Diary Of Campaigns In The Peninsula For The Years 1811, 1812 And 1813 by Lieut. William Swabey

Author:Lieut. William Swabey [Swabey, Lieut. William]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781787201583
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Wagram Press
Published: 2016-10-21T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER III.—“D” Troop march to the North. Bull-fights. Truxillo. Cordial reception on the march. Toledo. Aranjuez.

30th August.—Our destination appears now pretty certainly northward by Medellin.{141}

The infantry in our rear passed us today and marched to Campillo, thereby turning us, who were the advance, into the rear guard, as we are now marching away from the enemy.

The news of Colonel Skerrett’s having taken Seville and of the raising of the siege of Cadiz is confirmed. d’Erlon’s corps is today at Cordova forming a rear guard to the concentrated force of Soult, who it appears is bending his course to Valencia if not La Mancha.

31st August.—Rode out to Azuaga, which we were attracted to visit by its always having been the point to which the French headquarters went when we were in this district. There are some fine specimens of the early mixture of Moorish and Gothic architecture, and a castle, probably Roman.

The Spanish cavalry were in the place, and to prove the universal passion for bull-fights they had tied one to a stake and were teasing him. We had to pass the street and it was agreed that it would not look well for English officers to turn, though the Spaniards went nowhere within his reach. Our danger consisted in being charged, which in fact we were, by the furious beast, but still more in having our horses thrown down by the cord to which he was fastened. We put spurs to our horses and passed him amidst shouts of Vivan los Ingleses.

d’Erlon’s headquarters were at Cordova yesterday, he having joined Soult. Seville is certainly taken by Skerrett and the siege of Cadiz raised.

On August 27th, an attack was made by the allies under General La Crux on the enemy’s rear guard at Seville, in which attack the allied British and Portuguese troops under Colonel Skerrett distinguished themselves. The bridge of Seville was thereby saved, and the enemy prevented from destroying many guns and valuable stores which the town contained.—Wellington Despatches, Vol. IX., p. 429.

1st September.—Instead of getting up early to kill partridges, I rose at 4 o’clock and marched to Maguilla where the light brigade was badly accommodated. Lallemand made this a favourite post at which I am not surprised as it is very well protected by ravines against any sudden attack.

2nd September.—We marched to Corteja de Frayles the name of two or three cottages about a mile distant from each other, and encamped. The cavalry went to El Campillo, another bad place to which we were ordered by the Quartermaster-General, but being better informed than he, we learnt the road was impassable and General Long permitted us to go round.

3rd September.—Marched to Zalamca. This place was for 9 months d’Erlon’s headquarters, notwithstanding which the expressions of loyalty and the readiness of the authorities to assist us, were new traits in the Spanish character which in our old track we never met.

4th September.—Remained at Zalamca and there being a castle I went antiquity hunting. With some difficulty I climbed up one of the towers there being no other means of ascent.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.