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A British Rifle Man

George Simmons

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A BRITISH RIFLE MAN

A BRITISH RIFLE MAN

A BRITISH RIFLE MAN THE JOURNALS AND CORRESPONDENCE OF MAJOR GEORGE SIMMONS, RIFLE BRIGADE, DURING THE PENINSULAR WAR AND THE CAMPAIGN OF WATERLOO EDITED, WITH INTRODUCTION, BY LIEUT.-COLONEL WILLOUGHBY VERNER LATE RIFLE BRIGADE AUTHOR OF 'SKETCHES IN THE SOUDAN,' ETC. WITH THREE MAPS LONDON A. &amp; C. BLACK, SOHO SQUARE 1899 All rights reserved To GENERAL HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT AND STRATHEARN, COLONEL-IN-CHIEF OF THE RIFLE BRIGADE, FORMERLY (1803-1816) STYLED THE 95TH RIF

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INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

George Simmons, the writer of the following letters and journals, was born on 2nd May 1785. His parents resided at Beverley, in Yorkshire. The family consisted of nine sons and three daughters. Since some of their names constantly recur in Simmons's letters, a brief account of them will be useful. Maud, the second son, obtained a commission in the 34th Foot in 1809. The third, Joseph, after beginning life as an attorney's clerk, joined his eldest brother's corps, the 95th Rifles, as a Volunteer

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COMMENCEMENT OF THE PENINSULAR WAR CAMPAIGN OF 1808

COMMENCEMENT OF THE PENINSULAR WAR CAMPAIGN OF 1808

The Peninsular War commenced in the year 1808, on 1st August of which year Major-General Sir Arthur Wellesley disembarked at Mondego Bay and marched on Lisbon, at that time occupied by a French army under Marshal Junot. The latter sent General Laborde with a Division to oppose Wellesley's advance, and on 15th August the first skirmish took place at Obidos. On this occasion the 95th Rifles had an officer killed (Lieut. Bunbury), the first British officer who fell in the Peninsular War. On 17th Au

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CAMPAIGN OF 1809

CAMPAIGN OF 1809

On the same day, the Light Division under General Craufurd, consisting of the 43rd and 52nd Light Infantry and the 1st Battalion 95th Rifles, reached the field and immediately took up the outposts. This Division, after a march of 20 miles, was in bivouac at Malpartida, when Craufurd received a report that the British were hard pressed at Talavera. He at once started "with a resolution not to halt until he reached the field of battle.... The troops pressed on with impetuous speed, and, leaving on

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Letter No. I

Letter No. I

Hythe , 21st May 1809 . My dear Parents —The long-wished-for day has come at last. I am this morning marching, with as fine a body of men as ever left England, for Dover, where we embark. I believe a very great army will accompany us. Our destination is a profound secret, and as I am not inquisitive, it gives me little concern; I daresay I shall soon enough see some diversion. The rumour goes, Austria or Portugal. Our men are in very high spirits, and we have a most excellent band of music and t

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Journal—25th May-15th July 1809

Journal—25th May-15th July 1809

The 1st Battalion 95th Regiment had been under orders to embark at a moment's notice for some days. The order arrived last night, and at two o'clock this morning the Battalion was formed in the Barrack Square, consisting of 1000 as fine young fellows as were ever collected to fight their country's battles. For my part, my heart was as light as a feather when we marched off; and, if I may judge from appearances, every person had the same feelings. We entered Dover about six o'clock and marched th

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Letter No. II

Letter No. II

Castello Branco , 18th July 1809 . My dear Parents —After experiencing a very favourable voyage, we came in sight of Lisbon on the 27th of June, and cast anchor before the town on the 28th. We received orders not to disembark the troops immediately. I therefore went on shore with a party of our officers. I must confess I felt much disappointed with the place, as a stranger seeing the town at a distance would conceive it a beautiful city; but on a nearer view you find out all its imperfections. E

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Journal—18th July-10th December 1809

Journal—18th July-10th December 1809

Marched to Ladocir. Marched to Zibreira, a tolerable village close to the Spanish frontier. Country hilly. Entered Spain by crossing the river Herjas, which takes its name from the Castle of Herjas; it runs close to the walls, and is the boundary between Spain and Portugal for some considerable distance. Halted at Zarza la Mayor. Moraleja. Marched to Coria, which is a nice little city surrounded by a wall, and stands upon a plain. The river Alagon runs close to it. The cathedral is a fine buildi

