1808: The Road to Corunna

by Griff Hosker

  “Sir John seems to know what he is about, sir.”

  He nodded, “That may be but we have Dolly and Betty in command now!” I stifled a smile. “You have done well today, Major Matthews. Get some sleep for I want you out before dawn. Find me the French order of battle and we can win this war before nightfall.”

  Sharp was waiting by my tent with a mug of grog. “Here sir. I got this from the lads on the sloop.”

  I drank the hot and powerful drink. It would aid sleep. Not that I needed any help. I was exhausted. “We ride early in the morning Alan. You had better inform, Sergeant Smith. We will need ten of his chaps too.”

  “They all want to join the 11th sir. It seems they don’t like their officers.”

  “Sharp!”

  “Sorry, sir but I am just saying what they did. It seems Captain Goodwin was not unique. They have some new officers who have just bought in to the regiment. It was a warning sir, that we may find problems when they land.”

  “All I want, Alan, is to be back with the 11th. Life is simpler there.”

  It was still black when we left. There were two roads I could take. One led due south while the other went south east towards Torres Vedras. I decided to head towards Torres Vedras and if I found nothing head across country and come back along the other road. Dawn was just breaking and we were only ten miles or so from Vimeiro when we saw the French advance guards. It was the Chasseurs.

  I wheeled us around and took the patrol to a crossroads further north. There was a wooded knoll where we could hide. When we reached it I scribbled a note. “Sergeant Smith, send this back to the general.”

  “Sir.”

  Once the rider was away we waited. “Make sure your carbines and pistols are loaded.” I heard Sergeant Smith chuckle, “I have amused you, sergeant?”

  “Sorry sir, it’s just that we have used more ball and powder in the last day or so than in the last six months.”

  I remembered Sharp’s words. “Your officers don’t like to waste powder and ball?”

  “They prefer a sabre charge sir.” He shook his head. “Your ways are safer sir.” He pointed towards Sharp’s saddle. It must be handy having a pair of pistols instead of just the one.”

  I lifted my pelisse. “And three pistols are even better, sergeant. A word of advice instead of just looking for coins on the dead Frenchmen take their pistols. It is how Sharp and I acquired ours.”

  The sun had now risen above the hills to the east and we heard the hooves of the French as they came on. We would have to move soon or we would be trapped. When they reached the crossroads, some two hundred yards from our position, they halted. I saw the marshal and his staff as they rode to the head of the stationary column and consult a map. After a few moments he pointed to the road which led north towards the village of Ventosa on the eastern ridge close to Vimeiro. Sir Arthur had no men on that ridge. I had not thought to defend it. Were we about to be outflanked?

  A couple of squadrons of Dragoons led the nine battalions of light infantry north. The road, I knew, twisted and turned through the hills before emerging at the far end of the eastern ridge. They would arrive unseen.

  I watched as the rest of the army took the road west towards the village of Vimeiro. Junot was going to divide his forces and outflank Sir Arthur. “Right boys, let’s get back but I do not want them to know that we have spotted them.”

  Our circuitous but unseen route meant we did not reach the village until nine o’clock. I galloped hard for the last mile or so and hurled myself from my saddle. Generals Nightingale and Ferguson were with the colonels and poring over a map with Sir Arthur. The general looked up eagerly when I entered the tent, “Yes, Major?”

  “Junot is less than five miles away.” I jabbed a finger at the western ridge. “He has sent a column of cavalry and infantry there to outflank you.”

  “Has he by God! Good work Major!” He turned to his two generals, “Take your brigades and Colonel Bowes too and defend the eastern ridge. Stop his flanking attack. Take a couple of guns too.” They left quickly. Colonel Trant and General Crauford take your men north and out flank this column. Detach your cavalry for Major Matthews to command.”

  “Sir!”

  He turned to me. “The rest of the 20th are being disembarked. They are, along with the handful of Portuguese, our only cavalry. “If what you say is true and there are over fifteen hundred cavalry then we will need them as a reserve. Order them to the north west of Vimeiro. Disguise them on the reverse slope.”

