August 26. Our return down this river will be a slow process; and if we are to retain Walcheren, I think we shall take and destroy the works of Cadsandt and inundate the country. Off Bathz: August 27, 1809. You may assure B. there is no likelihood of our proceeding further. In my opinion our great chiefs are studying how they can get out of the scrape with the least blame for undertaking such a business. Lord Gardner, Legge, and myself went yesterday on board the 'Courageux,' the most advanced of our ships, to see all that was to be seen—that is, the impossibility of going further up whilst we have our senses to direct us. The French shipping appears almost as like a forest Our horse transports expend and it is only from England at Lillo, as ours does at Bathz. one hundred tons of water a day; that water fit for men is to be procured, beyond what the troops dip on shore out of tanks, &c., for their own use. That is, water for all the seamen and troops embarked must come from home, which ought to have been a serious consideration with the directors of this immense armament. All the milch cows of the island are killed for beef for those on shore, and there is not, of course, any for us afloat. August 28, 1809. Indecision seems still to hang over us, and what plan is to be pursued I cannot divine. The horse transports, and I should think many others, are gone one stage down the river, perhaps by way of beginning our retreat, and not merely to endeavour to get water, which is, however, much wanted. To-day we are ordered to put ourselves to two-thirds allowance of provision, because the army is almost destitute. After 300 aguish troops had been ordered on board' Audacious' and 'Venerable,' the order was annulled as soon as they were all in those ships. August 30. The guns and ammunition are embarking, and the greater part of the troops and transports are gone down the river: but we probably may yet be detained here for some time, it 1809 WALCHEREN EXPEDITION. 125 being, I fancy, intended that we should carry the last batch of troops. And if we are to stay till the six ships ('Agincourt,' 'Monmouth,' 'Princess of Orange,' 'Namur,' 'Leyden,' and ‘Adamant') arrive here, there is no saying when it may be not one of them as yet has begun to ascend the Scheldt.1 : Still off Bathz: September 1, 1809. I think the country will be satisfied that the navy has not been wanting in giving every possible aid to the army. Indeed, we were always beforehand with them, and they have never, I believe, had occasion to express a want, but at this moment, to hasten their retreat: and this want is of boats and vessels, in consequence of the number of sick that have become so by the unnecessary delay of their chief. I thought yesterday we were about to move further down directly, but we really know not for two hours together what is likely to be done. The Admiralty has actually ordered that the sloop of war and frigate on the stocks at Flushing, merely in frame, should be built up by the artificers of the squadron, and sent home by the first easterly wind!!!!!! I cannot do better than finish with this clincher. Ever yours, E. C. Below Ellewontsdyke: September 2, 1809. There are a vast number of sick amongst the troops, and we hear that all the people of the 'Dryad' and 'Impérieuse' who have been serving on shore are ill also: but as many of them are gone home, you know as much of this matter as I do. You do not, however, know what Sir R. told us this afternoon, when we went to wait upon him in obedience to his order of this morning,—that he had now given up all intention of sinking the ships by way of blocking up the passage. To other people it would seem very strange that the thing should be given up at the moment the vessels arrived and the plans were settled: but it need not surprise us, who know that we all went to Bathz, army and navy, in full preparation to go to Antwerp, when it was already settled that our going there was impossible, even before we left Flushing. Indeed, the Royal game of Humbug has appa These ships were to have been sunk in the Scheldt. rently been played to the greatest perfection by all parties, beginning with the wise men of Westminster. We have now our main yard down on deck, repairing the shattered yard arm, which we have not had one safe day to do since the action, and you will now see us, though somewhat rusty, all to rights again as far as appearance goes. Near Flushing: September 5. Although you may think my letter of the 25th August gives a doleful picture of events passing here, I fear it is not the worst you will yet have; for Lord Huntly, in a letter, says the army have 8,000 sick now, and they are daily increasing. In the navy we have, I believe, only those who have formed the sea brigade on shore, and I have only heard of these in the 'Dryad' and 'Impérieuse.' Whether anything further