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Letter No. III

Letter No. III

Campo Mayor, Portugal , September 1809 . Dear Parents —My last letter was written at Castello Branco, which I hope you received. I must now enter into a long detail of proceedings, the result of which has not proved of any service to England or Spain as yet, and I am afraid there is no likelihood our services in this quarter ever will, unless we have a sufficient disposable force to cope with the French, who are much more numerous than we expected. I will now bid adieu to the land of plenty, a l

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Letter No. IV

Letter No. IV

Campo Mayor , 29th October 1809 . My dear Parents —I hope by this time you will have received my letters. If so, the present state of affairs is not altogether foreign to you. The Brigade has been stationed here about six weeks, which has made my lank and sunburnt countenance return nearly to its pristine appearance. In my last letters I observed that from the commencement of campaigning I had not felt ill except from starvation. My good landlady and I being upon excellent terms, she indulges me

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Journal—11th December-31st December 1809

Journal—11th December-31st December 1809

This day we have been stationed at Campo Mayor three months, and are now ordered to prepare for a march. I am recovering from fever. The convalescent and sick are ordered to be sent to Elvas, but I am allowed to proceed, by my own wish, with my regiment. Marched to Arronches and halted. Marched to Portalegre, where the Brigade assembled, consisting of 1st Battalions 43rd and 52nd, and ours, the 95th or Rifle Men. I was in the same company I commenced my military career with, and being the junior

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CAMPAIGN OF 1810

CAMPAIGN OF 1810

Viscount Wellington arranged for the defence of Portugal by massing the Anglo-Portuguese army at two points—the first, under his own command, on the Mondego, and the second, under General Hill, on the Tagus. He also issued orders for the construction of the Lines of Torres Vedras. The Light Division under General Craufurd was pushed forward to the Agueda as a Corps of Observation. Massena, with a mobile force of 65,000 men, now threatened Portugal, having captured the fortress of Ciudad Rodrigo,

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Journal—1st January-27th February 1810

Journal—1st January-27th February 1810

Began the year rather roughly by a long day's march over bad and mountainous roads to the wretched village of Ponte de Murcella. The Alva runs near it, and falls into the Mondego some distance from the village. Marched to Galizes and adjacent villages; the country mountainous and poor. Marched to Pinhancos and San Marinha, near the foot of the extensive ridge of mountains named the Mountains of the Stars (Sierra da Estrella). This chain is the highest in Portugal, and continues to the southern p

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Letter No. V

Letter No. V

Villar Torpin , 28th February 1810 . Dear Parents —Your epistle came to hand a few days back, which gave me infinite pleasure and gratification. I have for some time been in expectation of receiving a letter from Maud. I suppose he is not well informed where I am stationed. He had a severe illness in the neighbourhood of Badajoz, and wrote for advice, which he since informs me was of service, and before he marched he had quite recovered. At the same time I was expected hourly to bid a final adie

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Journal—4th March-30th April 1810

Journal—4th March-30th April 1810

Marched from Reygada to Escarigo. Halted. The enemy finding us so near, did not like to continue at Barba del Puerco, and withdrew across the river. We occupied it immediately. The rain fell violently, and as the Duas Casas had no bridge and was in our rear, and was frequently so swollen as to be rendered impassable, our Brigadier ordered the post to be evacuated. On the 11th, with four companies of Rifle Men, we again occupied this post, having our company posted on piquet near the most formida

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Letter No. VI

Letter No. VI

Villar de Ciérvos, Spain , 30th April 1810 . Dear Father —You will wonder, I suppose, at my sending one letter after another in this way, as I wrote you so recently from Reygada in Portugal. I had the other day a long letter from my friend Maud. I answered it the following day. He is in high health. I gave him all my news, ending the letter, as usual, with advice. He has been stationed for some time at Portalegre in Portugal, an exceeding good town, while I have been traversing the country for m

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Journal—7th May-8th August 1810

Journal—7th May-8th August 1810

The Light Division assembled for the inspection of General Craufurd. The Division occupied the following villages, Gallegos, Espeja, Nava de Avel (a Portuguese village), and Fuentes de Oñoro on the Duas Casas; Headquarters of the British army, Celorico. The 3rd Division, under the command of General Picton, being in support to the Light at Pinhel, and the rest of the army at Vizeu, Trancoso, and adjacent towns and villages considerably in the rear of us. The enemy has remained very quiet in cons

