1830.] The Captain of Rifles. 443 



occur. In our third attempt, we got possession of one of their howitzers, 

 for which a desperate struggle was making, when we were, at the same 

 moment, charged by infantry in front, and cavalry on the right, and 

 again compelled to fall back. But fortunately, at the moment, we were 

 reinforced by the arrival of the second brigade ; and, with their aid, we 

 once more stormed the position, and secured the well-earned howitzer; 

 while the third division came upon their flank, and they were driven 

 from the field in the greatest disorder." 



Thus ended the battle of Sabugal, April 3, 1811 ; and in two days 

 after, the triumphant army entered Spain. On that day month was 

 fought the battle of Fuentes d' Onor, an ineffectual attempt of Massena to 

 retrieve his lost laurels. There are now and then burlesque things, even 

 in the horrors of battle. The light division covered the right of the line, 

 the battle raging chiefly on the left and centre. " We were lying by our 

 arms under a burning sun j some stray cannon shot passing over and 

 about us, whose progress we watched for want of better employment. 

 One of them bounded along in the direction of an amateur, whom we had 

 for some time been observing, securely placed, as he imagined, behind a 

 piece of rock, which stood about five feet above the ground, and over 

 which nothing but his head was shown, sheltered from the sun by an 

 umbrella ! The shot in question touched the ground three or four times 

 between us and him, he saw it coming, lowered his umbrella, and with- 

 drew his head. Its expiring bound carried it into the very spot where 

 he had that instant disappeared. I hope he was not hurt ; but the 

 thing looked so ridiculous, that it excited a shout of laughter. We saw 

 no more of him." 



But, after all, life even military life is not made up of battles, the 

 domestic feelings intervene, and even the Rifleman, with his "green 

 one incarnadined" by victory, stoops delighted to the details of homely 

 life food, fire, and lodging. " Our regiment had been so long quartered 

 in Fuentes, that it was like fighting for our firesides. The padres house 

 stood at the top of the town. He was an old friend of ours, and an old 

 fool : for he would not leave his house until it was too late to take 

 anything with him. But, curious enough, though it had been repeatedly 

 in the possession of both sides, and plundered, no doubt, by many expert 

 artists, yet none of them thought of looking so high as the garret, which 

 happened to be the repository of his money and provisions. He came to 

 us, the day after the battle, weeping over his supposed loss, like a 

 sensitive Christian ; and I accompanied him to the house, to see if there 

 was not some consolation remaining for him. But when he found his 

 treasure safe, he could scarcely bear its restoration with becoming 

 gravity. I helped him to carry off his bag of dollars, and he returned 

 the compliment with a leg of mutton." 



There is one plague in the Peninsular, which draws, perhaps, as much 

 blood as the bayonet, yet which draws it not less in the piping times of 

 peace, than amid the havoc of war. To this enemy many a bold Briton 

 paid the tribute of his patriotic gore, the peninsula being, in every 

 age, its strong hold. " On taking possession of my quarter this 

 evening," says the Captain, " the people showed me an out-house, 

 which they said I might use as a stable, and I took my horse into it ; 

 but, seeing the floor strewed with what appeared to be a small brown 

 seed, heaps of which lay in each corner, as if shovelled together to take 

 to market ; I took up a handful, out of curiosity, and truly they were a 



3 L 2 



