Chapter I: Front Matter

MEMOIRS
OF
THE LATE WAR.

VOL. I.

The United Service Journal
AND
NAVAL AND MILITARY MAGAZINE.

This new and interesting miscellany is regularly published by Messrs. COLBURN AND BENTLEY every month, price 3s 6d. The following opinion will at once demonstrate its claims on the attention of the public.

"The United Service Journal is confessedly one of the best
periodicals of its kind that have ever issued from the Public
Press. No Monthly Journal has yet appeared so devotedly attached
to the interests of the Army and Navy, or whose claims to the
patronage of both services are so strikingly conspicuous. It is
full of agreeable anecdote and useful information. In its pages we
find a faithful and most interesting record of past achievements,
whether on sea or land, diversified by many characteristic traits
of British heroism, and national gallantry, from the lowest to
the highest rank in the Service. New improvements in gunnery,
navigation, and the art of War, are exposed to view with the
commanding powers of a master hand, while no subject is omitted
which could by possibility involve the honour and welfare of our
Army and Navy. In fine, the Journal affords us a correct summary
of all changes in the station of Regiments and Ships of the line,
besides an authentic return of the Promotions in the Red and the
Blue. Independently of the attractions it has for a military man,
this periodical may be read with much pleasure by a civilian,
and we feel much gratification in stating that it enjoys a very
considerable patronage."—_Limerick Chronicle._

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LONDON:
G. SCHULZE, 13, POLAND STREET.

MEMOIRS
OF
THE LATE WAR:
COMPRISING
THE PERSONAL NARRATIVE OF
CAPTAIN COOKE,
OF THE 43rd REGIMENT LIGHT INFANTRY;
THE HISTORY OF THE CAMPAIGN OF 1809
IN PORTUGAL,
BY THE EARL OF MUNSTER;
AND A NARRATIVE OF
THE CAMPAIGN OF 1814 IN HOLLAND,
BY LIEUT. T. W. D. MOODIE, H. P. 21ST FUSILEERS.

IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. I.

LONDON:
HENRY COLBURN AND RICHARD BENTLEY,
NEW BURLINGTON STREET.
1831.

CONTENTS
OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

PERSONAL NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN COOKE.

CHAPTER I.

Page.

Initiation into military life—State of the militia
force—Preparations against the expected invasion from
Boulogne—French prisoners—An accident—The author occupies
a dull post near Grimsby—An enlivening incident connected
with the tender passion—Love cooled by aqueous immersion,
and rekindled by bright eyes—Earl Fitzwilliam—Quarters
in Bristol—A fatal affray—Clifton—The author engaged in
an affair of honour—Anecdote—The author enters the
line—Return of the British army from the Peninsula—Severe
drilling. 1

CHAPTER II.

Scene of embarkation for foreign service at Deal—A
character—Force and objects of the expedition—Arrival off
Walcheren—Siege and capture of Flushing—Disastrous sickness
among the troops—Evacuation of Walcheren, with the author's
adventure on the occasion—The return to England—Napoleon's
situation at that period. 34

CHAPTER III.

Progress of distemper on the re-landing of the regiment in
England—Change of quarters—Amusements—Colchester—An
eventful water party—The author obtains leave to join the
detachment proceeding to Portugal—A Review—A tale of
dental dislocation—Embarkation at Spithead—Landing in
Portugal—Incidents of an evening—Amusements at Lisbon, and
departure from that city. 54

CHAPTER IV.

March to Santarem and Abrantes—Scenery and incidents at
Aronches—Junction with some other regiments—Military scene
in a wood—Anticipatory reflections on the fate of some of
the author's comrades—Quarters at Portalagre, Castello de
Vida and Marvao—Bridge of boats across the Tagus—Contiguous
scenery—Horrors of travelling for invalids in the Portuguese
cars. 71

CHAPTER V.

March continued—Wild and striking aspect of the
country—Excellence of discipline—Camp followers—Spanish
peasant girls and men—Plain of Fuente de Guinaldo—Reflections
on a soldier's life—A vegetable conflagration—Village of
Martiago—Difficulties of the French—Arrival in cantonments—The
paymaster's peculiarities. 85

CHAPTER VI.

The author is attacked by illness—Miseries of military
travelling in that condition—Quarters at Celorico—The
author's difficult recovery—Grievous sufferings endured
by the soldiers affected with fever in the sickly season—Death
of the Paymaster—The author rejoins his Division—Movements
of the French—A clerical case of disaster—The contested
mattress—A dance—Expensive celebration of Christmas—Story
of the German suttler—Village and neighbourhood of Fuente
de Guinaldo—Theatrical representations by the English
officers. 100

CHAPTER VII.