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Letter No. VII

Letter No. VII

Lisbon , 10th August 1810 . My dear Parents —When this letter comes to hand, which I hope no unforeseen accident may prevent, it will be a means of quieting your troubles on my account. I am out of danger. I know my dear mother's affection for her graceless son. An earlier opportunity did not present itself, which you will be convinced of in the sequel. For some time, as usual, the Light Brigade had been continually in sight of the army under the command of General Massena, numbering about 80,00

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Journal—15th August-30th September

Journal—15th August-30th September

An Englishwoman married to a Portuguese shopkeeper informed my servant that the British sick and wounded were to be put to death on that night, and that the people were to attempt to take the different forts and declare in favour of the French. He lost no time in making me acquainted with this news, which I laughed at as a nonsensical story. Later on, two officers who were billeted opposite me entered my apartment and told me that the soldiers were under arms, that the British ships of war were

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Letter No. VIII

Letter No. VIII

Pedroso, near Lisbon , 30th September 1810 . My dear Parents —-A friend made me a present of this sheet of English paper, which I dedicate to you. I have long been in expectation of a letter from you, and luckily received yours, dated the 30th of August, the other day. I am happy I had it in my power to remove your anxiety, though I am sorry to say my leg does not feel so strong as I could wish. I have left Lisbon and removed into this small village by the seaside for the purpose of bathing. I h

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Journal—1st October-31st December 1810

Journal—1st October-31st December 1810

Remained here (Pedroso) very comfortably, and bathed every day in the sea, which did me much good. Captain Mitchell, who was wounded through the elbow, came to live near us, and Lieutenant C. Eeles, who had landed with two companies of the 3rd Battalion, being unwell, remained with us. Being very tired of this inactive life, although my wound was not healed, I was determined to return to my regiment. Lieutenant Smith, who had a ball in his leg, and was also lame, was just as anxious as myself. D

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Letter No. IX

Letter No. IX

Lisbon , 16th December 1810 . Dear Parents —I left Lisbon on the 7th of October. I was unfortunate at starting; the rainy season had just commenced. I had a detachment of men from different regiments to bring up with me. Nothing but continued rain, bad quarters, my clothes never dry until I joined my regiment at a village called Arruda. I was extremely happy when I got to them, I assure you. The last five miles I was obliged to walk, as my horse was quite knocked up. On the 12th, the French had

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CAMPAIGN OF 1811

CAMPAIGN OF 1811

At the commencement of 1811, Soult was master of the whole of Andaluçia, with the exception of Cadiz, which place was blockaded by Victor. Soult, however, having been ordered in March to co-operate with Massena, thus leaving Victor unsupported, the Allies in Cadiz decided on a maritime expedition so as to raise the blockade of that place. General Graham embarked with some 4000 troops, and, landing at Algeçiras, joined La Peña and his Spanish force and marched on Cadiz. The battle of Barrosa was

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Letter No. X

Letter No. X

Lisbon , 16th January 1811 . My dear Parents —I embrace this opportunity of writing you by a friend of mine who is compelled to come to England for the recovery of his health, being rendered incapable of further service for some time, having two severe wounds. I find the rest and comforts I have been able to procure here have brought me round much sooner than I had any idea of. Shelter from the inclemency of the weather and a warm bed have done wonders. I am now as anxious as ever to return to m

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Journal—20th January-25th March 1811

Journal—20th January-25th March 1811

Considerable reinforcements have joined the French army, several of the Brunswickers have deserted to the enemy, and some were detected in the act of going over. Three of them were shot and the corps sent to the rear. Deserters, both officers and men, very frequently came over from the French army. I found myself quite restored to health, and went to the Italian opera, San Carlos. Also went on board the Tonnant , 80 guns, to see the brother of Lieutenant Stokes, a friend of mine, who was exceedi

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Letter No. XI

Letter No. XI

Mello (near Celorico), Portugal , 26th March 1811 . My dear Parents —I received the melancholy account of poor John with sorrow. [19] It is a great misfortune, and under the present circumstances it is utterly impossible to give him the least support. I hope by this time you have received more authentic information as to his situation. It is entirely out of my power to gain any knowledge of him or be of the slightest use, distant as I am from England. Your plan will be to make inquiry through th

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Journal—26th March-25th May 1811