  “Sir!”

  I left the tent. “Sergeant Smith, your regiment is being disembarked. Give them Sir Arthur’s compliments and have them assemble to the north west of Vimeiro on the reverse slope.”

  “Sir!”

  “Sharp, go and find Captain Moreno. I want the Portuguese cavalry in the same place. I will be there when you arrive.”

  I waved the detachment of Light Dragoons to follow me and I led them up the steep reverse slope to Vimeiro. Sir Arthur had been up early to spot the reverse slope. It was perfect. We would remain hidden behind the village and safe from the French artillery.

  “You lads make a horse line here. Better mark it out for the rest of the regiment.”

  I left them to it. Dismounting I led my horse to the front of the village. The riflemen were already in position in the rocks beneath the village. I watched as Colonel Fane placed his line regiment, the 50th, behind his skirmishers. Any French attack would have to climb a steep slope with ball and bullets decimating them.

  “Good position here, Matthews.” I turned to see General Wellesley arrive.

  “It is sir.” I waved a hand around the narrow streets. “This is a killing zone; if they get through the rifles.”

  “It all depends how badly he wants it. I want you to command the Portuguese cavalry today and stay here on the ridge with me. The 20th have a major who is in command. We will use them to follow up any success.” He saw my look which displayed my disappointment. “The Portuguese have done more than enough and the 20th are fresh. This will be a long campaign for when I defeat these Johnnies here today we will push on to Spain.”

  I went a little closer to him, “But what about General Burrard? Will he not wish to take command?”

  Sir Arthur smiled, “He is staying on his ship until General Moore arrives.” He adopted an innocent look. “If the French attack I shall have to defend eh?”

  I returned to the horse lines. The troopers had done a good job. Captain Moreno and his half a dozen undersized troops were there. “Just have your men dismount. We will not be needed until the latter stages of the day. There is no point in tiring out the horses.”

  Just then I heard the clatter of hooves as the 20th arrived. Suddenly I heard a familiar voice, “Who in God’s name has picked such a God awful place for the horses?”

  I turned to see the man who had made my life such a misery in the early days at the regiment. He had been a captain then but now he was a major, it was Major DeVere who commanded the 20th.

  Chapter 12

  “Actually Major, it was me, under orders from Sir Arthur Wellesley.”

  As soon as he recognised me I could see the anger as it filled his face and he fought to control it. “Until Sir Harry Burrard comes ashore that is.”

  I pointed to the south where the first blue columns could be seen in the distance. “That will be after the battle then as he is still aboard his ship. The French, apparently do not wait upon Sir Harry!” Before he could retort I snapped, “And Sir Arthur has asked that your regiment prepares to follow up on any advantage which might present itself. If you would await my instructions here I would be grateful.”

  I had deliberately avoided the use of the word order but I wanted him under no illusions. It was I who would tell him when he could advance. He turned to a cornet, “Cornet Welsh ride to Sir Harry and inform him that the French are about to attack and there will be a battle soon!”

  I saw the triumphant look upon his face and I shook my head.
He knew little of battles. By the time Sir Harry reached the battle it would all be over. As I recalled Major DeVere had yet to fight in anything other than a skirmish. His first battle might come as a shock.

  I waved over Captain Moreno and gave him his orders. “Captain, if you would have your horse holders retire down the slope. The English horses are a little bigger and after weeks on a ship will need to relieve themselves. It could become rather smelly and slippery around here. Your men can take a position behind the walls which overlook the village.” He laughed.

  Major DeVere coloured. I suspect he thought he had been insulted by me in Portuguese. “And who is in charge of these damned foreigners?”

  “Normally Colonel Trant but today they are seconded to me.”

  He laughed, “So you have found your level at last Matthews. Johnny foreigner is all that you are capable of leading.”