is to be attempted or not, I know not; but as the frigates and flotilla are close to Ellewontsdyke, and may perhaps reach this during the next tide, in spite of a dead calm which increases the risk of getting on shore, it may and ought to be very soon decided. September 7. Yesterday evening we moved down to our former anchorage near Flushing, and all our ships are now safe out of the reach of the enemy, who took possession of Beveland immediately after our retiring, and whom we saw at Ellewontsdyke... September 8, 8 P.M. If the island of Walcheren is to be protected by the navy entirely, it would be better to remove the army entirely, instead of letting them stay here to die; and as Monnet lost fifteen hundred men (or the half of his garrison) last autumn, what are we English to expect with our beef-and-gin loaded stomachs, and our extreme imprudence arising from inexperience in regular campaigning? Lord C., in his letter, says the Generals were unanimous in their opinion that the army should not advance further on the 25th August; but he could not say that such would have been their opinion if he had assembled them at Bathz on the 16th or 17th, which he might have done, even if his presence were necessary at Flushing 1809 WALCHEREN EXPEDITION. 127 till its surrender on the 15th. Sir H. P. says that he told Lord C. that from the 1st August, when the landing would probably be known fully by the enemy, he might expect his force to increase at the rate of 1,000 a day. From Mrs. C. Walmer: September 6. The day (the 2nd) I dined at the General's (Lord Carrington) I was told that there had been a most dreadful scene on the beach the whole morning, just under their windows, landing the sick, actually some dying as they landed. And even here so inefficient are the arrangements that there was not room enough for the numbers that did arrive, and the poor fellows were lying about in the barrack-yard for hours, without refreshment and exposed the whole time; now there are tents pitched for them, but that seems a very bad plan for invalids with ague. September 9. 1,039 sick arrived here to-day; out of 100 in a transport eight were buried at sea between Flushing and this place, and they generally die six or eight every day! It is really too dreadful to think of. From Captain C. to Mrs. C. September 11. fever arising, I Middleburg is The weather is good for the climate, the fancy, from stagnant air and stagnant water. clean, airy, and higher than most parts, and moreover is cleansed by the tide. The extensive illness I conceive to be caused by the sleeping in the low swampy places during the little hot exhaling weather we have had. Off Flushing: September 16. The old lady with whom I am billeted at Middleburg by means of Acland, entreats me not to part with my billet, but to lodge with her so long as I stay here; and at all events not to take my name off her door, that she may avoid having any less quiet person. I feel quite ashamed of being thus ordered into the house of a gentlewoman. But, poor people, they are used to it; while, from the discipline of some who have been my predecessors, in the French service, she may thank me for occupying a bed in her house! She is the widow of a man who was something in office under the Stadtholder at the Hague, and knew Lord Malmesbury, St. Helen's, and Auckland. Her name is Van Citters, which she says is the original of our Vansittart. . . . This good lady is short and fat, has the manners of a woman of fashion, and is very conversible. In what language? you will ask. Both in English and French. What she cannot explain in English she does into French; and I do into English what I cannot explain in French. But you would never laugh at my French if you were to hear Acland. The lady in whose house he is quartered told me, after I had explained for him, that it would be a very great satisfaction to her if Mons. le Général understood French as well as I do! By the bye, my old lady seems to be a great eater, and as I have discovered that she is very fond of English cheese, particularly Double Gloucester, pray send me one for her. September 18, 1809. I shall commence with an epigram, which Sir Richard received in a letter yesterday, which tells the story of the expedition at once : Says Strachan to Chatham, Come let us be at 'em!' Another epigram going about at this time : Lord Chatham with his sword undrawn, Was waiting for Sir Richard Strachan. Sir Richard, longing to be at 'em, Was waiting too-for whom?-Lord Chatham. I hear to-day that General Graham is better, but still very weak. He is in London. Major Cathcart is at Deal—not expected to live twenty-four hours. Colonel Macdonald is now taken very ill. Three officers of 63rd died here in two days; in short, I cannot tell you half the melancholy events of this kind I hear of; and as to the privates, it is truly dreadful |