We steamed round the coast of Portugal, waiting on the King at Lisbon, and my kind host being greatly distressed to find I had no medals, insisted on my wearing on my evening coat, which we put on at midday, for our Royal audience, a C.M.G. Next day Ardagh and I visited Torres Vedras, on which immensely strong position the works erected by Wellington are apparently much as they were at the time of their occupation, A.D. 1810.
The party now separated, Ardagh and I going by train to Badajos, whence we visited the field of Albuera.
The young Spanish officer sent to us as a guide at Badajos because he spoke a little French, was not aware that the British had successfully assaulted the place, his knowledge of the operations of the Sieges being confined to the attacks, and defence of the French and Spaniards. It will repay any soldier even now to visit Badajos, for it is easy to follow Napier’s wonderful description of the Assault.
Probably all soldiers have heard the story, that Lord Beresford had ordered a retreat from Albuera when it was countermanded, and how the gallant charge of the Fusilier Brigade snatched victory from the French at the last moment. At Gibraltar, coming fresh from the battlefield, I asked General Sir Arthur Hardinge, the Governor, “Did your father ever talk to you of Albuera?” “Yes, very often.” “Is it true that he was the Staff officer who countermanded Beresford’s order to retreat?” “No, no one did so; but my father went to Beresford, and said, ‘You have got, sir, a Court-martial on one hand, and a Peerage on the other,’ and he replied slowly, ‘I will try for the Peerage,’ and himself gave the order to stop the retreat, and my father then ordered the Fusilier Brigade to advance.”
When the ship reached Cadiz, on the 13th August, I received a telegram from my wife, to whom a friend had confided the information that Sir Archibald Alison was about to vacate the Aldershot command, to join the India Council. Lord Wolseley had told me on many occasions he intended to press for my appointment to that command, and at one time he imagined the chances of my getting it were at ten to one; later, my chances sank to even betting. I thought, in any case, it would be wise for me to return home, and obtained the assent of our kind host to my leaving the ship at Barcelona.
Nothing could exceed his generosity; he not only entertained us perfectly on board, but insisted on paying our expenses on shore, even to our washing bills, when we were at Granada, where I lingered for forty-eight hours to enjoy more fully the Alhambra. Ardagh and I returned from Barcelona, after a delightful trip, and I reached Colchester after an absence of three weeks.
When the Headquarters Staff returned to London after the holidays, there was a protracted discussion over the question of my succeeding Sir Archibald Alison at Aldershot. Lord Wolseley advocated it strenuously, as he expressly said, not for any regard for me, but because he thought I was more successful in instructing[290] Regiments than any one else he knew. I was also, he thought, fit to take the Division abroad should it be necessary.
The Commander-in-Chief wished to appoint an office for much longer service, and after weeks of argument the matter was left to the decision of Mr. Stanhope, the Secretary of State. He sent for Sir Redvers Buller, who was Quartermaster-General, and asked for his views. Buller replied, “I have seen three disasters in my service, and they all came from want of instruction. Do you believe that Evelyn Wood is a good teacher?” “Yes,” said Mr. Stanhope, “I am told he is quite satisfactory in that respect.” “Then I advise you to appoint him.” Mr. Stanhope was kind enough to say to me, when telling me the story, “I am glad I did so.”