Journal—26th March-25th May 1811

Marched to Celorico. The enemy evacuated it yesterday, and had an officer and thirty men taken by our cavalry. The Division remained in bivouac. The Light Division (with the exception of the right wing 95th) crossed the Mondego and occupied the villages of Baraca and Minhoeal. That wing made a forced march to Alverca da Beira, where the cavalry had their outposts. A party of Rifles (100), under the command of Captain Beckwith, was sent to dislodge a body of the enemy from a mill in the front of

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Letter No. XII

Letter No. XII

Espeja, Spain , 18th May 1811 . My dear Parents —This very wet morning, being disengaged, I feel great pleasure through the medium of this sheet to impart my adventures since I last wrote from Celorico on 26th March, which I am well aware will be gladly received by my dear mother when she finds her son has always had the good-fortune to be engaged in every affair with his regiment against the enemy. After halting one day at Celorico, we marched towards the Coa, first driving the French from the

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Journal—26th May-21st August 1811

Journal—26th May-21st August 1811

The Light Division marched to Nava de Avel and Aldea da Ponte, fully expecting to proceed to Alentejo. Countermanded | 27th | and took up again the line of outposts from the 5th Division in front of Espeja and Gallegos. Having correct information that the enemy's cavalry had been collecting in large force for some days upon the Agueda, made us much upon the alert to know where the attack would be made, and before day we marched out of Espeja (Beckwith's Brigade) and bivouacked in a wood in rear

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Letter No. XIII

Letter No. XIII

Martiago, Spain , 26th August 1811 . My dear Father —I received your letter dated 19th of May, which affected me most sensibly. Your misfortunes affect me most seriously. Would to God it was in my power to prevent them. At present it is not. After the battle of Fuentes de Oñoro we enjoyed ourselves in the advance near Ciudad Rodrigo, the Spaniards being convinced we had given the French a good drubbing. We had dances with the villagers every night. I do not ever remember spending a more happy ti

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Journal—29th August-September 1811

Journal—29th August-September 1811

Marched to Atalaya. In the evening I was ordered by General Craufurd to go forward through a wooded country and by a circuitous route to get upon the road leading to Salamanca, and then, discretionally, to move on for the purpose of finding out when the convoy was likely to leave Salamanca for Ciudad Rodrigo. I had a corporal and three men of the German Hussars with me. I reconnoitred Tenebron and cautiously entered the place, left it, and bivouacked for the night within the woods. Moved forward

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Letter No. XIV

Letter No. XIV

Aldea Velha, Portugal , 1st October 1811 . My dear Brother —According to our expectation, the enemy advanced with supplies for the garrison of Ciudad Rodrigo. About the 21st of September the convoy left Salamanca. We were informed the cars loaded with provisions amounted to 1100. As General Marmont was determined to give battle, he had collected a very formidable force of 60,000 men, with a vast train of field artillery. A very pretty escort. You will wonder, as well as many others, how the devi

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Journal—1st October-20th December 1811

Journal—1st October-20th December 1811

Marched to Aldea Velha. Light Division was cantoned in the adjacent villages. Fuenteguinaldo. Weather very rainy. Transferred to the left wing and moved to Castillejos de Duas Casas and to Robleda on 15th. Marched to Atalaya. Marched to Fradamora and took the command of Captain Balvaird's company. Having for some time back been very often completely drenched with rain night and day, for the first time in my life I got the ague, which I found a very unpleasant companion, particularly as this post

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Letter No. XV

Letter No. XV

Atalaya, Spain , 8th December 1811 . My dear Parents —About the end of August, after receiving your letter, I wrote an answer. For these two months past I have daily expected to have had some account from you, and as I have received none, I cannot put off any longer. I must inform you that the account of Joseph being sent to sea made a very serious impression upon my mind, and in order to save him from perdition and ruin , I directly raised all the money I could, and enclosed in my letter in the

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CAMPAIGN OF 1812

CAMPAIGN OF 1812

The commencement of the year 1812 found the British army in the Peninsula much scattered by reason of the difficulties of provisioning it. Soult, operating in Andaluçia, had towards the close of 1811 detached a force to besiege Tarifa, and at the end of January attempted to storm it, but was repulsed with heavy loss and retired on Cadiz. Napoleon at this time was concentrating all his energies on his disastrous attempt to subjugate Russia, and in order to augment his forces in that country, had

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Journal—4th January-30th July 1812