  I smiled, “Until your officers disobeyed Sir Arthur’s orders, Major DeVere I commanded the 20th. Your troopers and sergeants are excellent. They are good enough to be in the 11th.”

  It was like waving a red rag at a bull. “Where are my officers?”

  “Captain Goodwin died and Mr Hart lost an arm and has been invalided back to England. The squadron is being led by Sergeant Smith and he is a sound man. You are lucky to have him.”

  I saw DeVere flash an angry look in the direction of the sergeant who sat a little taller in the saddle. I had wasted enough time on him. “Captain Moreno, see if you can get some muskets and pistols for your men. I know we captured some from the French the other day. Position them behind these walls. We may not be charging today but I guarantee that we will be fighting.”

  “Yes Colonel.”

  DeVere might not have understood much Portuguese but he recognised the word ‘Colonel’. “Did that man call you colonel?”

  “As a matter of fact he did. The Prince Regent appointed me a colonel in the Portuguese cavalry.” I smiled thinly as I said it. I out ranked him for the first time and I could see that he did not like it.

  Lieutenant Brown hurried over to me, “Sir, Sir Arthur needs you.”

  “Right Sharp, if you stay here in case Captain Moreno needs a translator.” I lowered my voice. “The Portuguese act under my orders only. Understand?”

  He grinned, “Yes sir!”

  When I reached Sir Arthur he had just lowered his telescope. “Ah Matthews, the French are coming on. I shall need you as an aide today. No charging off for derring do eh?”

  He was in a better humour now that he was on the battle field and the French were obliging him by marching towards us in a column forty men wide by thirty men deep. It was the classic French formation. The light infantry darted in front of them skirmishing and when they were close enough the column would deploy into a three deep line. I had seen it work against Austrians, Italians and even Prussians but the British were a different matter. Even as we watched the 95th and 60th Rifles began to pepper the skirmishers. They had no answer to the Baker. They had to endure the fire without reply and gradually their numbers thinned to the point where they did not function as skirmishers any more. The rifles then began to pick off the officers and sergeants in the column. That proved crucial for there was no one to order them into line and they kept coming up the slope.

  No one could doubt the bravery of these young conscripts. The guns were firing Colonel Shrapnel’s new shell which exploded in the air above them. The pieces of metal scythed through the column; killing and maiming. As the 95th and 60th raced back to the protection of the village Sir Arthur shouted, “Colonel Fane whenever you are ready.”

  “Sir. West Kent Foot prepare your muskets!”

  I heard the sergeants repeating the order down the line as the thousand men marched steadily towards the five hundred men of the 50th regiment. At one hundred yards I heard the order to fire and the column disappeared from sight as the smoke wafted across our front. The howitzers were still hurling their shells blindly above the column which was a target too big to miss. There was a thin ripple as the eighty muskets which could be brought to bear, fired at the 50th. Two hundred and fifty muskets replied and then the second rank’s two hundred and fifty. By the time they had fired the front rank fired again. In a minute and a half two and a half thousand balls sliced through the blue column and it broke.

  “Cease fire!”

  As the smoke cleared, we saw the mangled and bloody blue bodies littering the field and the survivors running back to the protection of their army.

  The soldiers cheered before Sir Arthur roared, “Colonel Fane, control your men.”

  As the sergeants regained order I saw the rifles skipping down the slope to bring down some of the survivors.

  “Sir Arthur, there is another column coming from the right.”

  Our right flank was less secure. The cannons could not fire in this direction and there were no rifles there. The 43rd were the skirmishers. They were as good as the rifles but their muskets did not have the range.

  “Colonel Anstruther, whenever you are ready.”

  This time there were three regiments who were ready to receive the French. The twelve hundred men would have to endure the fire of over two thousand redcoats.

  “Sir Arthur, they have brought cannon with them.” I pointed to where seven cannons were being manhandled into position.

  “That won’t do. Major Matthews get some of your Portuguese fellows and be ready to capture those guns when Colonel Anstruther has dealt with the infantry.

