Star. — London, England, 1814-10-26 00:00:00

evident, from his own observation, that if the enemy shonld attack them whilst foraging, he must find it very difficult to bring off his nien without suffering sev ly. At thi- time the fire horn the enemy ap pmached, when Col• ael Quentin countermanded him, and tiled the regiment to the rear. Th-re were a few scattered shot b. fore, but Colonel Quentin went away as soon as the tire iccreasei and grew nearer. The Colonel neither went nos scat to the detachment fo raog in the valley, althoughit was evident that it I WAS there the firing took place. The troops foraging /night be about hail a"mile in advance, when the Cu. Unel filed the regiment , to the tear. The fire resem bled the irregular tire off' infantry ; it was not what he mid exit - a heavy fire. but rapid in its succession . Colonel Queetie placedhimself at the bead of the retreating line, and marched up the hill to the rear. The witness remained with his troop a abort time, and got sufficient forage for one day for thirty horses. The forage sf as indifferent,. a mixture of straw and bay. • tierjeant Wells was rest called, and stated that he had acted as Adjutant to the regiment, in the valley of Macoy,, on the 10th of January last. • There were five mets andlonr horses lost that day. Brigade-Major Jones was egain called, and ders est to the following effect :—He was near the regi . meht of the 10th' Hnisars, on the 10th of January, and vas pining along ;he front of the posts, when a Serjeint mid him. that either two or three troops of . the resident had received orders to forage in the valley. Helmer that they were afterwards attack ed by theYrench piquets, who descended f rom the 'opposite hill. On hearing their fire upon the troops of theloth, he rode off to the nearest infantry posts, inaarder, to procure them assistance. On his way he • inel colon l Keane, who moved a detachment of in fantry to their , support . A report was sent to him tilt next meriting as Brigade,Major, and another by Colonel Quentin to Lord Edward Somerset. He equired.of the'Serjeant of the piquet stationed at the church in the valley, which way the 10th Hussars were gone ? and was informed, that Colonel Quentin with two scluadrons had prOceeded to the rear up the till; and that Colonel Quentin had said, he was afraid he had lost some of the foragers. The JUDGE ADVOCATE here observed, that what the witness had heard others say, was not e v idence tha t ! could be received. Major Jones then resumed.—He saw Colonel Quen tin an hour or two afterwards, and told him that he came to enquire into the state of his regiment, in con sequence of what had passed bet Ween him and the serjeant. Colonel Quentin replied, he had only lost * few men and horses, and that the troops had escap ed from the valley. He was nqt then aware that there had been no covering party, as an order to this effect had been issued by General Murillo. It was hardly possible for him to say, that it was the want of this precaution that was the cause of the loss which was sustained, but he thought it highly probable that it would have prevented the enemy's attack. A chain of infantry might have afforded effectual security, but the ground was such that against infantry caval ry was of no use. Such a precaution would have un deubtedly prevented the possibility of a surprise. The Douai was such that 19 . 0 men might have kept a eel y large force in check, it was probable that the enemy was induced to Mate the attack by the strag gling and defenceless appearance of the troops em ployed in foraging ; but the thickness of the fog in tercepted an accurate observation. He did not know what was the loss of the Spaniards, but he had heard it *as trifling. By desire of Lord Edward Somerset, be wrote a few days afterwards, a letter of instructions to Colonel Quentin, the entry and copy of which he could produce. Colonel Quentin was then asked, whether he ad mitted the receipt of this letter, and answered in the pegative. Major Jones then proved that his entry was a true copy, and written with his own hand. He sent it to Colonel Quentin by an orderly, and had no doubt that it was received. It was usual for him to obtain re ceipts for letters, but his book of receipts had been lost, anij he could not now recollect positively whe ther he got a receipt for the letter in question, from Colonel Quentin or not. The letter was then read. It referred, by the command of Lord Edward Somerset. the Colonel of the 101 Hussars, in consequence of what had happened, to the brigade orders, and col tained further instructions relative to the precautionsl to be in future observed by Colonel Quentin on send ing oat foraging detachments. Witness could not re collect (on cross-examination), whether the loth Hus sars foraged afterwards in Macoy or not. Recollected Colonel Pallier applying for permission to forage there, and Lord Edward Somerset saying he had the order. TUESDAY—THY SECOND DAY. .Serjeant Merchant.