Breaking up of the British Peninsular army at the abdication Page 330 of Napoleon—Separation of the soldiers' wives—The elopement—Sad story of Thorp, the Drum-Major—Conclusion LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS THE 88TH FOOT (CONNAUGHT RANGERS) _Frontispiece_ MAP OF SPAIN AND PORTUGAL _To face page_ 1 LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR T. PICTON, G.C.B. ” ” 14 PLAN OF SIEGE OF CIUDAD RODRIGO ” ” 142 PLAN OF SIEGE OF BADAJOZ ” ” 178 SERGEANT AND PRIVATE IN WINTER MARCHING ORDER, 1813 ” ” 308 [Illustration: MAP OF SPAIN AND PORTUGAL.] ADVENTURES WITH THE CONNAUGHT RANGERS 1809–1814 CHAPTER I The Author leaves the depot at Chelmsford, and proceeds to join his regiment in Portugal—The _Samaritan_—Arrival at Lisbon—Measures adopted by General Junot—A night’s rest—Portuguese barbers—Priest Fernando and Major Murphy—March to Aldea Gallega—First sight of the Connaught Rangers. On the 10th day of October 1809 I left the depot at Chelmsford, and proceeded to Portsmouth for the purpose of joining the first battalion of my regiment (the 88th) in Portugal. The newspapers announced that a fleet of transport vessels would sail in a few days from Portsmouth for Lisbon, and although I belonged to the second battalion, at that period stationed at Gibraltar, I waived all ceremony, and without asking or obtaining leave from the general in command at Chelmsford (General Colburn), I took the first coach for London, where I arrived that evening, and the next day reached Portsmouth. I waited upon Colonel Barlow, who commanded at Hilsea, and from him received an order to be admitted on board a transport ship named the _Samaritan_. No questions were asked as to my qualification for this request, as it was much easier in those days to get out to Portugal than return from it. I then requested of the Colonel that he would give me an order for “embarkation money,” which I told him I understood was allowed to officers on going to Portugal. He laughed at the demand, and treated me with so little courtesy that I was glad to be rid of him.