The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-29
How Daily
Saved England.

II is a well known If rarely haTped upon
fact that the Peninsular war would have
ended fatally for England and consequent
" for Europe. in the winter of the year
1SCS'O9. had it not been for an untoward
accident to French aide-de-canp.
As it is possible that the precise circum-
stances of the case may be fresh to or
forgotten by some OF my readers, l think
it IS well to set them down corcisely
here. In December, 1868, Sir John Moore,
with 20.C00 men and sixty-four guns. was
marching gayly after Marshal Scult, who
had the same strength, with the intention
OF giving him such a pounding as would
astonish him, while. unknown to Sir John,
Napoleon himself with $4,000 men, inciud-
ing the Imperial Guard. and with $50 guns,
was pursuing Moore with a like intention.
The Napoleonic trap was exquisitely
baited. the very door ready to snap. Napo-
Ieons aide-de-camp was on his way to give
Soult the order to stand at Astorga and
fight. for the moment was arrived when
the English leopard might be driven into
the sea.
Happily for the leopard aforesaid. Napo-
Icons messenger came TO grief, and his
dispatches fell into the hands OF Sir John,
who learned in the nick of time the fate
that was awaiting him.
The sequel we all know; the mastery II
awful retreat across the Esla, the pursuit
by SouIt and the Emperor, until the di-
version Of the latter and his Guard by
the Austrian war. and finally the sad tri-
uInph Of Corunna. which inspired the Brit
ish Parliament to renew the strife and
gave Wellesley his chance in Portugal.
The manner in which these fateful des-
patches came into English hands has been
varicusly set down. the story to which
most credence has hitherto been given run
ming that the bearer, man of choleric
disposition and incorporate habits. allowed
himself to be drawn into tavern brawi
and was then and there knitted, his des-
patches being carried by his slayers to
the English camp and sold to the head
quarters staff for what they would fetch.
This was the view of the matter l my
self recently entertained. But since ac-
cess has been given me to the papers of
Captain DAILY, l have been fain 10 believe
that this admittedly extraordinary bust
ness was even yet more peculiar in its re-
ality than has been generally supposed
This is my reconstruction of the plain tale
which the gallant officers papers (more
particularly those pertaining TO his card
accouED attest.
On Christmas Eve, 1908, early In the
morning, Captain Daily was to be found
playing iansquenet with two young gentle
men and an elder one, who were assisting
him in the arduous task Of commanding a
squadron of the Horse Grenadiers thrown
forward toward the River Carbon in the
Spanish province % Leon. They were no
great distance from a similar squadron
covering the rear guard OF Marshall Soult,
and ne doubt, as we understand war nova
days, it was the duty OF all to be on the
alert; but Major Appleby, who was the
squadron leader. was not strictly diligent
man OF war, so the junior subaltern was
deputed 10 do their work while his elders
INDUCED in q quiet hutter.
Luck was in favor of Captain Masham,
and so much against Captain Daily that in
tolerably rapid succession he lightened
himself Of his never enormous stock of
ready money, bills on Mr.. Greenwood. of
ChRring Gross, representing a future six
months pay discounted at war rates. his
second charger, the saddlery pertaining to
the same, various items Of his personal
wardrobe, and his whole armory, with the
exception of his sword He played away
not only what he had with him at the ad-
yance1 post in the regimental carts and
aboard the transport down at the base, but
ever. pOs5eSSlCI near anu lar OF
which the recollection occurred to him, in
GLIDING a half interest in a chasing sta
bic at the Curragh. After he had actually
mortgaged the services OF his batman, he
had nothing left but his horse, Pious Will
liam, The clothes he stood in, the sword
he carried. and the value OF his conlnIa-
sion.
Then he smilingly observed that he
would play no more, and, notwithstanding
.
Pieus William in the pool, shook himself
and retired still smiling, from the little
knot Of gamblers.
The men called a bantering Jest after the
jauntily retreating figure, and saw the
shoulders shake as readily as their own.
but had they marked the wIstful look
which. now his back was turned to them,
appeared on Captain Days face they would
have spared their chsff.
SaunteTing past the sentry, Daily made
for a clump of olive trees a few hundred
yards in front of the furthest vedette; 1t
ought to have been either cut down or &C.
cupied, but the youngest subaltern had not
a rudimentary knowledge Of the business
of placing pickets. and no one else bother
ed his head about the matter.
Captain Days obj set in approaching
these trees was to pick out nice one on
which to hang himself out OF sight Of mis-
broke could be. Had he been at home ne
wou 4 have put pistol bull~t through the
roof OF his mouth, but he was a good
enough soldier TO remember the worry the
report Of firearms causes on outpost duty,
and, besides, he had no pistol, having just
pa ted with Hrs TO Captain Masham. Again
he might have played the Roman fool
and died on his own sword. brit he feared
that some wretched peasant might be
strusg up under suspicion Of having muir
dered hirr. If he we're found hanging. his
sword in its scabbard by his side, people
would understand no one was to blame but
himself.
His mind intent upon the dread sacrifice.
he entered the little grove and cast a crit
ical glance around. He had hanged other
men In his day and knew what to look fer
The precise kind OF tree he wanted stood
IN TIE middle Of the grove, but az he an
preached he was disguised to find that 1t
had already a tenant, French officer CT
chasseurs. who had clearly been there
some time.
fell intent, DAILY cut down the melancholy
remnant OF what seemed to have been just
such another man as himself, and prod
ding out with his sword a shallow hole in
the moist ground. laid him reverently to
rest and said a short prayer over HMM
French, as compliment to his client.
Then he meditated while upon the I'M
pleasant appearance one presents If one
hargs for long time upon a tree. shud-
dered, and made his way TO the far side
o. the thicket to take a Whit of fresh air
before he Anal y made up his mind.
lis an uncommon fine morning." he
observed TO himself, as he gazed away
Gown the frosty slopes toward the river
He could see a little hamlet on the other