—" I recollect that on the 10th l Of-January, the remainder of the regiment Was sta. ti§ned opposite to the church at Macoy, while a part was foragini; 1 could see the troops foraging : the firing began just before we came to the church : we ware within range of the shot ; I saw the French come dowh the hill, and afterwards saw them and the Spa 'olqtiet firing sharply at each other: Colonel Quentin pasted me once or twiceat this tiine, looking toads the enemy : I could see part of our men en.' gaged: The firing was small shot, very quick but no volley ; Colonel Quentin ordered the regiment to file to the rear 'up the hill : the foragers went on : the foraging party was skirmishing at the time, when the rriain body was ordered to file to the rear. Serjeant Hodges.—" I recollect the main body of the regiment being stationed opposite the church of Macoy, while ill, foraging party was in the valley : the firing began while the foraging was going ; was the troop of Captain Fitzclarence which I saw! foraging : I saw the Freed) come down the hill to', attack the foragers, but did not see the foragers en.' gaged ;- I was distant from them about a quarter of a mile; at the time of the firing Colonel Quentin or dered the regiment to file to the re-4r 1 was in the rear': Colonel Quentin placed himself in the front." queitioad by the Court.—The regiment marched *bowl:Ivo miles before it stopped: he did not know When the furag ng party joined : when they filed to the rear, foragers were left behind. • 'Serjeant r, of the 15th hnssars, was then called I was serjeanCof the picquet at the church of Macoy on the 10th of January : I remember the troops of the 10th regitnineretreating past my picquet : 1 saw Colsnel 'Quentin at tin Ladd of these, uoops : 1 heard him say, he was doubtful of the squadron in the Tal- 1 ley, and was fearful of its being taken. I reported [ what he said to Br' zAde.Major Jones. I did not see [ the foragers attacked : I saw the attack on the Spa nish piquet. The prosecutor (Colonel Palmer) here announced, that the evidence on the first charze was now finished. Before he proceeded to the second, he must say A few . words on the absence of one whom he considered as a material witness : he meant the Duke de Gulthe, who had lately been senior C iptain of the regiment. (The statement, however, of Colonel Palmer, and the answer of the JUDGE ADy. , CATE in this point, have already appeared in THE STAR, 19;h instant.) Colonel Elley was then c alled. I was Assistant. Adjuzant-General to the army in the Peninsula du ring_seven campaigns up to this year : 1 recollect the 10th hussars forming the advance of the centre co lumn the morning after the battle of Oahe': their duty was to push the rear of the tnemy with as much celerity as possible : they were in pursuit of the main column of the enemy. Lord Wellington was • with the centre column: I was with him at one perioi of the morning, and conveyed orders from him to the Lieutenant-General commanding the cavalry, to press the enemy as much as possible to pievent their des truction of several small bridges en the high road.— From the experience which I have had of cavalry ser vice, I am of opinion, that the greatest energy, acti. vity and zeal, are necessary iii the commauding tap cer of light troops. Colonel Palmer here asked the witness what was. the proper post for a commanding officer, when a re- , giment was advancing upon an enemy The Attics ADVOUATE submitted to the Court whe ther this question was not too general : it was a mi ter of opinion on which the Court were themsetves competent to judge without the opinion of the wit ness, especially as the:e were several cavalry officers pros` %t. Colonel Palmer said, that if such was the feeling of the Court, he must submit, though with great re luctance ; because he conceived that Colonel Elley, from his great experience, having been in every battle on the continent, was the person most peculiarly com petent to give a judgment on the subject in question. Colonel Elley then withdrew. Lieutenant Eversfield.--" 1 was with the regiment the day after the battle of Orthes : I was with the advanced guard : on proceeding forward I observed the enemy superintending some peasants who were destroying a bridge : Sir Stapleton Cotton came up, and ordered some guns to be brought forward, and fired upon them, which dispersed them : Sir Staple ton Cotton and myself then crossed the river, and I was ordered to go forward and reconnoitre : I pro ceeded, and saw at a distance the rear squadron of the enemy forming, with their skirmishers thrown out. I sent back to the main body to report, and for a reinforeiment, as I had but two or three men with me : a reinforcement of about ten men came up, and we skirmished with the enemy for about half an hour. I was there joined by Colonel Palmer alone, and we went on, pushing the enemy as well as we could. — Captain Harding came np with an order to charge the enemy : the supporting body was then trotting up quick pace with Colonel Quentin : the enemy at that time seeing our intentiou, called in their skir mishers, and trotted off. The advanced body ten consisted cif Colonet Palmer, Captain Harding, Ma-. Fitzgerald, Captain Fitzclarence, myself. and five or six men ; we were between fifty and a bundled yards a head of our supporting squadron. The enemy was distant about two hundred yards. The enemy was formed again, and we advanced upon them : 1 looked back awl. saw Colonel Quentin, and heard him say to hiss:-I,ladron, " nut so fast : trot, trot." At this time we in advance were galloping, and coming up fast with the enemy : we halted, and then charged, under the command of Colonel Palmer: at the time that our swords clashed, the suppot ting bJdy was within twenty-five yards : the enemy went about and then the supporting body joined. Colonel Pal mer had directed them to keep as well dressed as possible, and to form as good a line as they could previous to the charge ; this order must have been heard by Colonel Quentin. It appeared to me that the men in advance wanted support : the men with Colonel Quentin did not join till alter " the shock, which had given them time t o come u p . Captain Harding was next examined.