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Record Nr. |
UNINA9910164252403321 |
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Autore |
Grattan Lt.-Colonel William |
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Titolo |
Adventures in the Connaught Rangers. Vol. I |
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Pubbl/distr/stampa |
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San Francisco : , : Wagram Press, , 2011 |
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©2011 |
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ISBN |
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Descrizione fisica |
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1 online resource (198 pages) |
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Collana |
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Adventures in the Connaught Rangers ; ; v.1 |
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Disciplina |
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Lingua di pubblicazione |
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Formato |
Materiale a stampa |
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Livello bibliografico |
Monografia |
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Nota di contenuto |
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Intro -- CHAPTER I. -- The Author leaves the depôt at Chelmsford, and proceeds to join his regiment in Portugal-The Samaritan-Arrival at Lisbon -Measures adopted by Marshal Junot-A night's rest-Portuguese barbers-Priest Fernando and Major Murphy-March to Aldea Gallega-First sight of the Connaught Rangers. -- CHAPTER II. -- Head-quarters of the 88th Regiment--Its losses from sickness-Unhealthy state of the country-Signal defeat of the Spaniards by the French-The British army leaves the Alemtejo-General Picton takes the command of the third division-Remarks on the general's cThe Connaught Boy and the goat. -- CHAPTER III. -- Inefficiency of the Spanish generals-The British force-Lord Wellington and the Portuguese regency-Preparations for invading Portugal-French force in the Peninsula-Lines of Torres Vedras-Their extreme importance-Summary of the results of British valour-ClaDescription of the Lines of Torres Vedras. -- CHAPTER IV. -- Movements of the French-Expectation of the English army evacuating Portugal-The French under Marshal Ney lay siege to Ciudad Rodrigo-Firmness of Lord Wellington in refusing assistance to the garrison-Assault on the fortress-Its surrender-French force undeRashness of General Crawford. -- CHAPTER V. -- Marshal Massena and his military arrangements-Lord Wellington and the Portuguese government-Disproportion of the British forces to the French-Judicious conduct of Lord Wellington -Anecdote of General Napier-Lord Wellington obliged to give battle- Relative positions of the French and English armies previous to the battle of Busaco. -- CHAPTER VI. -- Battle of Busaco- |
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Remarks upon the battle-Conflicting statements of different writers-Adventure of Captain Seton-Alcobaca-Remarks on the battle. -- CHAPTER VII. |
Occupation of the Lines of Torres Vedras-An Irish interpreter -Death of the Marquis de la Romana-Retreat of Massena's army from Portugal-Indulgence of Lord Wellington-The oldest subaltern in the world. -- CHAPTER VIII. -- Excesses of the French during their retreat-Battle of Fuentes d'Onore-Sir E. Pakenham, Colonel Wallace, and the 88th Regiment. -- CHAPTER IX. -- State of the town of Fuentes d'Onore after the battle-The wounded-News of General Graham's victory over Marshal Victor-General Brennier's escape from Almeida-Booty-The field of battle. -- CHAPTER X. -- Guerilla warfare -- its true character-General Beresford detached to the Alemtejo with the second division-The 13th Light Dragoons charge the cavalry of General Latour Maubourg-Olivenza surrenders-Frenchmen and Irishmen on a march-English regiments-Colonel Taking a rise. -- CHAPTER XI. -- Second siege of Badajoz-A reconnoissance-Death of Captain Patten-Attacks on Fort St. Christoval-Their failure-Causes of their failure-Gallant conduct of Ensign Dyas, 51st Regiment-His promotion by the Duke of York. -- CHAPTER XII. -- Affair of El Bodon-Gallant conduct of the 5th and 77th Regiments-Narrow escape of the 88th from being made prisoners -Picton's conduct on the retreat of Guinaldo. -- CHAPTER XIII. -- Retreat of the French army-Bombast of the French generals-Vultures on the field of battle-The Light Division and Private theatricals-Major Leckie and the musician-Privations -The Connaught Rangers and the sheep-Deficient kits-Military movements-Attack on a French division. -- CHAPTER XIV. -- Officers and serjeants-Fairfield and his bad habit-Regimental mechanism-Impolitic familiarity-Third division at the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo-Lieutenant D'Arey and Ody Brophy-The Irish pilot. -- CHAPTER XV. |
Spanish village accommodations-Progress of the siege-Picton's address to the Connaught Rangers in front of the breach-Lieutenant William Mackie and the forlorn-hope. -- CHAPTER XVI. -- Storm of Ciudad Rodrigo, gallant conduct of three soldiers of the 88th-Desperate struggle and capture of a gun-Combat between Lieutenant Faris and the French Grenadier-A Connaught Ranger transformed into a sweep Anecdote of Captain Robert Hardyman of the Excesses of the soldiers. -- CHAPTER XVII. -- Results of the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo-Lieutenant Gurwood and Lieutenant Mackie-Anecdote of Lieutenant Flack, 88th Regiment-His wound-Sale of the plunder-Army rest in cantonments. -- CHAPTER XVIII. -- Preparations against Badajoz-Description of this fortress-Its investment-Line of circumvallation formed in the night-Sortie of the garrison repulsed-Destructive fire of the besieged -Dreadful explosion from a shell-Indifference-Deaths of Captain MulcasterThe divisions of the British army. -- CHAPTER XIX. -- `State of the enemy's fort La Picurina from our fire-Attempt to storm it-Desperate defence of the garrison-It is carried by assault-Preparations for the grand attack-Frightful difficulties of the enterprise-The attack and defence-Slaughter of the besiegerBadajoz taken. -- APPENDIX. -- No. I The Battle of Busaco and the Third Division -- No. II. Reply to "Observations on some Passages in the Life of Sir Thomas Picton. -- No. III. To the Editor of the United Service Journal. -- No. IV. |
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Sommario/riassunto |
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Born into a well-known and respected family in Dublin, William Grattan has left no sketch of himself or his reasons for joining the 88th Regiment of Foot, the most Irish of all the Irish regiments according to Oman, as a subaltern in 1809. It is conceivable that he thirsted for adventure, and advancement, however little did he know that he would be joining as hard fighting, drinking and pilfering regiment that ever |
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fought in the Peninsular under Wellington. Christened "The Devil's Own" by their divisional commander Picton, the Connaught Rangers as they were also known are detailed in all their varied adventures by Grattan.The "Adventures" are particularly well written by an author who had two sterling attributes as a writer above and beyond his contemporaries, the first an un-erring ability to describe the actions, skirmishes and battles that he was involved in despite smoke, carnage and confusion around him at the time. The second is an ability to provide a plethora of details and anecdotes that breathe life into normal day-to-day events in the army and more specifically his famous regiment.Wellington was to famously to congratulate them along with four companies of the 45th Regiment of their charge at Busaco; "Upon my honour, I never witnessed a more gallant charge than that just now made by your regiment."Grattan would eventually leave the service in 1817, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, but his association with the regiment that he dearly loved would continue on his continued writings in defence of Sir Thomas Picton, his divisional chief and his regiment in the pages of the United Service Magazine and monographs of his own.Warmly recommended.This is the first volume of the original two volume account left by Lieutenant-Colonel Grattan, rather than the heavily edited version commonly found. |
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