforWhigpoliticiansathome,carperswithnottheslightestknowledgeofwar,togoonassertingforacoupleofyearsmorethathewasanoverratedofficer,thathewasrashandreckless,andthathisleadershipwouldend,onsomenotverydistantday,withtheexpulsionoftheBritisharmyfromthePeninsula.Atthefronttherewereveryfewsuchdoubtersthoughcontemporarylettershaveprovedtomethatoneortwoweretobefound.*

TosaythatWellingtonfromthefirstwastrustedalikebyhisofficersandhismen,isbynomeanstosaythathewaslovedbythem.Hedideverythingthatcouldwinconfidence,butlittlethatcouldattractaffection.Theyrecognizedthathewasmarvellouslycapable,butthathewaswithoutthesupremegiftofsympathyforothers."Thesightofhislongnoseamongus,"wroteoneofhisveterans,"wasworthtenthousandmenanydayoftheweek.Iwillventuretosaythattherewasnotaheartinthearmywhichdidnotbeatmorelightlywhenweheardthejoyfulnewsofhisarrival."fButthisdoesnotmeanthathewasregardedwithanenthusiasmoftheemotional

*E.g.thecavalrygeneralLong,whowaswritinginthespringof1810that"thenextcampaigninthePeninsulawillclosetheeventfulsceneinthePeninsula,asfarasweareconcerned.Iamstronglyofopinionthatneither'Marshal'Wellingtonnor'Marshal^BeresfordwillpreventtheapproachingsubjugationofPortugal."And,again,"Wellington,Isuspect,feelshimselftotteringonhisthrone,andwishestoconciliateatanysacrifice."

tKincaid,chap,v.,May,1811.


andaffectionatesort.AnotherLightDivisionofficersumsupthepositioninthecoldestwordsthatIhaveever



seenappliedtotherelationsofagreatgeneralwithhisvictoriousarmy."IknowthatithasbeensaidthatWellingtonwasunpopularwiththearmy.NowIcanassertwithrespecttotheLightDivisionthatthetroopsratherlikedMmthanotherwise....AlthoughWellingtonwasnotwhatmaybecalledpopular,stillthetroopspossessedgreatconfidenceinhim,nordidIeverhearasingleindividualexpressanopiniontothecontrary."*

^Theremust,indeed,havebeensomethingtorepelenthusiasmandaffectionintheleaderofwhom,afterfiveyearsofvictorieswonandhardshipssufferedincommon,itcouldbesaidthathistroops"ratherlikedhimthan$.otherwise."Buttheyfoundthathewasahardmaster,slowtopraiseandswifttoblameandtopunish.Thoughheknewthemilitaryvirtuesofhisrankandfile,andacknowledgedthattheyhadmorethanonce"gothimoutofascrape"byperformingthealmostimpossible,hedidnotlovethem.Hehasleftonrecordunpardonablewordsconcerninghismen."Theyarethescumoftheearth.Englishsoldiersarefellowswhohaveenlistedfordrinkthatistheplainfact:theyhaveallenlistedfordrink."tQuiteasbadinspiritisoneofhissayingsbeforeaRoyalCommissionontheArmy."IhavenoideaofanygreateffectbeingproducedonBritishsoldiersbyanythingbut

*thefearofimmediatecorporalpunishment."!Naturallyenoughaleaderwithsuchviewsneverappealedtothebettersideofhismen:heneverspokeorwroteabouthonourorpatriotismtothem,butfrequentlyremindedthemofthelashandthefiringparty,thatweretheinevitablepenaltyforthestraggler,thedrunkard,theplunderer,andthedeserter.Nothingcooledthespiritsofofficersandmenalikemorethanthestrengthandvigourofhisrebukes,ascomparedwiththeofficialformalityof

*Cooke'sNarrativeofeventsinthe.SouthofFrance,pp.47,48.fStanhope'sConversationswiththeDukeofWellington,p.14.

WELLINGTONANDHISMEN

43

histermsofpraise.Itwaspossibletohaveafullapprecia



tionofhismarvellouspowersofbrain,andacompleteconfidenceinhimasaleader,withoutfeelingtheleasttouchofaffectionforthishardandunsympatheticfigure.