—" I was with my troop the day after the battle of Ortbes : we continued advancing in support of the skirmishers, who were engaged with the enemy ; in a short time the order was gooey to attack, in pursuance of which I was desired by Colonel Quentin to go forward and call in the skirmishers ; I communicated this order to Colonel Palmer. This gave time to the supporting body to come up. We then advanced at a brisk trot, and afterwards broke into a slow gallop; when we were within about 100 yards of the enemy, I heard Colonel Quentin call to the men to keep their horses in hand, or words to that effect. At this moment I thought it right to go and join those in advance. I did so, and saw nothing more of Colonel Quentin. — When within a short distance of the enemy, I looked back, and was surprised to find the supporting body was not near us. Colonel Quentin was with the sup porting body. I recollect that before I joined-the advance, Colonel Palmer sent a message to Colonel Quentin for support ; I obser ved once or twice to olonel Quentin that the supporting body was too far trom the skirmishers. 1 recollect that when I joined Colonel Palmer, he asked me why I did not keep closer with the supporting body ? I answered; that is was not my fault, I was not in command. The enemy formed, and met our charge; I was wounded, and compelled to go to the rear. At the time of the charge, the supporting body was distant about 20 yards. Lieutenant Fitzclarence was next called.—" I be longed to Captain Harding's troop, and was in the left flank skirmishing. I saw the.skirmishers called in, and joined with them. At this time Colonel Quentin was at the head of the squadron - we broke into a gallop and advanced. I the n heard Colonel 9oentin call out • Don't blow your horses ; trot, trot.' The enemy fired their pistols ; 1 heard a noise in the rear ; I looked back, and saw not far off a grey horse ' falling ; I saw Colonel Qnintin rein in his I se, and the division broke and opened to pass hitn. I then joined the skirmishers with. Colonel Palmer, and we charged and pursued the enemy some way. Colonel Palmer soon alter asked the men if they were ready for another charge ? they said yes. Colonel Palmer then charged again, and took some men and horses. I waa diets sent by Colonel Palmer with a message to Colonel Quentin. I rode up to the squadron with which and hallowed to him as load as I could, 6 Colonel Quentin , Colo nel Pa l mer w ants you in the front.' t hen galloped back, being apprehen sive that the men mi g ht be engaged again. There w a s no of fi cer to command Captain Harding ' s troop, he was, h e b e ing wounded. The enemy were still formed, but the centre squadron advancing. and snore shot being fired by the horse artillery who had come up, the enemy went about, and retired. To the belt of my knowledge Colonel Quentin did not join Colonel i n consequence of the message : had he join ed,Pabrieagrreater impression might have been made on the enemy. Lord Ed. Somerset was on the ground, and, I believe, gave the order for the centre squadron to advance, and the guns to play." Major Jones was called to prove the distance (about five miles) from Cambo. Lieutenant Beauchamp was Aide-de-Camp to Sir Stapleton Cotton, on the 28th of February. Re membered the 10th /Intim: charging the enemy one that day. Colonel Palmer was at the head of the charging column. The enemy received the charge, and several sabre-cuts were exchanged, after which the French cavalry went about. They were fol lowed to their support, and some men and horses were taken. After the enemy was thus driven, seeing no support of the 10th following, he returned to bring it up. In his way he met General Cotton. He was with Colonel Palmer when his charge had reached a csansiderable distance ; and he observed, that as the French were much superior, he must suffer greatly should they charge, which they were about to do. Colonel Palmer, however, rode up, and received the enemy's attack, which induced him to go hack lat. mediately, in order to bring up the supporting squa dron. He did not know whether Colonel Palmer de sired him to do so, but he knew it to be his wish. Serjeant Macey was orderly to Colonel Quentin on the 28th. Remembered the regiment meeting the French cavalry on the road. Saw Colonel Quentin in front of the division when the first squadron was riding down to charge the enemy. He passed Colo nel Quentin upon the charge, when about twenty of thirty yards from the enemy. The reason of his passing the Colonel was his horse went faster than the Colonel's mare, which appeared to be blown. — Colonel Quentin said nothing to him as he passed.