CHAP. IV. 1809. of their retreat, when an army could with ease check a force double its own amount. But fight now they must, with exhausted frames, dismounted cavalry, on comparatively unfavourable ground, and no retreat open in case of disaster. Such were the sentiments with which General Stewart and his companions in arms lay down to rest, 277-279. wrapped in their cloaks, on the ground chosen for the fight on the morrow.1 1 Lond. i. 12. for the battle of Corunna. Sir John Moore had made, however, the best disposiPreparation tions which circumstances would admit for the approaching battle; and his heroic end, joined to the courage of his troops, threw a ray of glory over this long series of disasters. None of the insubordination or desponding feelings which had been so conspicuous in the retreat appeared when they at length halted and faced the enemy. The ancient and long-established confidence of the British in battle with the French at once reappeared, and was attended with the same memorable results. The stragglers came in in great numbers, and again took their old places in the ranks; chasms were filled up with old faces; confidence increased with augmented numbers; and the discipline and regularity with which the troops took up their ground afforded the happiest presage of what would be the result should the enemy venture to attack them. The four next days were spent by the French in bringing up their guns and columns from the rear-by the British in embarking the cavalry, heavy artillery, sick, and wounded, on board the transports, which happily made their appearance on the morning of the 15th. Meanwhile the British rearguard, about 14,000 strong, kept the ground they had taken up to defend, which consisted of a series of low heights lying in a semicircular form around the village of Elvina, about a mile in front of Corunna, and barring all access from the land side into that town. A magazine, containing 4000 barrels of gunpowder recently brought from England, was blown up on the night of the 14th, with a terrific explosion. IV. At length, on the morning of the 16th, when prepara- CHAP. tions for embarking the troops had commenced, and several regiments were already on the beach, the enemy 1809. were seen approaching the British position in four strong columns, containing not less than 20,000 combatants. Two of these columns moved against Moore's right, a third 1 Sir Chas. advanced against the centre, while the fourth threatened Lord Castlethe left, so as to prevent any succour being sent from it 18, 1809, to the centre and right, where the serious attack was i. 280-283. intended to be made.1 Stewart to reagh, Jan. MS.; Lond. Corunna, Jan. 16. Lord William Bentinck's brigade, consisting of the 4th, 13. 42d, and 50th regiments, with the Guards in support, Battle of under General Warde, formed the right, against which the main attack of the enemy was directed. The French came on with their wonted impetuosity, nothing doubting that they were advancing to certain victory. The British advanced posts were quickly driven in; and the enemy's main body, in admirable order and with loud shouts, came up immediately behind. Their great superiority enabled them to overlap and extend far beyond the British right, which ran the most imminent risk of being turned. But this danger was averted by the 4th Regiment, which, advancing a little to meet the enemy, threw back its right wing so as to front the column pressing round their flank. Justly delighted with this able movement, Sir John Moore rode off to the centre of the field, deeming the right able to take care of itself. The advance of the French, who had carried the village of Elvina, was then checked by a brilliant charge of the 50th; while the 42d, supported by the Guards, drove back and followed to a considerable distance a heavy column which advanced against it. It was while animating the 42d to this charge that Sir John Moore received his death-wound; and Sir David Baird, the second in command, being about the same time carried off the field severely wounded, the command devolved upon Sir John Hope, who, though successful at all points, did not CHAP. IV. conceive himself at liberty to depart from the plan previously arranged of embarking the troops, which was carried into effect next day, without further molestation from 1 Lond. i. the enemy.1 1809. 283-292. 14. Gen. Stew art sails to Lisbon as General Stewart returned with the troops to England, where the great reputation acquired by the brilliant actions in which he had been engaged, and his skilful Adjutant direction of his brigade of cavalry during the retreat, Sir A. Wel- won for him the most flattering reception from all ranks, General of lesley's army. from the Sovereign downwards. This circumstance, joined to the influence of his brother, Lord Castlereagh, who was in the Cabinet as Secretary for War, procured for him a still more important appointment when a second expedition to the Peninsula was determined on. He was appointed Adjutant-General of the army—a situation for which his great administrative as well as military abilities pointed him out as peculiarly qualified. This situation, one of the highest on Sir Arthur Wellesley's staff, had the advantage of