The Fishguard Invasion by the French in 1797James, Margaret Ellen
History
The Fishguard Invasion by the French in 1797
James, Margaret Ellen
Fishguard, Battle of, Fishguard, Wales, 1797 -- Fiction; Wales -- History -- Fiction
Most of the prisoners were finally sent back to France, when it was
discovered what manner of men they were. Lord Cawdor took General Tate
and some of the other officers to London, whence they were consigned to
Dartmoor. This personally-conducted journey through England was not
without peril. The people were greatly incensed against the French, and
were quite ready to carry out Lynch law on these unhappy men, and in the
excitement of the moment a mob does not always discriminate between its
friends and its foes. It was fortunate for Tate and his fellows, and
still more fortunate for Pembrokeshire, that the conduct of the whole
affair from first to last was in such able and determined hands as those
of Lord Cawdor. A letter from him to Lady Cawdor (hitherto unpublished,
and for which I am indebted to Mr. Laws), gives a very vivid account of
this journey.
“OXFORD STREET,
“_Monday morn_, _March_ 13, 1797.
“I have at length the satisfaction of an hour’s time free from
interruption to give you a short account of our employment, etc.,
since I quitted you, but shall reserve much of the detail for your
amusement when we meet, a moment I ardently long for. Near Tavern
Spite I met a messenger, with the D. of Portland’s despatches to me
signifying the King’s approbation of my conduct, which probably
General Rooke has shown you, accompanied also by a handsome and
flattering private letter from the Duke. Upon my arrival at
Carmarthen I immediately sent off the messenger with my letters, and
finding the impossibility of procuring horses until the following
morn was in the expectation of getting a quiet night, having procured
a bed at a private house; but an alarm of a fire in the town joined
to confusion created by the report of a landing in great force in
Glamorganshire, which I knew must have no foundation, prevented my
obtaining sleep for one moment. Early in the morn we left
Carmarthen, with three chaises; in the first, Joe Adams had charge of
Tate and Captain Tyrell, the first alarmed and confused, the second a
stupid Paddy. I had Le Brun with me, as dirty as a pig, but more
intelligent and better manners; in the last, Lord E. Somerset had the
care of Captain Norris and Lieutenant St. Leger, both greatly
frightened, they had but little conversation. The whole road we
passed through great crowds of people at all the places were (_sic_)
we changed horses, and thro’ Wales tho’ the indignation of the people
was great, I found my influence would protect them without
difficulty. The women were more clamorous than the men, making signs
to cut their throats, and desiring I would not take the trouble of
carrying them further. All the military assistance I could get at
Oxford as a guard for the night was a sergeant of your friend and
landlord, and two recruits, but I had no apprehension of their escape
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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