Sgt. Robertson's Memoirs
of the Corunna Campaign

How They Captured
a French Piquet

by Sgt. Robertson

ON the 9th January we arrived at Lugo, and were put into a convent for the night where we expected to remain for a few days and give the French an offer of battle; but on the evening ofthe jth an alarm was sounded that the enemy had approached within a league of the town. Having got flour served out instead of bread and the issue being made at a late hour, we had not time to cook it before we were obliged to turn out and form up in a field to the left of the main road in front of Lugo, where we remained all night without being disturbed. In the morning, everyone was happy that we had got the French in line, and that an end might be put to our hardships one way or another ; we longed very much to fight, and abhorred the thought of running away in the manner we had been doing for some time past.

About ten o'clock, as the rain was beginning to fill in torrents, the French began to extend their line, and beat the charge. They occupied a ploughed field, and we were posted on a heath, with a small river running in the hollow of a valley which separated us. A farmhouse lay at the foot of the rising ground having a few stacks of corn about it. As it stood at a.little distance from both lines but nearer to the British than the French, General Hope thought fit to take occupation of it. Accordingly the company to which I belonged was ordered to advance and take possession of the farm-yard and when gqing down for that purpose, General Hope accompanied us. While moving along the French fired one of their cannon, the ball from which fell close beside us but did no hurt; on seeing this the General good humouredly took off his hat and saluted the gunner.

As I was the only sergeant with the company and there being only one subaltern officer, I got the command of a section, to act under the orders of the captain. When we came to the house we found a party of the French there before us and a strong reinforcement coming to their assistance. However, they did not think fit to wait and receive us for after firing a few rounds on both sides, they fell back on the reinforcement, and we occupied the farm-yard. Though we had thus accomplished our object, we were not allowed to remain long in quiet possession, but were obliged to quit our position, as the enemy came upon us in overpowering numbers. We fell back the breadth of a field in our rear and posted ourselves behind a stone wall that enclosed it whence we opened a fire upon the enemy.

The French attempted to charge us but in this they failed. On the left of this field there was a cart-road that ran between two deep hedges. At the time the French in our front were keeping us in play, a party of about forty went up this road and unperceived us, got in our rear, while those in our front made a feint giving way with the intention of decoying us, and so getting us between the fire of both parties. But fortunately I happened to look round in expectation of some assistance, and judge what was my surprise when I saw a party of the enemy forming at the head of the field we were in, not above forty Yards from us.

The thought struck me at the moment to go into the lane and prevent them from getting into their own line; upon which the section under my command jumped into the road and prepared to charge them. When the French saw this, they endeavoured to get on to the lane at the other end of the field, and then ran down to us calling out 'Prisoners.'

By this time I had got my section regularly formed, and answered them with a volley that left eighteen of them dead and wounded. On seeing the fate of their comrades, twenty-two of them laid down their arms and were taken prisoners, whom I sent along with our corporal to the commanding officer of the regiment. When the French saw how roughly this party had been handled, they sent another detachment with a sergeant at its head who immediately commenced firing upon us.

The French sergeant got hold of one of our men to take him prisoner, when I leaped back and drove my pike through his body. Upon seeing their leader fall, the remainder of the men ran off and we were not able to follow them. About the same time there were a good many of the 91st taken prisoners. We were now thoroughly drenched with the rain which had fallen heavily all day; and when night came on, we were relieved by an equal number of the regiment, that we might have an opportunity of resting ourselves for a little.

More Spanish Adventures

Part 1: Sgt. Robertson's Memoirs of the Corunna Campaign

Part 2: Daniel Nicol's Memoirs with First Battalion of Detachments

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