Carole Divall

2^nd Battalion, Ciudad Rodrigo, January 1812

The cathedral at Ciudad Rodrigo. The marks on the stonework were made by roundshot.

The month started with the officers continuing their Christmas and New Year celebrations, so that for some of them early morning drill was a painful experience.  On the 3^rd January, however, the division received orders to march nearer to the Águeda, preparatory to the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo.  Officers were invited to volunteer for engineering duties to make up for the shortage of trained engineers with the army and eleven officers from the battalion did so, accompanied by a large number of men who volunteered to serve as artificers.

After the successful assault on the 19^th the 5^th division was sent into the town to bring out the men of the 3^rd and light divisions who, having fought their way into the town, had found the wine vats and quickly got drunk.  The 5^th division was then given the task of clearing the breaches and the streets of the dead and wounded.  They are now engaged in making good the damage to the town and repairing the breaches against the risk of a French attack.

General “Black Bob” Crauford, in command of the light division, was seriously wounded during the siege.  He died yesterday, and today the 5^th division, with their arms reversed, were on duty along the route of his funeral procession.  At his own wish, he was buried in the lesser breach, where he received his wound.

Crauford’s memorial tablet (in English and Spanish) by the lesser breach where he was buried

The battalion took no casualties during the siege, despite the number of volunteers involved, but there have been eleven natural deaths during the past month.  A large number of invalids have returned to England, although most of these had been in the general hospitals.  Sergeant Jaye and three men serving with the battalion were among the invalids, however.

Sergeant Dan Ready has joined the battalion from recruiting duties in England.  He is a long-serving NCO whose experience will be welcome, particularly as there is a severe shortage of officers: only fifteen are actually with the battalion, and twelve of these are subalterns, most of them young and inexperienced.  A further fifteen have been returned absent without leave (although some of these are in England and others are known to be sick), seven are detached on staff duties in Portugal, and six are with the first battalion in India.  Should the battalion go into action in the near future, this shortage could cause problems.

1^st Battalion: Cannanore

The fort at Cannanore

The battalion continues to enjoy the more pleasant conditions of their new posting, although there is still a sizeable detachment at Poonamallee.  Unlike the junior battalion they are well-staffed with officers: twenty-five are with the battalion, three are at Poonamallee, and six are on detached staff duties.

There have been only two deaths this month.  Four corporals, Mulry, Malking, Burke and Duncan have resigned their rank, and have been replaced by Andrew Walker, Samuel Heaven, William Abbott, John McLean and Bartholomew Nevell.

Depot: Hull

Thirteen men and two boys have joined from the recruiting parties, as well as two volunteers from the Tipperary Militia.  There are a further fifteen recruits with the recruiting parties, seven of them at Tullamore.

Shipping off the needles, Isle of Wight

A large detachment consisting of two sergeants and sixty-four rank and file marched for the Isle of Wight on the 6^th January, accompanied by Lieutenant Skirrow and Ensigns Ross, Parry, Wedge and Atkinson.  They are to join the 1^st battalion in India.

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2^nd battalion: Medais, Portugal

(nr. the Spanish border)

Typical of the rough country near the Portugese/Spanish border

There have been seven deaths this month, but the number of sick present has reduced from thirty-four to seven.  The number of sick absent remains high, however, and it is expected that many of these men will have to be invalided home.

Thomas Chambers was promoted to corporal on the 25^th November, while Sergeant Thomas Kelly was reduced on the 13^th December.

Lieutenant Freer is now in command, Belem, while Surgeon Hennen has been promoted out of the regiment.  This is felt to be a sad loss.

After a short period in the Mondego valley, the 5^th division have been brought closer to the Spanish border and, although December is not a campaigning time of year, there are persistent rumours that Lord Wellington is preparing for action.  The general opinion is that Ciudad Rodrigo is the likely target.

The skyline of Ciudad Rodrigo at dawn

During this relatively quiet period there has been an opportunity to continue training the ensigns, for example by sending them to hear courts martial so that they will be familiar with court procedure.

