Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original maps. See 50744-h.htm or 50744-h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/50744/50744-h/50744-h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/50744/50744-h.zip) Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive/American Libraries. See https://archive.org/details/britishriflemanj00simm A BRITISH RIFLE MAN The Journals and Correspondence of Major George Simmons, Rifle Brigade, During the Peninsular War and the Campaign of Waterloo Edited, with Introduction, by Lieut.-Colonel Willoughby Verner Late Rifle Brigade Author of 'Sketches in the Soudan,' etc. With Three Maps London A. & C. Black, Soho Square 1899 All rights reserved To GENERAL HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT AND STRATHEARN, COLONEL-IN-CHIEF OF THE RIFLE BRIGADE, FORMERLY (1803-1816) STYLED THE 95TH RIFLES AND (1800-1802) THE RIFLE CORPS, THIS VOLUME IN WHICH A BRITISH RIFLE MAN RECOUNTS HIS PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF MANY OF THE DEEDS THAT HAVE MADE THE NAME OF THE REGIMENT SO FAMOUS IS (BY PERMISSION) DEDICATED BY HIS MOST HUMBLE AND OBEDIENT SERVANT WILLOUGHBY VERNER, LIEUTENANT-COLONEL, LATE OF THE RIFLE BRIGADE. SKETCH MAPS Illustrating the operations on the Coa and Agueda _Facing page_ 198 Illustrating movements during the Campaigns of 1809-12 " " 272 Illustrating movements during the Campaigns of 1813-14 " " 350 CONTENTS Introduction Page xi Commencement of the Peninsular War. Campaign of 1808 1 Campaign of 1809 2 CHAPTER I Letter No. I., To his Parents, from Hythe and Dover, dated 21st May 1809—Journal, May-July 1809—Letter No. II., To his Parents, from Castello Branco, dated 18th July 1809 4 CHAPTER II Journal, July-December 1809—Letter No. III., To his Parents, from Campo Mayor, dated September 1809—Letter No. IV., To his Parents, from Campo Mayor, dated 29th October 1809—Journal, December 1809 19 Campaign of 1810 43 CHAPTER III Journal, 1st January-27th February 1810—Letter No. V., To his Parents, from Villar Torpin, dated 28th February 1810—Journal, 4th March-30th April 1810—Letter No. VI., To his Father, from Villar de Ciérvos, dated 30th April 1810 44 CHAPTER IV Journal, 7th May-8th August 1810—Letter No. VII., To his Parents, from Lisbon, dated 10th August 1810 66 CHAPTER V Journal, August-September 1810—Letter No. VIII., To his Parents, from Pedroso, Lisbon, dated 30th September 1810—Journal, October-December 1810—Letter No. IX., To his Parents, from Lisbon, dated 16th December 1810 98 Campaign of 1811 127 CHAPTER VI Letter No. X., To his Parents, from Lisbon, dated 11th January 1811—Journal, January-25th March 1811—Letter No. XI., To his Parents, from Mello, dated 26th March 1811 129 CHAPTER VII