The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1843-11-13
ANECDOTES OF THE PENINSULAR WAR.
From the Recollectioas Of Rfenan Harris

From the Rscollectioms Of Rifeman Harris.
remember meeting with General Napier be-
fore the battle of Vimiero. He was then, think
major; and the meeting made SO great an i'm
preston on me, that have never fotgotten him.
was posted in wood the night before the bat
tie, in front of our army, where two roads cross
ed each other. The night was gloomy, and
was the very outsentry of the British army. As
l stood on my post, peering into the thick wood
around me, | was aware Of footsteps approach
ing, and challenged in low voice. Receiving
no answer, brought my rifle to the port, and
babe the strangers come forward. They were
Major Napier, (then Of the 5Olh foot, think, J
and an officer Of the rifles. The major advanced
close up to me, and looked hard in my face.
BE alert here, SENTRY" said he, F." for expect
the enemy upon us tonight, and know not how
soon."
was young soldier then, and the lonely sit
nation was in, together with the impressive
manner in which Major Napier delivered his
caution, made great impression on me, and
from that hour have never forgotten him. In
deed kept careful watch that night listening
to the slightest breeze amongst the foliage, in
expectation of the sudden approach of the French.
They ventured not, however, to modest us. Henry
Jessop, one Of my companions in the rifles, sank
and died of fatigue on this night, and recollect
Some Of our men burying him in the wood at
daybreak, close TO my post.
During the battle, next day, | remarked the
gallant style in which the 50th, Major Napier's
regiment, came 10 the charge. They dashed
upon the enemy like torrent breaking bounds,
and the French, unable even to bear the sight OF
them, turned and fled. Methinks at this mo-
ment can hear the cheer of the British soldiers
in that charge, and the clatter of the French
mems accoutrements, as they turned in an instant
and went of, hard as they could run for it.
remember our feelings towards the enemy on
taot go AZ IL IL r..
they had been firing upon us rifles very sharply,
greatly outnumbering our skirmishers, and APP
pearing inclined to drive us off the face Of the
EARTH Their lights and grenaders /, for the
first time, particularly remarked on that day.
The grenadiers 1.-THE 10th, | think our men SEEM
ed to know we'll They were all ine-looking
young men, wearing red shoulder knots and ire
Misunderstanding moustaches. AS they came
swarming upon us, they rained perfect shower
Of balls, which we returned quite as sharply
Whenever one of them was knocked over, our
men called out, There goes another Of Boney's
lnvincibles." In the main body, immediately in
our rear, was the second battalion, SD and 50lh
the second battalion ADD and German corps
whose number do not remember, besides sew
eral other regiments The whole line seemed
annoyed and angered at seeing the rifles ou,num-
bered by the Invncibles, and as we fell back
firing and retiring" CALLING them handsomely
as we did so, the whole line cried out las il
were with one voice. 10 charge "D-n them %
they roared, charge! charge" General Fame
however, restrained their impetuosity. He de-
sired them to stand fast, and keep their ground
Don't be too eager, men," he said, as coolly
as II we were on drill parade in old England !;
Il don't want you to advance lust vet. Well
done 95th, he called out, as he ealloped up and
down the line, "wel done AID, SD, and well
done all III not forget, if live, to report your
conduct to-day. They shall hear of it in Eng
land, my lads~
A man named Brotherhood, of the 95th, at
this moment rushed up to the general, and pre-
sented him with a green leather, which he had
torn out of the cap of French light-infan,Iv
soldier he had killed. "God bless you, general"
he said; wear this for the sake of the 95th"