Despite its being Christmas Day the battalion was paraded at 3am. This should have been followed at 10am by divine service for the brigade (4th, 30th, and 44th Foot) but the Padre was ill and the Brigadier, General Walker, decided on a general parade instead. He was less than pleased with what he saw and has decided that the brigade will in future drill at 8am every morning until further orders. This has spoilt everybody’s enjoyment of Christmas Day.

1^st battalion: Cannanore, India

A view of Cannanore, early 19th Century

Good news has arrived for the four officers found guilty of duelling, Lieutenants French, Jones, Harper and Carden, who have been under sentence of a court martial since June 1810.  They have been pardoned by the King, which in reality means they have been pardoned by the Prince Regent, who is less opposed to duelling than his father.  Ensign Herring, however, has had his sentence confirmed and has been cashiered for being drunk on duty.

The end of a career, Herring’s sentence that he be cashiered is confirmed.

There have been four deaths this month, and it is hoped that Cannanore will prove a healthier station than Madras.

On the 25^th November, Corporal John Jayes was promoted to sergeant, and Joseph Sheller and Alexander Wiley, to corporal.

Depot, Hull

Cruickshank’s cartoons of Militia Volunteers were never flattering!

One recruit, a boy, and five volunteers from the militia (Tipperary and Wexford) have joined since the last muster, and a further twenty are with the recruiting parties, fourteen of them at Sleaford.  Six men, returned invalids from the Peninsula, have been sent to York Hospital.  There has been one desertion from the depot.

Some satisfying news has just been received.  The exchange between Major Hamilton, which would have taken him to the West India Rangers, and Lieutenant Colonel Turner has been cancelled because the latter is not considered fit for active service.  Alexander Hamilton will now return to the 2^nd battalion as lieutenant colonel.

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2nd Battalion: Vila de Toro

The Coa Valley

The battalion was in Guarda until the 23^rd.  , now they are marching through the Coa valley. Men and officers alike found Guarda cold and damp.  This has had a noticeable effect upon the men’s health, cases of rheumatism and dysentery being rife.  Surgeon John Hennen is still on sick leave in Lisbon but fortunately the new assistant surgeon, John Evans, arrived on the 6^th November and immediately took charge of the sick.  The men have been pleased with the treatment they have received, although it has been noticed that Surgeon Evans is fond of a drink.

There was general pleasure at the return of Quartermaster Kingsley from suspension.  The feeling in the battalion was that he was provoked by the aggressive behaviour of Captain Rae of the Royals and reacted as any hot-tempered Irish man would.

Captain McNabb has been appointed commandant at Oyres, Lieutenant Adamson has been sent sick to the rear, and Sergeant Major Woods is on command with the Portuguese Artillery.  Major Grey remains in command of the battalion.  Lieutenant Colonel Turner has been returned absent without leave, but there is a suspicion that the injury he received at Badajoz is preventing him from talking command.

Six men have died during the last month, and seventeen men have been invalided to England.  Among them was Corporal Masterman, who left for England on the 1^st November.  The following day Thomas Hamilton was appointed corporal.  William Glover was appointed corporal on the 11^th November.

On the 23^rd November, at 5 a.m. an order arrived for the division to move forward to Marmeleiro.  There was no explanation.  The following day the division marched to Alfayates.  Today the division has divided.  The first brigade have been sent to watch the Coa, while the second brigade and the Portuguese brigade are here in Vila de Toro, a small place which can hardly accommodate so many men.  There is considerable speculation about this unexpected advance, the most popular idea being that Marshal Marmont must have brought the Army of Portugal up from Estremadura, where he has been for the past few weeks.

1^st Battalion: Cannanore

Fort San Angelo, Cannanore

The battalion has completed its march across India and is now established in the new cantonment of Cannanore on the Malabar coast, the wettest region of southern India.  Fortunately, they have arrived outside the monsoon season, which gives them time to become acclimatised.