Preparations for the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo—A review of the
light Division by Lord Wellington—The fort and convent of
Saint Francisco taken—Storming the breach—Capture of the
place—Regulations for the prevention of plunder—Disorders
committed in the city—Remarks and anecdotes connected with
the siege—Burial of General Craufurd—Removal of quarters
to El Bodon—Vestiges of the previous engagement near that
place—Ciudad Rodrigo consigned to a Spanish garrison—March
towards Badajoz—Castello de Vida—Fortress of Elvas—An
accidental acquaintance. 114

CHAPTER VIII.

March from Elvas to Badajoz—Defences of that city—The
investment—A sortie—Operations of the batteries—Capture
of fort Picurina—Preparations for the grand assault—Advance
of the "forlorn hope"—Desperate encounter at the
breaches—Loss of life experienced by the British—The mode
of attack changed to escalade with success—The city sacked
by the British troops—Reflections respecting the conduct
of the siege—Incidental anecdotes. 133

CHAPTER IX.

Movements of the enemy after the fall of Badajoz—March of
the British light and third divisions towards Ciudad
Rodrigo—Dispositions for a fresh campaign—Excellent
marching arrangement of the light division—Occupation of
Salamanca by the British, and investment of the forts—Advance
of the French army—Skirmishing and cannonading—Surrender
of the forts by the French—English quarters at Rueda, and
amusements there—Movements of the author's division—A
breakfast party broken up—Personal escape of the
commander-in-chief—Active manœuvres of the contending
forces—Retrograde movement of the British towards
Salamanca—Relative position of the two armies—Battle of
Salamanca. 157

CHAPTER X.

Well-performed retreat of the French after the battle of
Salamanca—Progress of the English troops—Description of the
Spanish plains and towns—Custom of the Siesta—Movements of
Joseph Bonaparte—Bivouac at Olmedo, and ball given there by
Lord Wellington—Advance of the British army, and entry into
Valladolid—A swimming adventure—Illness of the author, and his
removal to the town of Cuellar—Timorous conduct of the Portuguese
dragoons—The English army enters Madrid—Incidents attending
the author's further removal as an invalid to Salamanca—General
position of affairs on the Continent—Operations of Sir R.
Hill—Re-capture of Valladolid—Unsuccessful siege of
Burgos—Various movements of the forces. 191

CHAPTER XI.

The author becomes convalescent, and proceeds to rejoin the
army—Guadarama mountains—Park and Palace of the Escurial—An
enthusiastic native—A Spanish bandit—British quarters in
Madrid, and description of the city—English theatricals—Renewed
activity of the contending armies—The British troops evacuate
Madrid—Romantic attachments—Alba de Tormes—Re-occupation of
Salamanca—Military discomforts—Skirmishing affairs—The French
obliged to desist from pursuit through fatigue—Various positions
of the British forces during the winter of 1812-13. 211

CHAPTER XII.

The light Division reviewed by the Commander-in-chief—Reinforcements
from England—The army again in motion—Encampment of the light
division between Rodrigo and Salamanca—The German hussars—March
to Salamanca, the French retreating—Scene in the Cathedral at
Salamanca—Crossing the Tormes, and progress of the march—Passage
of the Esla—Affair at Toro with the French heavy
horse—Concentration of the whole army, and march through Valencia
towards Burgos—An accommodating priest—Capture of French baggage
and prisoners—Details of the battle of Vittoria. 242

CHAPTER XIII.

Pursuit of the enemy after the battle of Vittoria—Curious
spectacle and adventure in a French bivouac—Advance towards
Pampeluna, and repulse of the French rear-guard—Retreat of
the main body of the enemy into France—Reflections on the policy
of King Joseph—Change of the British route, and encampment at
Sanguessa—A casual dance—Return to Pampeluna—Expulsion of the
French from the valley of Bastan—The Basque peasantry—Town of
Bera—Position for covering Pampeluna and St. Sebastian—Preparations
for the attack of the latter place—The command of the French
assumed by the Duke of Dalmatia—A family scene—Position of the
French army. 274

CHAPTER XIV.

Offensive operations of the Duke of Dalmatia—Partial retrogression
of the British—Ill success in the storming of the breaches at
St. Sebastian—Movements of the various divisions—Great extent
of the British line along the Pyrenees—Interesting domestic
scene attending the departure of the Author's Division from the
town of Bera—Battle of Pampeluna—Embarrassing situation of
the light division through an accidental separation from the
army—Successes obtained over the French, and their consequent
retreat—Active movements, and capture of the enemy's baggage—A
trait of character—Continued advantages gained over the French,
who are driven beyond the Pyrenees. 300

PERSONAL NARRATIVE
OF
CAPTAIN COOKE.

MEMOIRS
OF
CAPTAIN COOKE.