ThedistressingpointinallthisisthatthePeninsularArmy,thoughithaditsproportionofhardenedsotsandcriminals,wasfullofgoodsoldierswhoknewwhathonourandloyaltymeant,andwereperfectlycapableofansweringanystirringappealtotheirheartortheirbrain.*"Therearedozensofdiariesandautobiographieswritteninthe|rankswhichshowtheexistenceofavastclassofwellconditionedintelligent,sober,evenreligiousmen,whoweredoingtheirworkconscientiously,andwouldhavevaluedawordofpraisetheyoftengotitfromtheirregimentalofficersseldomfromtheircommanderinchief.Andwe;mayaddthatifanythingwascalculatedtobrutalizeanarmyitwasthewickedcrueltyoftheBritishmilitarypunishmentcode,whichWellingtontotheendofhislife'supported.Thereisplentyofauthorityforthefactthatthemanwhohadoncereceivedhis500lashesforafaultwhichwassmall,orwhichinvolvednomoralguilt,wasoftenturnedtherebyfromagoodintoabadsoldier,bylosinghisselfrespectandhavinghissenseofjusticesearedout.Goodofficersknewthiswellenough,anddidtheirbesttoavoidthecatofninetails,andtotrymorerationalmeansmoreoftenthannotwithsuccess.*

ItmighthavebeenexpectedthatWellingtonwouldatleastshowmoreregardforthefeelingsofhisofficers,howevermuchhemightcontemnhisrankandfile.Asarulehedidnot.HHehadsomefewintimateswhomhetreatedwithacertainfamiliarity,anditisclearthatheshowedconsiderationandevenkindnesstohisaidesdecampandotherpersonalretainers.Buttothegreatmajorityofhisofficers,eventomanyofhisgeneralsandheadsof

*Foracuriousinstanceofthissortintho92nd,seeHope'sMilitaryMemoirsofanInfantryOfficer,pp.449451.Cf.SirGeorgeNapier'sAutobiography,pp.125128.


departments,heborehimselfverystiffly:hewouldadministertothemhumiliatingsnubsorreproofsbeforeothers,andignoretheirremarksorprofferedcounselinthemostmarkedway.^Afewexamplesmayserve.SirThomasPictonwasoneofhismostdistinguishedlieutenants,andwasspeciallysummonedbyhimtocomeovertoBrusselsto



takehispartinthecampaignof1815.ThemomentthathearrivedintheBelgiancapitalhesoughttheDuke,whowaswalkingintheGreatPark.WehavethewitnessofPicton'saidedecampforthefollowingreception."Thegeneral'smannerwasalwaysmorefamiliarthantheDukelikedinhislieutenants,andonthisoccasionheapproachedhiminacarelesssortofway,justashemighthavegreetedanequal.TheDukebowedcoldlytohim,andsaid,'Iamgladyouarecome,SirThomas.Thesooneryougetonhorsebackthebetter:notimetobelost.Youwilltakethecommandofthetroopsinadvance.'Thatwasall.*PictonappearednottoliketheDuke'smanner,andwhenhehadbowedandleft,hemutteredwordswhichconvincedthosewhowerewithhimthathewasnotmuchpleasedwithhisinterview."*Suchwasthewelcomevouchsafedtooneofthebestofficersinthearmy,whomWellingtonhadspeciallysentfor,andwhomhehadnotseenforalongspaceoftime.AnotherpictureofWellington'smannersmaybetakenfromthememoirofoneofhisdepartmentalchiefs,SirJamesMcGrigor."OnemorningIwasinhislordship'ssmallroom,whentwoofficerscametorequestleavetogohometoEngland.Anengineercaptainfirstmadehisrequest:hehadreceivedlettersinforminghimthathiswifewasdangerouslyill,andthatthewholeofhisfamilyweresick.Hislordshipquicklyreplied,'No,no,sir.Icannotspareyouatthismoment.'Thecaptain,withamournfulface,drewback.Thenageneralofficer,ofnoblefamily,commandingabrigade,advancedsaying,'Mylord,Ihavelatelybeensufferingmuchfromrheumatism

'.Withoutallowinghimtimetocompletehissentence,

*Gronow'sRecollections,p.66.

WELLINGTONANDHISOFFICERS45

LordWellingtonrapidlysaid,'andyouwanttogotoEnglandtobecured.Byallmeans.Gothereimmediately.'Thegeneral,surprisedathislordship'stoneandmanner,lookedabashed,buttopreventhissayinganythingmore,hislordshipturnedandbegantoaddressme,enquiringaboutthecasualtyreturnsoftheprecedingnight,andthenatureofthem."*AninterviewwiththecommanderinchiefwassuchatryingthingforthenervesthatsomeofficerswentawayfromitinafloodoftearsasdidCharlesStewartafteronefamousreproofandotherssuffocatingfromsuppressedmaledictions.