They have left several of their officers behind.  Five officers are at Trichinopoly, under sentence of a court martial and are waiting to hear if their sentences will be confirmed.  A further five officers remain on staff duties.  Three officers are in Poonamallee.  Lieutenant Nicholson, who does not seem to have recovered his health since his court martial, is on sick leave.  Sergeant Francis Garland, who has recently been on command as acting quartermaster with the 19^th Native Infantry Regiment , has transferred to East India Company service.  There have been six deaths since the last monthly return.

William Wanlass, who spend over a year in the Lunatic Asylum in Madras and the last three months on command in Poonamallee, has rejoined the battalion.  He seems to be in a good state of health.

Depot: Hull

A recruit as depicted by the satirist Cruickshank

Although the depot moved to Hull during September, Lieutenant John Roe (1) has remained in Wakefield with a sergeant, two corporals, a drummer and five privates and continues to recruit in that area.  In total there are 16 sergeants, eight drummers, 130 rank and file and 23 boys either with the recruiting companies or at headquarters.

Seven recruits have joined since the last return, and a further seven are with the recruiting companies, five of them in Sleaford, which continues to be the most rewarding recruiting ground.

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2^nd Battalion – Guarda, Portugal

A view of Guarda drawn by Lt. Col. Leith Hay

The beginning of the month brought to an end the stalemate, which had seen the battalion in the Sierra de Gata since mid-summer, when Marmont manoeuvred to get supplies into Ciudad Rodrigo.  On the 25^th October there was an action between the French and the Anglo-Portuguese 3^rd division at El Boden.  General Dunlop, in command of the 5^th division during General Leith’s absence, had the men under arms at 4 a.m. the following morning.  They could hear distant firing and were anxious to be involved in any fighting but the sound died away and they were left wondering what had happened.  The following day, the division received orders to withdraw to Aldea de Ponte, across the Portuguese border.  They also learnt that although the 3^rd division had successfully held the French advance against them, Wellington considered his present position too exposed to further French attack.

The 5^th division reached Aldea de Ponte without seeing any sign of the French but just as they were about to cook their meal the alarm was given and food and cooking pots had to be thrown aside.  The French actually attacked on the far side of the village, but General Dunlop thought it prudent to withdraw to higher ground.  Everyone was now ready for battle but it was the division to the left which took the brunt of the attack.  Once again, though, the French were held.  The men of the 2^nd battalion, who have had little opportunity to prove their mettle since their arrival in Portugal, were anxious to drive them off, but the order was given to retire.

They now marched to Sabugal, a wet, cold march initially over difficult ground littered with rocks.  Even when they reached Sabugal there was no comfort for the officers, their baggage having been sent ahead – very different from their last visit to the place six months ago when they enjoyed the food abandoned by the French staff.

A view of Sabugal drawn by Lt. Col. Leith Hay

On the 29^th they were at Vila do Touro and on the 30^th they reached Guarda, where the officers were finally reunited with their baggage.  By this point the battalion, and indeed the whole division, looked like desperados.

They have now spent nearly four weeks enjoying a rest, despite the twice weekly divisional field days – and an inspection by General Graham, an old friend of the 30^th, having first met them at Toulon, and then renewed the acquaintance in Malta and at Cadiz.  This period of recuperation seems to have benefited the battalion.  Although there have been four deaths this month, there are fewer sick, either in quarters or in hospital.  This is just as well because Surgeon Hennen is sick, the recently appointed assistant surgeon, Evans, has yet to arrive and there is still no news of the other assistant surgeon, Brett.

Although thirty-four men have been invalided back to England, forty-five rank and file with a sergeant and a drummer have arrived and joined the battalion.  They were accompanied by Lieutenant White and Ensigns Campbell, Lockwood and Carter.  This has done something to redress the shortage of officers with the battalion.  However, the newly-appointed Lieutenant Colonel Turner and Major Bailey have yet to arrive; Major Hamilton, now Lieutenant Colonel with the West Indian Rangers, has returned to England; and Major Grey is in command of the battalion.