Journal—4th January-30th July 1812

A general movement of the troops took place. 1st Division marched to Gallegos and Espeja; 4th Division crossed the Agueda and occupied San Felices; 3rd Division occupied Martiago and Zamarra; Light Division entered Pastores, La Encina, and El Bodon. The latter place I marched to. A stormy, cold, incessant rain during the day. The Agueda much swollen. Forded it nearly up to the shoulders. The men obliged to put their pouches upon their knapsacks and lay hold of each other to prevent being forced

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Journal—1st-31st August 1812

Journal—1st-31st August 1812

Marched to Tudela de Duero. Visited Valladolid, a gloomy, sombre-looking town. Returned to camp and marched to Aldea Mayor. Recrossed the Duero. Marched early and bivouacked in a wood near Mata de Cuellar. Marched and bivouacked on the right bank of the Piron. At daylight marched, and passed through Carbonnero. The women in this part of Spain had tremendous pigtails, which produced much joking amongst the soldiers as they went along. Bivouacked in a wood near the Rio Eresma. Marched through Madr

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Letter No. XVI

Letter No. XVI

Madrid , 8th September 1812 . My dear Parents —I received the letter with the bill enclosed. I am very sorry you have had so much trouble. I assure you it annoyed me exceedingly. I wrote to the merchant who sent me the bill. He was very much surprised at the circumstance—at least he told me so. I expect daily another bill for the same amount. I then will directly transmit it. I have experienced within these three months back some unpleasant losses. One day my horse took it into his head to fight

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Journal—1st September-31st December 1812

Journal—1st September-31st December 1812

I visited Madrid occasionally, but was much in want of money, the army receiving pay irregularly, seldom more than a few dollars in advance when six months' pay was due to each individual. However, specie was very difficult to be obtained, so that was quite unavoidable. I went one day to have some amusement in the town with a few friends, when I found a letter from my brother Joseph, who was ill at Salamanca, and, of course, in want of money. I put all I had, a gold piece, under a large seal, an

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Letter No. XVII

Letter No. XVII

Alameda, Spain , 12th December 1812 . Dear Parents —I sent you in September another bill directed from the neighbourhood of Madrid, which I hope you have received, and also got the money. I am anxious to know when this letter came to hand. I beg you will directly inform me, as I begin to think and long for an answer. I have the second and third Bill of Exchange, which I hope will not be required. However, in case of accidents I shall take care of them. I fully expected to have had it in my power

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Letter No. XVIII

Letter No. XVIII

Alameda, Spain , 29th December 1812 . My dear Father —I received your letter dated the 4th December. It astonished me how you could have any trouble in getting the bill cashed if properly presented, as the merchant informed me he never before had any difficulty, and he has been in the habit of giving numbers to individuals. I examined carefully that part of your letter where you state the likelihood of procuring me a company. My ideas upon the point in question are by no means sanguine. I am too

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CAMPAIGN OF 1813

CAMPAIGN OF 1813

Napoleon's failure in Russia considerably altered the aspect of affairs in the Peninsula, since he once again drafted thousands of his best soldiers and officers to stiffen the new levies with which he strove to oppose his enemies in Germany. Notwithstanding this, he had still 230,000 men in the Peninsula, of which 120,000 were barring the northern route from Spain to France, with reserves at Bayonne. It was at this juncture, in May 1813, that Wellington ordered Graham to advance from Portugal t

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Letter No. XIX

Letter No. XIX

Alameda, Spain , 30th April 1813 . Dear Father —I send you a bill upon Ireland for twenty pounds English money. You must separate it from this epistle, and give it into the hands of any banker, who will be able directly to procure you the money. I must, dear father, request that you will not in future show my letters to the public. I find that the letter I wrote you respecting the fight upon the Coa was read at the mess table of a Militia regiment and exposed to every one who chose to read it. H

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Letter No. XX

Letter No. XX

Alameda , May 5th 1813 . Dear Parents —Since our retreat from Madrid we have spent a very pleasant and comfortable winter. The village that we have been in all the winter is very small, the houses bad, and the inhabitants poor, miserable creatures. They have a fire on the ground, which generally smokes so intolerably that we frequently are obliged to go out of the house. As soon as an officer gets into a house that is allotted to him, he must build a chimney, as it has been very cold and rainy t

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Journal—1st May-30th August 1813