bringing him constantly, and on the terms of the closest intimacy, in contact with that great commander-a circumstance to which much of his subsequent career is to be ascribed. They embarked from Portsmouth on Saturday, April 16, 1809, with a stiff breeze; and before they had been long at sea they narrowly escaped shipwreck. The vessel, in striving to pass a bank which runs out from St Catharine's Point into the sea, missed stays, and was in consequence brought within a stone's throw of the breakers, which were directly ahead, the wind blowing hard upon them. Every 3 London individual on board expected instant shipwreck, but it proved otherwise. Suddenly the wind, which had hitherto been blowing full on shore, changed, and relieved them from i. 302, 303. their imminent danger. The voyage proceeded without other accident, and they landed at Lisbon on 22d April.2 derry to reagh, April 25, 1809; Lond. Sir Arthur Wellesley brought out with him reinforcements to the amount of 10,000 men; and they were all needed, for the state of affairs when he arrived in CHAP. IV. 1809. 15. he landed in April 22. Portugal was most disastrous. After the embarkation of the army at Corunna, the French troops divided; Marshal Ney with his corps remaining at that town and Ferrol to overawe Galicia; while Marshal Soult with his, state of 25,000 strong, commenced an invasion of the north of affairs when Portugal. The remnant of British forces left at Lisbon, Portugal. not more than 10,000 strong, were wholly inadequate to oppose any resistance to so formidable an invader; the Portuguese new levies were not in a condition to take the field; and the tumultuary bands assembled at Oporto, though burning with zeal and by no means destitute of courage, could not be relied on in a contest in the field with the French veterans. They had no confidence whatever in their officers; and excepting when commanded by Englishmen, could not be brought so much as to face the enemy. The consequence was, that they were totally defeated in an attempt to defend Oporto. That city, the second in the kingdom and the centre of the commercial wealth of the country, had fallen into the hands of the French; and the moment was hourly expected when advices should arrive of Marshal Soult proceeding to the 1 Lond. i. southward, and advancing to plant his eagles on the towers 305-308. of Lisbon.1 16. "No words," says Lord Londonderry, "would be adequate to convey the faintest idea of the delight exhibited Universal by all classes of persons as soon as the arrival of Sir bon on their Arthur Wellesley at Lisbon became known. All day arrival. long the streets were crowded with men and women, congratulating one another on the happy event; and at night the city was illuminated, even in the most obscure and meanest of its lanes and alleys. In the theatres, pieces were hastily got up, somewhat after the fashion of the masks anciently exhibited among ourselves, in which Victory was made to crown the representative of the hero with laurels, and to address him in language as far removed from the terms of ordinary conversation as might be expected from an allegorical personage. But CHAP. IV. 1809. it was not by such exhibitions alone that the Portuguese nation sought to evince its confidence in its former deliverer, and its satisfaction at his return. Sir Arthur Wellesley was immediately nominated Marshal-General of the armies of Portugal; by which means, whilst the care of training and managing the whole of the interior economy rested still with Beresford, the fullest authority to move the troops whithersoever be would, and to em303, 304 ploy them in any series of operations in which he might desire to embark, devolved upon him."1 1 Lond. i. 17. From the time when General Stewart landed with Sir Advance to Arthur Wellesley at Lisbon, to that when from ill health the Douro. he was most reluctantly compelled to return home for a short time, his personal biography is part of the history of England. Constantly at headquarters, and enjoying the entire confidence of the Commander-in-Chief, he bore a part in all the actions which have rendered memorable the first years of the Peninsular war; and to his talent, energy, and courage, no small part of their success was owing. These qualities were called forth in the very highest degree in the outset of the campaign; for it at once fell on the Adjutant-General of the army to take the labouring oar in the innumerable arrangements and preparations necessary before the campaign could be opened, which Sir Arthur was desirous to do with the greatest possible expedition. All things being at length in readiness, the whole disposable force was assembled at Coimbra in the first week of May, and was reviewed by the General-in-Chief on the 5th of that month. Without the Portuguese (about 6000 strong) there were 17,000 men, besides the detached corps, 2700 more, of whom one half were cavalry. The English and German troops made a magnificent appearance, and were such, in General Stewart to Stewart's words, " as any general might be proud to comreagh, mand." On the following day the troops all moved for1509, MS. ward in the direction of the Douro, and commenced their 2 General Lord Castle May 9, career of victory.2 I |