— They were then about a dozen yards behind the skir mishers. Many of the horses were blown and obliged to fall behind : heard Colonel Quentin say to the men •.•• 46 don't blow your horses." Did not hear Colonel Quentin answer to Colonel Palmer's inquiries, but saw him on the ground soon after. He came up with the supporting squadron on the second attempt to charge. Serjeant Hodges recollected the charge on the high road, on the 28th of February ; he belonged, as su pernumerary, to Captain Harding's troop, and was in the rear of the front division. When they first ad vanced, Colonel Quentin was at the head of the lead ing division, but not afterwards. Serjeant Kempt remembered the charge. He was stationed in rear of the second division. He passed Colonel Quentin about fifty yards before they reached the enemy. He said, "go on my boys, go on." Serjeant Stoner did reit remember to have seen Co lonel Quentin when riding down with the front divi sion to charge. He remembered the division forming second time under Colonel Palmer. Colonel Pal mer asked the men if their horses were ready for an- other charge and they answered " yes." Did not hear any enquiry made for Colonel Quentin, nor the word passed to the rear for him. Did not see Colo nel Quentin when Colonel Palmer led on the men a s, coni time. Serjeant Hodges ag•lin called. Colonel Quentin was not with the leading division when they ap proached the enemy : was himself on the left of the front division : passed Colonel Quentin on the charge about fifty yards distance from the enemy. Ile was gallopping when he passed him : the troop was then in good condition, and the horses full of corn ; Colo nel Quen:in's horse seemed to him in very go-d Con dition : never saw Colonel Quentin's horses other wise ; could not say whether Colonel Qiientin's horses were not Sometimes in good condition when most of the other horses were out of condition. As he passed Colonel Quentin, heard him say—" go on, my dear boys." Did not see any horses blown, but one horse fell, and caused a break in the division. They were not gallopping so hard before they passed Colonel' Quentin as afterwards : they mended their pace on Colonel Quentin addressing them. Private Earl was on the road when the charge took place. He passed Colonel Quentin within half a horse's length. Coloi:el Quentin was on the trot when he passed him : his horse did not appear distressed.' Witness's horse was on the full gallop could not say whether other horses were distressed. Colonel Quentin said as he passed him—" Let your horses go, don't spare them." Could not recollect how long they had been gallopping, but a considerable time : did not recollect the division opening to let Colonel Quentin pass. Private Williams said, he passed Colonel Quentin in the charge oil the 28th, who desired them not tol spare their horses. They were then going very fast ; be continued in the charge till he was wounded. He could not say whether Colonel Quentin's horse was blown, but he did not observe that his horse appeared distressed. Serjeant Shadwell acted as Serjeant-Major on the day in question. There were 18 prisoners besides horses taken that day. He was in the rear on the advance, and observed no horses in bad condition or falling back. He passed Colonel Quentin in front of the second division, and came up to the first, which was then in action. He assisted in taking back the prisoners; and returning again, passed the second di vision. Captain Fitzgerald commanded the skirmishers in advance on the 28th February. On the high road he received a volley, but remained till he observed the main body of the French cavalry advancing at a gallop. He then looked back to see how he was supported, and saw Captain the Duke of Guiches at the head of the centre squadron, waving his sword, and telling the men " to look to him, he was their Captain." He then joined his division with the skirmishers, The French seeing this pulled short up, threw out their skirmishers, and retired. He coin. :minded the skirmishers of constantly till second division , and was with them till they joined the division. He saw nothing of Colonel Quentin. • Captain Stuf f ncollected she Count de Gram . • . mom's squadrne being H od to is own troop be er Cogapt-i loel to Harding was woun ded. the volley fr-m the that squadron. H e rem-mbered • order r etire alter leading division had put the front to the rear after the h d the about. He did not know who gave t eor er centre squadron to advance, bat believed it was Lord French infantry. Colonel Quentin passe . him trona Edward SOsnerset, who was present. wenerso*Y.--THlan Lieutenant Fitzclarance was called, and clues. toned as to the stat e of Colonel Quentin's horse, whether it was blown ? No ; the horse se emed to be pressing forwar d ; our horses had been but all night: those of Col onel Q uentin had not. Our horses had moved fi ve or six leagues before the charge, and yet we were able to drive the enens% three-quarters of s mile, or more." Captain Lloyd deposed as follows — 44 I saw the Q : I thnught it was goin s:reandartgeon becoginionel Q ue ntin was then in front • going of the leading di vision. 