Journal—1st May-30th August 1813

Campaign of 1813 Five thousand British troops having arrived at Lisbon as a reinforcement to the army, the Divisions were now formed into eight, as follows:— Light Division, Major-General Baron Charles Alten; the cavalry under Sir Stapleton Cotton; the Portuguese under Marshal Beresford. Sir Thomas Graham was made his second-in-command after the battle of Salamanca. The 2nd Division was detached in Estremadura. Napoleon's gigantic designs against Russia had caused the French armies in Spain to c

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Letter No. XXI

Letter No. XXI

Bivouac near Vera on the frontiers of France, Pyrenees, 30th August 1813 . Dear Parents —Your letter, bearing date 17th July, I received during the advance, and at a time when each day's march produced something amusing and interesting. I therefore delayed answering it until this period, wishing to say much in a small compass. I am now seated in a charming hut of my own forming, with a crystal mountain stream running at my feet, on every side tremendous mountains, whose lofty summits embrace the

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Journal—31st August-31st December 1813

Journal—31st August-31st December 1813

Marshal Soult, finding that San Sebastian was closely invested and the breaches practicable, was determined to make a desperate attempt to drive the British from their present position and raise the siege of that place. He concentrated a large force, which at daylight we found filing from a variety of defiles in the mountains and forming immediately above Vera. Seeing his troops assembled so clearly from our position produced a good deal of interest and not a few jokes amongst us. The enemy soon

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Letter No. XXII

Letter No. XXII

Saint Jean-de-Luz, France , 7th December 1813 . My dear Parents —As I informed you, some unforeseen accident might prevent me having the extreme felicity of paying you a visit this winter, so things have turned out. However, when you are acquainted with the circumstances you will rather attribute it to good fortune than otherwise. To begin my story. On the 7th of October a combined attack of the whole army commenced upon the whole line of the enemy's position. The papers have already given you t

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CAMPAIGN OF 1814

CAMPAIGN OF 1814

Early in February 1814, Wellington, leaving a strong force to invest Bayonne, resumed the offensive, and having successfully passed a portion of his forces across the Adour and the Gaves, he fell upon Soult at Orthez and severely defeated him. Soult fell back slowly, but after a fight at Vic Bigorre it became clear to him that he must retreat on Toulouse. Three miles from Tarbes he formed for battle once again, with Clausel in front of him, covering that town with Harispe's and Villatte's Divisi

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Journal—12th January-21st March 1814

Journal—12th January-21st March 1814

This day I was appointed to superintend the telegraph of the Light Division stationed near "Garat's house." [25] Had a log house formed to remain in. This post was near Arraunts. My brother Maud paid me a visit. I gave him a good beaf-steak. The battalion he belonged to was returning from St. Jean-de-Luz with new clothes. One of his baggage animals lay down close to my post. I was obliged to send for a mule and take the half-starved devil in exchange. His servant seemed quite delighted when he h

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Letter No. XXIII

Letter No. XXIII

Tarbes, France , 27th March 1814 . My dear Parents —I received your letter at Arraunts. As I had nothing worthy of your notice at that time, I deferred writing until this period. The remark in your letter pleased me. "You could willingly forego the pleasure of seeing me, if it was not compatible with my duty to leave my regiment." It was a remark that showed a nobleness of soul which every father of a soldier ought to possess when duty and honour are the barriers. My brother Maud's regiment casu

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Journal—13th April-23rd July 1814

Journal—13th April-23rd July 1814

Moved in a coach to Pau. Got into a billet the next day. Went to the Mayor and got a superb one upon M. Colombots. The kindness I received from this gentleman and his charming lady will never be erased from my mind. Passed my time pleasantly, visited the play, and attended their balls. The ladies pretty and handsomely dressed. On the 9th of May, with much reluctance, took my departure from Pau. Rode to Tarbes. My former landlady highly rejoiced to see me. Halted. Moved forward to Rabastens, bein

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CAMPAIGN OF 1815

CAMPAIGN OF 1815

Napoleon, on his return from Elba in March 1815, finding that his overtures to the European Powers were without avail, and not daring to risk another defensive war, decided on assuming the offensive. For many reasons, the allied armies in Belgium offered him the most advantageous point to aim at, since, from their position and propinquity, they menaced Paris; also the Belgian nation was sympathetic to his cause, and if he could defeat the British and Prussians and possess himself of the Rhine fr

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Journal—25th April-June 1815

