A British Rifle Man: The Journals and Correspondence of Major George Simmons, Rifle Brigade, During the Peninsular War and the Campaign of WaterlooSimmons, George
History
A British Rifle Man: The Journals and Correspondence of Major George Simmons, Rifle Brigade, During the Peninsular War and the Campaign of Waterloo
Simmons, George
Peninsular War, 1807-1814; Waterloo, Battle of, Waterloo, Belgium, 1815
French dislodged from Freixeda and their baking operations
stopped—Death of Lieutenant James Stewart (Brigade-Major)—Dreadful
murder of a Spanish woman by the French—Action of Sabugal—Desperate
fighting—Lieutenant Arbuthnot killed—Advance resumed—The Spanish
frontier crossed—The Light Division takes up the old line of outposts
on the Agueda—Reconnaissances of Almeida, held by the French—Defence
of the bridge of Marialba—The French driven off—Lord Wellington
rejoins the army—The Royal Dragoons and 14th Light Dragoons hold the
advanced posts—The French occupy Gallegos—The Light Division falls
back—Marshal Massena concentrates a strong force in front of Fuentes
de Oñoro—The British army forms up behind the town—Combats at Fuentes
de Oñoro—Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro—The Chasseurs Britanniques repulse
a charge of French cavalry—Successful charge by British cavalry under
General Stewart—The French occupy the village, but on debouching are
charged by the 74th and 88th Regiments and driven back—Bivouac on
the battlefield—French and English outposts in touch—General Brenier
evacuates Almeida, blowing up his magazines and destroying his
guns—Marshal Beresford invests Badajoz—News of the battle of Albuera
(the _only_ general action in the Peninsular War in which some of the
Rifles were not present).
Letter No. XII
_To his Parents from Espeja, dated 18th May 1811_
Graphic account of the action near Sabugal—A running fight for two
miles—The 43rd Light Infantry and Portuguese Caçadores support
the Rifles—The skirmishers suddenly come upon the French posted
in strength, and have to fall back—Colonel Beckwith's coolness in
action—Picton's Division arrives—Gallantry of the French officers—The
French retire—Skirmishing about Almeida—The fighting prior to the
battle of Fuentes de Oñoro—The inhabitants of the town ordered to
clear out—Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro—Losses of the Rifles—Exceptional
amount of fighting which fell to them—Anxiety as to the welfare of his
family—Scarcity of food and clothing—A _brown_ "Green jacket"—Wants a
good "spy-glass."
_Journal—26th March-25th May 1811_
[Sidenote: 1811 March 26th]
Marched to Celorico. The enemy evacuated it yesterday, and had an
officer and thirty men taken by our cavalry.
[Sidenote: 27th]
The Division remained in bivouac.
[Sidenote: 28th]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account