1 immediately gallopped up as fast as I could to sw op , to support this division. I did not overtake it till after the charge. On coming :up, I went to the front, and Colonel Palmer asken •ne if the horses were blown ? I replied, no. He' then pu.t the same question to the men ; they said, no s and waved their swords, and seemed anxious to go on. I do not recollect whether Colonel Quentin pissed me as I was riding up to the front. The Colonel rode a large brown mare that day : she was in excellent working condition. I remember the leading. division of the centre squrciron receiving s volley from infantry. The last time I saw Colonel Quentin, he was at the head of the division which I passed with my division. When the volley was fired, Colonel Quentin rode up to me, and told me to face the enemy. He then passed me, and I, seeing the enemy coming, ordered my division to lice the enemy. I did not again see Colonel Quin. tin, who went to the rear." Captain Harding. was called; and examined as to tho state of Colonel Quentin's horse. " 6 His horse, • when I left him to join the advanced body, was not at all distressed. I had been with Colonel Quentin a great part of the day previously : I think tie rode a brown mare. Ido not remember what mimed to me as the reason for the supporting body not coming up, but I was much surprised ; but. being wounded, I did not reflect much on the circum stances till afterwards." Lieutenant Eversfield." When I looked back, Colonel Quentin's horse did not appear to be dis. tressed: he seemed to have him in hand. I thought the men with Colonel Quentin did not come on so fast as they might have done; I made no observa. tion upon it, though Mr. Fitzclarenci did. I con. ceived that the men were kept back by Colonel Quentin, and not at their own wish. I recollect the excellent behoviour of the men in the affair at Mo. ram On that day,,Major Robarts commanded the regiment, and was promoted to be Colour!, in cone sequence of the charge at that place." The Juno:-ADVOCATE here interposed be said it could hardly be necessary to pursue this part of the evidence ; it must now clearly appear that the men had behaved most gallantly, and no mind could be so distorted as to think otherwise. Colonel Palmer thoht it very important that the . men should understan d that no blame attached to them. An Horiatlrable Member of the Court observed, that this matter had surely been set at rest I. oto evidence of Captain Lloyd, who bad depose - the men were Waving their swords, and were • to engage. • Lieutenant Eversfield continued so- 04 04'w - • (now General) also charged et the head te the i.et dron on the 2d of January : the horses the n a too in such good condition as after the battle ot - Oraiet." L;eutenant Seymour.-- 46 I was with the sets spia droo at the time a volley was fired into the centre squadron. I saw the division pot about, and Colonel Quentin oo the left dank ut the leading division ut the second squadron giving orders." Colonel Palmer hate pressed very much to be all 'w ed to call in Colonel Elley, in oilier to ask an officer of his experience, wltat was the proper post of the Commanding Officer of a cavalry regiment, when a coluion was in advance upon an toothy ? The Counr suggested that the questi-n should be. 44 Wurere would you go to And tbe Commanding. Officer, if you had orders to communicate r' The Jueox-Anvocote said, that the question had now taken something like a specific shape, and might be allowed. Colonel Elley was then called in. Colonel Palmer. --o As you hive been so many years a cavalry officer, and hove seen so much ser vice, where would you expect to find the Commander of a cavalry regiment when it was advancing upon the enemy, if you had orders for him ?" Cnioliel Elley. —" Had I orders to deliver, I should expect to find the Commanding-Offices with the lead ing squadron." Colonel Palmer.-- , ‘ Why ?" Colonel Elley.—" 1 conceive that the good of the service requirerut, in order that lie may personally observe the good conduct of his corps, and be ready in an instant to take advantage of tht enemy, by an attack if an opeortunity should offer." Colonel Palmer.—" When a colionn is retreating. and the enemy pressing, what is the post where you would go to find the Commanding Officer ?" Colonel Elley.mmA I have ever considered the post of an officer in command of a regnnent, to be with that squadron which is nearest the enemy : the rea son I have already stated. I had a distant view of -the charge made by the 10th, but could not distin guish individual officers. The charge did not appear to me to be so long as to fatigue the horses." Here the evidence on the second charge was closed, and the third charge was read. l'o support it, Captain Piteclarence was called, and deposed as follows I was with the regiment on the day ot the battle of Tholouse : we were opposed to a body of French cavalry, and orders were given to chaip - - We advanced and formed divisions, and went to tilt charge. When we came within a hundred yard', the French went. about. We followed but did not over. take them, as we were suddenly checked by a heavy tire from the enemy's infantry. We halted. At the moment of the fire, I looked for the commanding of ficer, Colonel Quentin, and could not see loin : consequence of Isis absence, Major Howard took the command t he asked me What we should do now ?' I answered, 4 We must do as well as we ‘412; 70ti :' 11 111 . 1 U di M se yr 1)4 1 2 it hi al a S it( se h . et lii 11