Wellington'stemperwastriedbyhavingtodealwithsomeinefficientandslackofficersfoisteduponhimfromhomefornevertilltheendofthewar(ashebitterlycomplained)washeallowedcompletelibertyinchoosinghissubordinates.Butitwasnotonthemalonethathisthundersfell.Heoftenragedatzealousandcapablesubordinates,whohaddonenomorethanthinkforthemselvesinanurgentcrisis,whentheordersthattheyhadreceivedseemednolongerapplicable.SirJamesMcGrigoriwhomIhavejustquotedabove,oncemovedsomecommissariatstorestoSalamanca,wheretherewasagreataccumulationofsickandwounded."WhenIcametoinformhimhislordshipstartedup,andinaviolentmannerbegantorepudiatewhatIhaddone.'Ishallbegladtoknow,'heasked,'whocommandsthisarmyIoryou?Iestablishoneroute,onelineofcommunicationyouestablishanotherbyorderingupsuppliesbyit.Aslongasyoulive,sir,neverdothatagain.Neverdoanythingwithoutmyorders.'Ipleadedthattherehadbeennotimetoconsulthim,andthatIhadtosavelives.Heperemptorilydesiredme'neveragaintoactwithouthisorders.'"ThreemonthsafterwardsMcGrigorventuredtosay,"Mylord,youwillrememberhowmuchyoublamedmeatMadrid,forthestepsthatItookwhenIcouldnotconsultyourlordship,andactedformyself.Now,ifI*McGrigor'sAutobiography,pp.304,305.


hadnot,whatwouldtheconsequenceshavebeen?"Heanswered,"Itisallrightasithasturnedout,butstillIrecommendyoutohavemyordersforwhatyoudo."Thiswasasingularfeatureinhislordship'scharacter.'

AnythingthatseemedtoWellingtontopartakeofthenatureofthinkingforoneselfwasanunpardonablesininasubordinate.Thisiswhyhepreferredblindobedienceinhislieutenantstozealandenergywhichmightleadtosomecontraventionofhisownintention.^ThusitcamethathepreferredaslieutenantsnotonlyHill,whowasamanoffirstclassbrainpowernotwithstandinghisdocility,butSpencerandBeresford,whomostcertainlywerenot.Hence,too,hiscommissionofthecavalryarmthroughoutthewartosuchamediocrepersonageasStapletonCotton(ofwhomheusedthemostunflatteringlanguage).*Thesemencouldbetrustedtoobeywithoutreasoning,whileRobertCraufurd,theablestgeneralinthePeninsula,orPicton,couldnot,butwereliabletothinkforthemselves.



ItmaybenotedthatHill,Beresford,GrahamandCraufurd,weretheonlyofficerstowhomWellingtonevercondescendedinhiscorrespondencetogivethewhyandwhereforeofacommandthatheissued:theotherssimplyreceivedorderswithoutanycommentary.Thereareinstancesknowninwhichawordofreasonableexplanationtoasubordinatewouldhaveenabledhimtounderstandasituation,andtocomprehendwhydirectionsotherwiseincomprehensibleweregivenhim.Tiresomeresultsoccasionallyfollowed.Thisfoibleofrefusinginformationtosubordinatesfornoadequatereasonhasbeensharedbyothergreatgeneralse.g.byStonewallJackson,asColonelHenderson'sbiographyofthatstrangegeniussufficientlyshows.>kItisatrickoftheautocraticmind.":

Ithardlyrequirestobepointedoutthatthisdeterminationtoallownolibertyofactiontohislieutenants,andtokeepevensmalldecisionsinhisownhands,effectuallypreventedWellingtonfromformingaschoolofgeneralscapable*WhensendinghimtocommandinIndia.

WELLINGTON'SDISPATCHES47

ofcarryingoutlargeindependentoperations.Hetrainedadmirabledivisionalcommanders,butnotleadersofarmies.Thespringsofselfconfidenceweredrainedoutofmenwhohadforlongbeensubjectedtohisregime.JrProbablythethingwhichirritatedWellington'ssubordinatesmostwashishabitofmakinghisofficialmentionofnamesindispatcheslittlemorethanaformalrecitalinorderoftheseniorofficer

full text of _wellington's army, 1809-1814

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