MILITARY CHRONICLE, FOR OCTOBER, 1811. MILITARY BIOGRAPHY. LIFE OF SIR WILLIAM MYERS. "However glorious the death of the truly gallant Sir William Myers, we cannot but consider his loss a national one."-Vide General Cole's orders after the battle of Albuera. THE biography of a soldier, and the details of professional duty, naturally afford fewer materials to excite general attention, than the memoirs of the statesman, the poet, or the philosopher. Independently of the personal events of the lives of literary characters, there are usually many circumstances to add to the interest of such recitals; and we have dwelt with pleasure on the expansion of genius, its progress and encouragement. The writer of the following pages is not, therefore, unconscious of the difficulty of creating an interest in any degree proportionate to the merits of the object. A hope is, nevertheless, entertained, that they may not be without use; that they will not be perused without adding fresh stimulus to exertion; and that, as the surviv ing heroes of Albuera dwelt but short on the brilliant career of their brother soldiers, they may feel, particularly the junior part, more than commonly induced to emulation; and amidst the regret that must naturally be cherished for such a loss will arise the eager determination to "do so likewise." Had the Gazettes, containing the victory of Albuera, been more descriptive of acts of individual gallantry evinced on that day, this publication would probably never have been drawn forth. The deficiency in these dispatches will excuse the endeavour to do more ample justice to the memory of one of the most promising officers of the British army; to place his conduct in its proper light, and to rescue a deserving name from oblivion; to claim for the young soldier that approbation THE ROYAL ed their these ser acted him to e only son of the er, a veteran in the his first commissions. ere his uncommon talents ed head of that seminary, re their dawnings, that Dr. amon pains to detach him from duce him to decide on one of the wever, on this point, were the entrea or; he revered equally vain the wishes pursuits he deemed incompatible; and hardly sixteen years of age, his solicitations the entered from half pay the Coldstream embarked for the memorable plains of voyage, his eagerness for active service knew he anticipated the moment to "flush his at length the glorious landing, effected his wish; ately on reaching the shore he fell wounded by he knee. On a friend's anxiously. inquiring if gallant boy smiled, and replying, "it was no and was carried from the field. The consequen prevented his farther participation in that brilHe did not regain his regiment till after the sur adria; and in the succeeding year the return of Sagland enabled him to join his father, then com uthern district in Ireland. From this period his THE ROYAL TARY CHRONICLE, R OCTOBER, 1911. CRAPHY Myers. 'n 1802, obtain. etion of his ycombe. ers was appointed or royal fusileers, rom this time, all the in his professional duty: sing exertion and military cribed the high character for nas since obtained. Some years and; and when, in 1809, they em, it was universally allowed, that a ted body of men did not grace his maas the flattering opinion of every general ed them. th all the enterprising hope of youth, with all his character bent towards military fame, at the ent, disciplined by his exertions, equally beloved by idier, eager for opportunity, sir William Myers, on at Lisbon, felt the object of his ambition nearly attainept on shore in the full determination to distinguish himperish. Immediately on their arrival, the fusileers proceedjoin the main army, then under sir John Craddock. Shortly erwards, the appointment of sir Arthur Wellesley to the chief command gave fresh vigour to every movement; the presence of this justly-esteemed commander inspired the highest confidence among the troops; and by none was his arrival hailed with more delight than by the lieutenant colonel of the fusileers. Sir Arthur Wellesley became his model for military imitation; to serve under him was his ardent wish; and of this all his letters to his family bore testimony. To share his approbation became therefore henceforth an additional motive for exertion. Very soon after their joining the army, the 7th and 23d formed a fusileer brigade which sir William Myers was appointed to command, and which he was so fortunate as to retain the chief command of during his remaining existence. Until the hard fought action of Talavera, the fusideers had no particular opportunity to distinguish themselves; yet |