JOURNAL OF A SOLDIER
OF
THE SEVENTY-FIRST,
OR
GLASGOW REGIMENT,
HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY,
FROM 1806 TO 1815.
EDINBURGH:
PRINTED FOR WILLIAM AND CHARLES TAIT, 78, PRINCE’S
STREET; ADAM BLACK, 57, SOUTH BRIDGE;
G. AND W. B. WHITTAKER, LONDON; AND JAMES BRASH
AND CO. GLASGOW.
——
1819.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Publishers have taken pains to ascertain the accuracy of thestatements in the following Journal, and the result has confirmed themin the belief, that the Writer of it has related nothing but what passedunder his own observation.
His education sufficiently accounts for his expressing himself betterthan could have been expected from a private soldier. No alteration hasbeen made upon his language, farther than the correction of a few of themore obvious verbal inaccuracies.
Edinburgh, 29th March, 1819
CONTENTS.
The Writer’s parentage and education, page 1. Attempts the stage,and fails, 5. Joins a recruiting party, and sails for the Isle ofWight, 9. Adventure there, 16.
Sails for South America, 18. Arrival at Madeira, 19. Arrival at theCape of Good Hope, and account of Cape Town, ib. Arrival at theRiver la Plata, and situation of the English army, 24. Battle ofMonte Video, 25. Account of the inhabitants, 31. Conversation witha Spanish priest, 36.
Arrival of General Whitelock, and departure for Buenos Ayres, 37.Attack of the town, 40. Taken prisoner, 42. Anecdotes of thebattle, and prisoners, 43. Generous behaviour of the Spanishpriest, 44.
Arrival at Cork, 46. Sails in an expedition under the command ofSir Arthur Wellesley, 52. Battle of Rolleia, 54. Description ofVimiera, 56. Battle of Vimiera, 57. Behaviour of the peasants atnight, after the battle, 59.
Marches to Abrantes, 61. Kindness of the Spaniards at Badajos,ib. Arrival at Escurial, and retreat to Salamanca, 62. Dreadfulstate of the weather, ...