Historical Record of the First, or Royal Regiment of Foot: Containing an Account of the Origin of the Regiment in the Reign of King James VI. of Scotland, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1846Cannon, Richard
History
Historical Record of the First, or Royal Regiment of Foot: Containing an Account of the Origin of the Regiment in the Reign of King James VI. of Scotland, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1846
Cannon, Richard
Great Britain. Army -- History; Great Britain. Army. Regiment of Foot, 1st (Royal Scots)
On the completion of this service, General Graham came home for a few
months, and, again anxious for active service, proceeded to Egypt,
but before his arrival that country had been completely conquered. He
returned through Turkey, making some stay at Constantinople, and during
the peace of Amiens resided for a short time at Paris. His active and
enterprising spirit had now to endure a period of repose. In 1808,
however, he proceeded with General Sir John Moore to Sweden, where he
availed himself of that opportunity to traverse the country in all
directions. Shortly afterwards Sir John Moore was ordered to Spain, and
Major General Graham served there during the whole campaign of 1808.
He was afterwards appointed to command a division in the expedition to
Walcheren, but having been attacked with fever he was obliged to come
home. In February, 1811, having been previously raised to the rank of
Lieutenant-General, he was appointed to the command of an expedition to
attack the rear of the French army then blockading Cadiz, an operation
which led to the celebrated battle of Barrosa. The thanks of Parliament
were voted to him and the brave force under his command, and never
were thanks more nobly earned or bestowed in a manner more honourable
to those who offered and those who received them. He was at that time
a member of the House of Commons, and in his place in Parliament he
received that mark of a nation's gratitude. In acknowledging the honour
thus conferred on him, Lieutenant-General Graham spoke as follows:--
"I have formerly often heard you, sir, eloquently and impressively
deliver the thanks of the house to officers present, and never without
an anxious wish that I might one day receive this most enviable mark of
my country's regard. This honest ambition is now fully gratified, and I
am more than ever bound to try to merit the good opinion of the house."
Barrosa was to Lord Lynedoch what Almaraz was to Lord Hill, and
Albuhera to Lord Beresford.
After this series of events, and having been appointed a Knight of
the Bath in February, 1812, Lieut.-General Sir Thomas Graham joined
the army under the Duke of Wellington; but from ill health he was
obliged to revisit England for a short period. Early in 1813, however,
he returned to the Peninsula, and commanded the left wing of the
British army at Vittoria. Mr. Abbott, then Speaker of the House of
Commons, (afterwards Lord Colchester,) in alluding to General Graham's
distinguished career at this period, stated that his was "a name never
to be mentioned in our military annals without the strongest expression
of respect and admiration;" and Mr. Sheridan, speaking of the various
excellences, personal and professional, which adorned his character,
said:--
"I have known him in private life; and never was there seated a loftier
spirit in a braver heart."
Alluding to his services in the retreat of the British army to Corunna,
he continued:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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