Corporal David McBride has been appointed sergeant, and James McBride and Patrick McIlhatton have been promoted to corporal.  Sergeant John Watson, one of the longest serving sergeants in the regiment, was among those invalided home.

1^st battalion, Camp at Wallear River

The battalion is on the march from Trichinopoly to Cannanore, on the western side of India in the state of Kerala.  They have news that eighty men, with a sergeant and corporal, have arrived at Poonamallee and will join the battalion.  These men will be brought up by some of the officers who have remained in either Poonamallee or Trichinopoly.

Health remains good, perhaps helped by the change of scene.  There have been only three deaths and sickness rates are still low.

The main point of interest for the officers of the battalion has been the fate of Ensign John Herring, who was arraigned on a charge of ‘scandalous and infamous conduct unbecoming the character of an officer and a gentleman in appearing on public parade of the regiment in a state of intoxication.’  This was the second time that Herring had faced such a charge.

His court martial, under the presidency of Lieutenant Colonel William McLeod of the 15^th Native Infantry, opened on the 24^th September, but when Herring was brought into court he was adjudged to be intoxicated and incapable of understanding the proceedings.

Court martial extract in which Herring is asked if he objects to any members of the court martial

On the following day four witnesses, Major Christopher Maxwell, Captain Samuel Bircham, Adjutant William Stephenson and Sergeant Charles Illston all testified that he had been drunk on parade.  They referred variously to his unsteadiness, a tendency to stagger when he walked and his incoherent speech.  Major Maxwell also made the point in answer to a question from the court that he had seen Herring in the same condition many times.

Herring now asked for time to prepare his defence, which consisted of the claim that he suffered from ‘strong constitutional, nervous affections which not infrequently deprive me of all recollection during their continuance.’  He admitted that he had drunk a few glasses of wine but not enough to cause intoxication and if he appeared drunk it was because of this nervous affectation.  He also claimed that while serving with the 2^nd battalion, before coming to India, his conduct had been exemplary.  Finally, he sought the ‘liberality’ of the court.

He had offered his defence on the 28^th September.  Two days later the court reached its conclusion, that ‘having duly considered all that has been adduced before it in support of the prosecution, and the prisoner’s defence, are of the opinion that the prisoner, Ensign John Herring of the 30^th Regiment is guilty of the whole of the charge instituted against him, and do therefore adjudge him to be cashiered.’

The guilty verdict

Herring now joins the four other officers of the battalion who are waiting for their sentences of cashiering to be confirmed.

Depot – Hull

The change of scene has come as something of a diversion for the men with the depot, although Hull in October is considered rather a bleak place after Wakefield.

A further seven recruits have joined since the last monthly return, while another seven have not yet joined.  Five of them are with the recruiting party at Sleaford.

2^nd Battalion, Peñaperda, Sierra de Gata

Sierra de Gata in winter

Despite the cold, particularly at night, and the shortage of food (the men have taken to digging up potatoes), the health of the battalion at headquarters is improving.  There are only an officer, a drummer and four rank and file sick present.  Fortunately, the number of sick absent, at Lisbon and Coimbra, is also decreasing, although there have been seven deaths amongst these men.

The battalion has now received news of the two additions to staff officers, Lieutenant Colonel Turner to replace Lieutenant Colonel Minet, and Major Bailey to replace Major Hamilton.  This last is a surprise, but the same dispatch from the agent in London, Mr Croasdaile, contained the information that Major Hamilton has been promoted into Lt Col Turner’s regiment, the Royal West Indian Rangers.  This promotion has been greeted with mixed feelings.  Major Hamilton has only ever served with the 30^th, and is popular with the men, who regard him as something of a talisman, so, although there is pleasure that he has obtained a well-deserved lieutenant colonelcy, there is regret that such a long association is about to be severed.