The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-12-12
Miscellaneous.
w ar a S it is!
ANECDoTE OF THE PENINsULAR WAR.
From Me Recolleetions Of RiRemnn Hnrris

From The RecoilectioHs Of RifemdR Harris
remember meeting with General Napier before
the battle of Vimero. lie was then, think Major;
and the meeting made so great an impression on me,
that have never forgotten him. was posted in
wood the night before the battle in front Of our ar
my, where two roads crossed each other The nisht
was gloomy, and was the very ouisentry OF the Bri-
fish army. As | stood on my post, peering into the
thick wood around me, was aware OF footsteps ap-
Proaching, and challenged in low voice Rcceiv-
in g no answer, brOugh, my rifle to the port and
babe the strangers come forward. They were Major
Napier Chen ofthe 5Oh foot, think, and an OFF,
Ger of the rifles. Tho Major advanced close up to
me, and locked hard in my face.
'Be alert here, sentry said he "for expect the
enemy upon us tonight, and know not how soOn.''
was young soldier, them and the lonely situa-
ton 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. Indeed, kept careful watch
that night listening to the slightest breeze among the
foliage, in expectation ofthe French They ventur-
ed not, however, to modest Henry Jessop, one
Of my companions in the rifles sank and died Of IA
tgue OF this night, and recollect some of our men
bury ing him in the wood at day break close TO my
post
During the battle, day, remarked the gallant
style in which the 5Oth, Major Napier's regiment,
came 10 the charge They dashed on the enemy
ike torrent breaking bounds, and the French, una.
bic even to bear the sight OF them, turned and fled
MethiRks at this moment can hear the cheer Of the
British soldiers in that charge, and the chatter of the
Frenchmen's accoutrements they turned in an in-
slant, and went of, bard as they could for It.
remember our feelings towards the enemy on that oc
casion the north side Of friendly; for they had
been firing upon US rifles very sharply, greatly ont
numbering s<rnishers, and appearing inclined 10
drive us off from the face OF the earth. Their lights
and grenadiers l. for the first time particularly re-
marked on that day. The grenadiers the 10Th,
thin!;,) our men seemed TO know well. They were
all finelooking young men, wearing red shoulder
knots ard tremendous looking mous,aches As they
came swn"riug upon US, they raned a perfect show
or of balls, which we returned quite as sharply
Whenever one Of them knocked over. our men
called out, "There goes another of Boneys Tnvinci-
bIesr' In the main body Immediately in our rear,
the second battalion, SD and Goth, the second
battalion 49d, and a German corps, whose number
do not remember, besides several other regiments
The whole line seemed annoyed and fingered at see
we fell back, ''fring and retiring" CALLING them
handsomely we did so, the whole line cried out, as
it were with one voice, 10 charge Charge lhem,
they reared, charge, charge!' General Fame, howev
er, restrained their impctuosty. lie desired them
stand fost, and keep their ground.
"Don't be too eager, men, he said, as cooy as
if we a drill parade in old EEgland 81 don't
want you to advance just yet. Well done, 95,h!"
he called out, he galloped Up aud down the
line-"Wcll done, ADD, sgd, and wei! done all! I'll
not forget, if live, to report your conduct to-day
They shall hear Of it in England, my lads''
man named Brotherhood, of the 95th, at this
moment rushed Up TO the General and presented him
with green feather, which he had torn out of the
cap Of French light infantry soldier he had killed.
"God bless You, General!' he said, swear this for
the sake Of the 95th'' / saw the General take the
feather and stick it in his cooked hat The next min
ute he gave the word to CHARGE and down came the
whole line, through tremendous fire of muskety,
and dreadful was the slaughter they rushed on
wards. As they came up with u.s. we sprang to our
feet, gave one hearty cheer and charged along with
them, treading upon own dead and wounded who
went, and recollec, said, the frmness of that
of iron. The enemy turned and fled the cavalry
dashing upon them as they went Off
After the days work over, while strong a.
bout the field, just upon the spot where this charge
had taken place. remarked soldier Of the 43d and
q Trench grenadier both dead, lying close together
They had apparently killed each other at the
moment, for both weapons remained in the bodies of
the slain. Brotherhood was fighting next me during
part Of the day; he was LeIscestershire man, and
was killed afterwards by cannon ball at Victoria. !
remember lis death more particularly from the cir
cumstance of that very ball killing three of the
pany at the same moment, Lieutenant llopwood,
Patrick AIabon, and himself Brotherhood was n
mong the skrnishers with me on this day. He was
always lively fellow, but rather irritable in dispo
siIion Just as the French went to the right about
all his bullets being gone, he grabbed from his
havresack, rammed it down, and fred it after them.