  I missed witnessing the slaughter as I ran the hundred yards to my horse but I knew that the result would be the same as the first attack. “Captain Moreno, mount a squadron. We are to capture some guns.”

  As he raced off Major DeVere was forced to be polite in order to discover what was going on. “What is happening Matthews?”

  “The general has just seen off one attack and now he’s going after another.”

  “What are these Portuguese chaps about?”

  “Just going to stop some guns upsetting your horses Major!”

  As I mounted I saw some staff officers making their way up the slope. It looked as though Sir Harry Burrard had arrived. I had no time for that.

  “Follow me!”

  The French column, although they had not had to suffer the shrapnel, had had to endure five volleys from two thousand men. They were fleeing down the slope. The French gunners were trying to attach the traces to their horses and save their guns. There was no time for an order. We had to make our way down the slope. I could see why the general had asked for the Portuguese. Their horses were smaller and more sure footed and we picked our way down the steep and rocky slope. As soon as the French saw us and heard the cheers from the Portuguese they fled down the slope, abandoning their guns. One officer and sergeant bravely tried to stand. My sword flicked out and the officer’s sword flew from his grip. I held the point to his throat. “Surrender sir or die!” Behind me I heard a pistol shot as Sergeant Sharp fired over the sergeant’s head. He raised his arms. “Come sir, your deaths can not save the guns. You have both fought bravely.”

  He nodded, reached down and handed me his sword hilt first. “Captain Moreno, take the guns back to the general.”

  There was a wall of cheering as we took back our seven prizes. The French had conveniently managed to attach the horses to the guns.

  “Take the guns to the rear.” They began to manhandle the guns to safety behind the village and General Hill’s brigade.

  I dismounted and handed my horse’s reins to Sergeant Sharp.

  “Well done, Matthews. That was smartly done.”

  “Thank you, Sir Arthur.” I pointed down the hill to the west, “Sir I believe that Sir Harry is coming.”

  “Dammit! Who alerted him?”

  “I believe it was Major DeVere.” I did take some pleasure in informing on the major. He had deliberately informed Sir Harry to inconvenience and upset Sir Arthur. He was a fool; Sir Arthur was our only chance of winning the battle..

/>   “Can’t be helped but this is not over yet.” He pointed down the slope where I could see another column forming. Even at this distance I could see that they were grenadiers. These were the best that Junot had. They would not flee in the face of fierce musket fire. I had witnessed them being decimated before now and then charging home.

  I could see that there were two columns approaching us. One was heading for Colonel Fane while the other was approaching Colonel Anstruther’s position. This would be harder than repulsing the earlier attack. They were dividing our fire. The two columns were still forming up as Sir Harry appeared.

  “What’s going on Wellesley?”

  “The French attacked us this morning, Sir Harry. We have repulsed them and captured some guns.”

  “Right, well carry on but no advance, mind. Sir Hew Dalrymple has just arrived and he needs time to assess the situation.”

  I could see the frustration on Sir Arthur’s face. He gritted his teeth and said, “Yes sir. Now if you will excuse me we have another attack to fend off.”

  Sir Harry looked down the slope. “Should we withdraw do you think?”

  Every officer who heard those words could not believe them. “Er no sir. We shall beat these fellows off but if you wish to retire a little.”

  “Er no, Wellesley. I shall stay here and watch for a while.”

  The grenadiers began their march up the slope. Their artillery fired in support at first but soon they had to stop to avoid hitting their own men. The rifles thinned them out again but it was our artillery and shrapnel which did the most damage.

  “Matthews go and watch the other column. Let me know if they get too close.”

  “Sir.” I joined Colonel Anstruther.

  He nodded at me, “Smart work with those guns Matthews.”

  “Thank you, colonel. These chaps are a little more resolute than the others were.”

  “I know. Still the lads will hold.”

  I could hear the fighting to my left as Fane’s men came to grips with the attacking grenadiers. I saw the 43rd skirmishers as they pulled back and then Colonel Anstruther yelled, “Fire!”