Journal—25th April-June 1815

Embarked at Dover at seven o'clock in the evening; after passing the pier the wind was not very favourable. Arrived at Ostend on the 27th at daylight and disembarked from on board the Winsley-dale packet. Embarked again on board Dutch schuyts with six companies of the 1st Battalion, consisting of ninety-two men per company. The boats were drawn by horses. Arrived at Bruges before dark. Our boats halted for the night in the environs of the town. It being dark, had no opportunity of seeing the pla

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Letter No. XXIV

Letter No. XXIV

Bruxelles , 19th May 1815 . Dear Parents —On the 27th of April five companies of the 1st Battalion embarked on board packet boats at Dover. As the senior officers of each rank had the refusal of going, the juniors were under the necessity of staying at home, which was a very great mortification to Joseph. However, if we commence hostilities he will soon be wanted to fill the place of some unlucky fellow that may bite the dust. Four skeleton companies remained behind. Joseph was made adjutant of

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Journal—15th-18th June 1815

Journal—15th-18th June 1815

At 11 o'clock P.M. , when in bed, my servant came to rouse me, saying the assembly was sounding. I directly dressed myself and went to our alarm post. Our Division (the 5th) formed in column of regiments near the park and waited for orders. We had many vague reports in circulation about the French. At daylight we marched through the Port de Namur. Numbers of people came to see us leave the town. We marched through Waterloo and halted. I lay down for an hour. The Duke of Wellington passed with hi

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Letter No. XXV

Letter No. XXV

[Undated but bearing post-mark of 1st July.] Bruxelles , 1815 My dear Parents —Through the blessings of Almighty God I am at last able to give you some account of myself, which I never expected to be able to do in this world. On the 16th of June, after passing a long tranquillity at this place, our Division marched at 4 o'clock in the morning. We moved forward 20 miles and gave the French battle. A more bloody or obstinately contested thing had seldom or never been seen. This convinced me that t

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Letter No. XXVI

Letter No. XXVI

Bruxelles , 21st July 1815 . Dear Parents —I wrote you on the 1st of July. Enclosed in the letter was a £5 Bank of England note, which at the time I could ill spare, but was afraid you were much in want of money. If you directed your letter to me, 1st Battalion, 95th Regiment, wounded, Bruxelles, Netherlands, the letter would have come to hand. I am afraid you directed it some other way. On the 3rd I was attacked with convulsions, and at night with vomiting. Afterwards I lay in a state of insens

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Letter No. XXVII

Letter No. XXVII

Brussels , 12th September 1815 . My dear Parents —I am now, thank God, able to enjoy myself once more. My health is nearly as good as ever. I increase in strength daily. The felicity I feel at being capable to walk about is hardly to be described. My legs swelled very much when I first arose out of bed. For some days I was often obliged to be carried back and rubbed with hot flannel for hours together. I was afraid of becoming dropsical, but these bad symptoms have entirely left me. On Sunday, b

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CONCLUSION

CONCLUSION

Little more remains to be said about the career of George Simmons. He remained at Brussels for several weeks after the last letter here published was written, and was then well enough to travel to England, where he landed on 28th October 1815. He was sufficiently recovered of his severe wounds to start to rejoin his regiment on 1st January 1816, and served with the British army of occupation in France for nearly three years, returning to England with the 1st Battalion in November 1818. It was af

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APPENDIX I

APPENDIX I

The following letter has been selected out of many written to George Simmons by his old Peninsula comrades, since it is of especial interest. Sir Harry Smith served as a Lieutenant with Simmons throughout the Peninsular War, and was wounded with him at the Combat of the Coa in 1810. His wife, Lady Smith, whom he alludes to as "Juana" and "Juanita," was a Spanish lady whom he first met under most romantic circumstances the day after the storming of Badajoz. Sir John Kincaid in his Random Shots of

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APPENDIX II Medical Certificates

APPENDIX II Medical Certificates

Brussels , 2nd September 1815 . I do hereby certify that Lieutenant Geo. Simmons of the 1st Battalion, 95th Regiment, was dangerously wounded on the 18th of June 1815 in the Battle of Waterloo. A musket-ball entered the right side near the spine, fractured the 9th and 10th ribs, passed through the liver; I extracted it from the breast near the lower end of the sternum. He experienced a high state of inflammation from the nature of the wound. A formation of matter took place in the liver, and was

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