ADVERTISEMENT.

IN tracing the following scenes, I have chiefly drawn on the reminiscences of my military life, and endeavoured faithfully to convey to the mind of the reader the impression which they made on my own at the time of their occurrence. Should any errors, as to dates or trifling circumstances, have inadvertently crept into my narrative, I hope they will be ascribed to want of memory, rather than to any

wilful intention to mislead. I am aware,

that some objections may be taken to

my style; for

"Rude am I in my speech,

And little bless'd with the set phrase of peace:
For, since these arms of mine had seven years' pith,

Till now, some nine moons wasted, they have us'd

Their dearest action in the tented field:

And little of this world can I speak,

More than pertains to feats of broil and battle;
And therefore little shall I grace my cause

In speaking for myself; yet, by your gracious patience,
I will a round unvarnished tale deliver,"

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Joined the Rifles. Walcheren Expedition.

A young

Soldier. A Marine View. Campaign in South

Beeveland. Retreat to Scotland

CHAP. II.

Rejoin the Regiment.

Arrival in the Tagus.

Embark for the Peninsula.

The City of Lisbon, with its

A hard Case.

Contents. Sail for Figuera. Landing extraordinary.

Billet ditto. The City of Coimbra.

A cold Case, in which a favourite Scotch Dance is

introduced. Climate.

The Duke of Wellington

CHAP. III.

Other People, Myself, and my Regiment. Retreat to

the Lines of Torres Vedras. Leave Coimbra, followed

by a select group of Natives. Ford the Streets of

Condacia in good spirits. A Provost-Marshal and

PAGE

his favourites. A fall. Convent of Batalha. Turned

out of Allenquer. Passed through Sobral. Turned

into Arruda. Quartering of the Light Division, and

their Quarters at Arruda. Burial of an only Child.

Lines of Torres Vedras. Difference of opinion

between Massena and Myself. Military Customs

PAGE

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CHAP V.

Campaign of 1811 opens. Massena's Retreat. Wretched

Condition of the Inhabitants on the Line of March.

Affairs with the Enemy, near Pombal. Description

of a Bivouac. Action near Redinha. Destruction

of Condacia and Action near it. Burning of the

Village of Illama, and Misery of its Inhabitants.

Action at Foz D'Aronce. Confidential Servants with

Donkey-Assistants

CHAP. VI.

Passage of the Mondego. Swearing to a large Amount.

Two Prisoners, with their Two Views. Two Nuns,

Two Pieces of Dough, and Two Kisses. A Halt.

Affair near Frexedas. Arrival near Guarda. Murder.

A stray Sentry. Battle of Sabugal. Spanish and

Portuguese Frontiers. Blockade of Almeida. Battle-

like. Current Value of Lord Wellington's Nose.

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