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
[Sidenote: 10th]
Crossed the stone bridge over the river and passed through Piña and
Fromista. Crossed the Castilian Canal, which for a considerable
distance is raised above the level of the country, and encamped upon
the right bank of the Pisuerga River near Santillana.
[Sidenote: 11th]
Passed over the river by a good stone bridge of seven arches and moved
forward to Villasandino. Encamped near it upon the river Brulles.
[Sidenote: 12th]
Marched towards Burgos. Halted a short time at Castrillo de Murcia
to allow the cavalry to advance up a plain. Made a demonstration by
forming two lines upon the heights over the Hormuza at Isar. Our
cavalry moved forward near Burgos. The Light Division encamped in the
evening at Hornilla, upon the Hormuza River.
[Sidenote: 13th]
Marched very early. A tremendous explosion took place at six A.M.,
which we were satisfied was in Burgos, and afforded us great delight.
I, speaking for myself, would much sooner have a fair field to fight
on, rather than storm a town. I was convinced that the enemy had
evacuated the place, which soon proved to be the case. The castle had
been blown up, and some of the outworks destroyed. We passed through
Argano to Tovar, where we encamped.
[Sidenote: 14th]
Marched through Quintana to Quintanajuar and Poza. The Brigade encamped
in a wood near the two latter villages.
[Sidenote: 15th]
Marched through Villalta and El Almine, the road now winding and
descending for a considerable distance. Entered the vale of the Ebro,
and crossed this famous river over a stone bridge named Puenteareñas.
Our band struck up the "Downfall of Paris." We were much amused at
their wit on the occasion, and we had it followed by a national tune or
two to remind us of Old England and absent friends. Encamped close to
the village of Areñas. The banks of the river here are low, and from
its appearance it must rise and fall very considerably, as the country
is mountainous.
[Sidenote: 16th]
The villages about here are very numerous. We crossed the river Nela,
and encamped at Medina de Pomar, on the river Trueba.
[Sidenote: 17th]
On piquet after a tedious march through a mountainous country covered
with majestic woods. The Division remained on the side of a steep hill
overlooking the vale of Rosales.
[Sidenote: 18th]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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