It is his ardent wish, by this little volume, to awaken more interest in this class of his fellow-beings, so often forgotten in the lustre of that halo which rarely fails to surround the victor’s name. The work, such as it is, he cheerfully commends to the _public_, looking with unshaken trust to its kindness and sympathy for the success and encouragement which he hopes it may be his lot to meet. WORCESTER, JULY 4, 1851. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Introductory Remarks.--The Author’s Birth.--Parentage.--Prevalence of the Military Spirit.--Two of his Brothers enlist, and are killed in the Service.--Author apprenticed to a Carpenter.--His Desire for a Military Life.--Leaves Home without the Consent of his Parents.--Reaches Belfast, and enlists.--Dissatisfied with his new Position.--Deserts, and returns to his Native Village.--Again enlists, at Navan.--Still dissatisfied, and again deserts.--Enlists a third Time.--Marches to Dublin, and thence to Cork.--Departs for England.--Incidents of the Voyage.--Sails for the Peninsula.--The Ship on Fire.--A Terrific Storm.--Arrives in Spain.--Gibraltar.--A Flogging, 7 CHAPTER II. Origin of the War in the Peninsula.--Siege of Saragossa.--Murderous Character of the War.--Success of the French in Portugal.--Battle of Rolica.--Battle of Vimiero.--Convention of Cintra.--The French evacuate Portugal.--Preparations of Napoleon for another Campaign.--He subdues the Country, and enters Madrid.--Address to the Spanish People.--Napoleon recalled by the War with Austria.--Soult and Ney intrusted with the Command of the French Army in Spain.--Retreat of Sir John Moore.--Battle of Corunna.--Death of Sir John Moore.--The British Army sail for England, 50 CHAPTER III. Joseph Bonaparte again King of Spain.--His Difficulties with Soult.--Second Siege of Saragossa.--Another English Army, under Sir Arthur Wellesley, lands at Lisbon.--Battle of Talavera.--The English retire into Portugal.--Siege of Gerona.--Principal Events of the Campaign of 1810.--The English Troops make a Stand at Torres Vedras.--Retreat of Massena.--Siege of Cadiz.--Escape of French Prisoners.--Opening of the Campaign of 1811, 99 CHAPTER IV. The Author, with his Regiment, leaves Gibraltar, for Tarifa.--Dissensions between the Spanish and English Officers.--Battle of Barossa.--Retreat of the French.--Suffering of the Pursuing Army.--Guerillas.--Don Julian Sanchez.--Juan Martin Diaz.--Xavier Mina.--Continued Privations of the British Army.--Adventures of the Author in Search of Food.--Arrival of the Commissariat with Provisions.--Extravagant Joy of the Troops.--Departure of the British Army for Badajos, 123 CHAPTER V.