Memoirs of British Generals Distinguished During the Peninsular War, Volume 1Richard Bentley, 1856 - Generals |
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Common terms and phrases
4th division action Albuera allies amongst Anglesea arms arrived artillery attack battalions battle battle of Albuera Beresford brave brigade Brigadier-General British army Buenos Ayres campaign cavalry Ciudad Rodrigo close Colonel columns command commander-in-chief commenced corps Corunna Craufurd despatch Duke duty embarked enemy enemy's England English expedition favourable fell field fighting fire flank force fought fourth division French Fusilier gallant ground guns Hardinge honour horse hundred infantry Lieutenant light division Lord Paget Lord Uxbridge Lord Wellington loss Major-General Marmont Marshal Massena military Moore's movement Napier Napoleon never obtained officers operations orders Peninsular War Portugal Portuguese position prisoners rank rear received regiment retire retreat returned ROBERT CRAUFURD Salamanca siege Sir David Baird Sir Home Popham Sir John Moore Sir Lowry Cole Sir Ralph Sir William Beresford soldiers Soult Spaniards Spanish thousand tion took troops victory Wellesley wounded
Popular passages
Page iii - How sleep the brave, who sink to rest, By all their country's wishes blest ! When Spring, with dewy fingers cold, Returns to deck their hallowed mould, She there shall dress a sweeter sod Than Fancy's feet have ever trod.
Page 299 - ... carried our Arapiles, or he would have confined us entirely to our position. This was not to be endured, and we fell upon him, turning his left flank ; and I never saw an army receive such a beating.
Page 53 - Thus ended the career of sir John Moore, a man whose uncommon capacity was sustained by the purest virtue, and governed by a disinterested patriotism more. in keeping with the primitive than the luxurious age of a great nation.
Page 56 - Wolfe, his last moments were gilded by the prospect of success, and cheered by the acclamations of victory ; like Wolfe, also, his memory will for ever remain sacred in that country which he sincerely loved, and which he had so faithfully served.
Page 57 - In the school of regimental duty he obtained that correct knowledge of his profession so essential to the proper direction of the gallant spirit of the soldier ; and he was enabled to establish a characteristic order and regularity of conduct, because the troops found in their leader a striking example of the discipline which he enforced on others. Having risen to command, he signalized his name in the West Indies, in Holland, and in Egypt.
Page 58 - During the season of repose, his time was devoted to the care and instruction of the officer and soldier; in war, he courted service in every quarter of the globe. Regardless of personal considerations, he esteemed that to which his country called him, the post of honour ; and by his undaunted spirit, and unconquerable perseverance, he pointed the way to victory. " His country, the object of his latest solicitude...
Page 205 - THERE is a tear for all that die, A mourner o'er the humblest grave ; But nations swell the funeral cry, And Triumph weeps above the brave. For them is Sorrow's purest sigh O'er Ocean's heaving bosom sent : In vain their bones unburied lie, All earth becomes their monument ! A tomb is theirs on every page, An epitaph on every tongue : The present hours, the future age, For them bewail, to them belong.
Page 118 - Guards carried all before them, and whilst I exculpate my own regiment, I am delighted in being able to bear testimony to the gallant conduct of the former. Be not uneasy, my brother officers ; you had ample opportunity, of which you gallantly availed yourselves, of avenging yourselves on the 18th for the failure on the 17th ; and after all, what regiment, or which of us, is certain of success ? " Be assured that I am proud of being your Colonel, and that you possess my utmost confidence. " Your...
Page 188 - ... rout. He retired after the battle to the ground he had been previously on, but occupying it in position ; and on this morning, or rather during the night, commenced his retreat on the road he came, towards Seville, and has abandoned Badajoz to its fate.
Page 56 - ... arduous retreat with consummate firmness, he has terminated a career of distinguished honour. by a death that has given the enemy additional f 2 reason to respect the name of a British Soldier.