The Colonel of the Eighty-Eighth, Marshal Beresford, joined in the praises bestowed upon his regiment, and recognised the faces of some of the veteran soldiers who had served in India, Egypt, and South America: these men crowded around him with that affectionate familiarity which the high-wrought feelings of such a moment, the sense of a community in past dangers, from which rank gave no protection, and a companionship in present safety, sometimes permitted even from the private soldier to the general.
The cluster of rocks, so lately the scene of deadly conflict, presented a singular spectacle even to those whom use had familiarized with such sights. At their foot many of the Eighty-Eighth were stretched on the field, while in the chasms were to be seen numerous Frenchmen still in the very attitude in which death had overtaken them; some reclining backwards against a crag as if asleep, others leaning forwards over a projecting stone, as in the act of firing; while at the foot of the precipice, on the further side, were many who had been dashed to pieces in their vain endeavours to escape.
The instances of individual bravery displayed by the officers and men of the Eighty-Eighth at Busaco were numerous. Colonel Wallace, finding the charger on which he was mounted at the commencement of the day, was terrified by the firing, and reared frequently, at once abandoned his horse, and fought for some time on foot at the head of his men. Captain Dansey, who commanded one of the companies that attacked the rocks, and who was severely wounded, distinguished himself so as not only to obtain the immediate commendation of his Colonel and the admiration of his comrades, but was also particularly noticed in the despatches of the Commander-in-Chief. Lieutenant William Mackie, to whom Lieutenant-Colonel Wallace confided the command of the battalion-men sent early in the day to support the light infantry, displayed all the courage and coolness necessary in so critical a moment; he was frequently nearly surrounded by the enemy, but escaped unhurt, and, on rejoining the regiment, was loudly cheered by the men. Lieutenant Heppenstall, a young officer, whose first appearance under fire was on this occasion, was frequently mixed with the enemy’s riflemen, and shot two of them, one an officer. Lieutenant William Nickle, serving with the light company, was deliberately singled out by a Frenchman whose third shot passed through his body, but without killing him; as he was proceeding to the rear the same Frenchman sent a fourth shot after him, which knocked off his cap, cheering at the same time. “Get on, Nickle,” said Heppenstall, “I’ll stop that fellow’s crowing.” He waited quietly till the man approached within sure distance, and then revenged his wounded comrade by shooting the Frenchman dead. Corporal Thomas Kelly, of the fourth company, (the same man who shot the French officer in the retreat through the wood near the Alberche at Talavera,) was severely wounded in the thigh at the commencement of the charge against the French column, but continued to run with his company down the hill, until he fell through exhaustion and loss of blood.
The loss of the regiment at Busaco amounted to nine officers and one hundred and twenty-four non-commissioned officers and privates killed and wounded. The officers killed were Major Silver, Lieutenant H. Johnston, and Ensign Leonard; the wounded, Major Macgregor, Captains Dansey, M‘Dermot, and Bury; and Lieutenants Fitzpatrick and Nickle.
Unable to overcome the allied army in combat, the French commander turned its flank; when Lord Wellington retired to the celebrated lines of Torres Vedras, where he opposed a resistance which compelled the French Marshal, notwithstanding his superior numbers, to relinquish his design upon Lisbon. The Eighty-Eighth formed part of the troops which occupied the town and lines of Torres Vedras. The weather was unusually wet, and the army being but indifferently supplied with the materials necessary for the construction of good huts, suffered much from the inclemency of the season; yet, notwithstanding the fatigues of the severe campaign it had gone through, the unfavourableness of the weather to health, and the living principally on salted provisions, of which the rations served out to the army chiefly consisted, the regiment continued in the most effective state. The French, however, suffered much greater privations, and eventually they were forced to retire.
On the 14th of November, Marshal Massena (Prince of Esling) left his position during the night, and took the road to Santarem. This operation was performed under cover of a dark and stormy night, and the enemy effectually succeeded in deceiving the British piquets by substituting straw figures, in place of his veteran tirailleurs, admirably appointed with caps and accoutrements, and by this ruse succeeded in effecting his movement without loss; verifying an old remark, that “men of straw,” by putting on a good appearance, often deceive their neighbours.
The allied army moved forward; the head-quarters were established at Cartago, and the third division occupied the village of Togarro. The French commander was subsequently forced to retire from his position.
1811
In the pursuit of Massena towards the frontiers of Portugal, the Third division was not much engaged with the enemy, but the continual marches to turn the flanks of the French army subjected it to great fatigue. In the course of these marches and constant skirmishes, the regiment lost a most intelligent and enterprising officer, Lieutenant Heppenstall, already mentioned; he fell in the action of Foz-d’Aronce, on the 15th of March, 1811. He was buried at the foot of a pine, near the spot where he fell, under the direction of Dr. Arthur Stewart.
In the action at Sabugal, the Eighty-Eighth, though present, was not actually engaged, a severe storm of snow and hail, which fell just at the moment the Third division, having issued from the woods on the enemy’s right, was about to charge, completely hiding the French corps (General Reynier’s) from view, and giving its commander an opportunity of retiring unattacked.