Recollections of the Peninsula by Captain Joseph Moyle Sherer

Author:Captain Joseph Moyle Sherer [Sherer, Captain Joseph Moyle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, Military, Napoleonic Wars, Europe, France, Spain & Portugal, Great Britain, General
ISBN: 9781908902658
Google: _EpwCwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Pickle Partners Publishing
Published: 2012-05-01T04:56:51+00:00

On the morning of the eighth we moved to invest Olivença, in which the enemy had shut up a small garrison. The occupation of this place was absolutely necessary to us as a depot, or place d’armes; for the French had a very strong garrison in Badajoz, which might avail itself of our march to the front, to insult, or altogether interrupt, our communications; and, for the same reason, we constructed a tête du pont at Jurumenha.

The order of our march, on the morning of the eighth, was very beautiful. We moved in four parallel columns, at well-regulated intervals. The two flank columns were of cavalry, who marched with advanced guards and flankers; the two central columns were divisions of infantry, with their guns. The skirmishers of the 13th dragoons moved on some eminences to the left of our line of march, and kept an eager look-out on the Badajoz road; while the advanced guard of the heavy cavalry, on the right, pursued one of the roads which led directly on the town of Olivença, our near approach to which was announced by the sound of its cannon. From the nature of the country we passed over, all the columns had a fine distinct view of each other, and we all came in sight of the fortress nearly at the same moment; and halting on the heights which overlooked it, just out of gun-shot, had a full view of the place while the summons went in.

On a day like this, everyone seems on the "qui vive" All faces are cheerful, all eyes strained; spy-glasses are out; and everyone looks pleased who has been lucky enough to distinguish a brazen helmet, a broad-topped cap, or, in fact, anything French. The governor rejecting the summons, General Cole was left with the fourth division to conduct the siege, and on the afternoon of the tenth the army advanced. I was on the rear guard; and as the main body moved two hours before us, it was already dark when we reached the bivouack. There was a something so strikingly beautiful in the appearance of it, that I shall never forget the picture. The night was excessively dark, and, under such circumstances, the common camp fires would of themselves have produced a fine effect; but they had been, for the most part, made in hollow cork-trees, of which great numbers were scattered through the ground; and to see the red fires in their fantastic cavities, and the bright and consuming flames issuing from their tops, illuminating the pale branches, causing a red atmosphere above, and showing to great advantage the troops, their arms and horses, was a scene so picturesque, so magical, that no description could do it justice. Olivença, which was only provided with a garrison of four hundred men, fell as soon as ever it was possible to bring guns to bear on it, and was occupied by the division which besieged it: the rest of us pushed many leagues southward. At

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