CORUNNA 15 



His regiment of Cacadores formed part of the army that 

 advanced into Spain under Sir John Moore, and, in the 

 disastrous retreat to Corunna, formed part of the rear- 

 guard, which was continually engaged with the advanced 

 troops of the enemy, who, headed by Napoleon himself, 

 with the corps of Soult and Ney, were absolutely, in the 

 words used by that great military chief, driving us into 

 the sea. " Uj^on one occasion, when very much harrassed 

 with their cavalry," my host stated, " we made a stand, 

 and by a judicious movement had hemmed in their 

 advanced guard. Lord Paget, at the head of a brigade 

 of our hussars, made a desperate charge upon them, 

 which completely broke their line, and enabled our fellows 

 to take many prisoners. Among others was Bonaparte's 

 favourite Cavalry General, Lefevre Desnouettes." 



I had listened with great attention and interest up to 

 this time, when I interposed, and said, " I knew the man 

 who took him." 



" I took him," he said. 



" Pardon me," I replied ; " he was taken by a sergeant 

 of the 18th Hussars, I always understood. Indeed," I 

 added, " I had it from the sergeant's own lips : his name 

 was Bunn." 



" Hear me," said mv friend : " we both are riixht. 

 Sergeant Bunn with a dozen or more troopers, had 

 surrounded the General on the battle-field, and demanded 

 him to surrender. He refused to give up his sword, as 

 there was no commissioned officer present, the rest of the 

 regiment having galloped on in pursuit ; and he and his 

 aide-de-caTiij) Avould have been sabred, had I not oj^por- 

 tunely stepped u]}, and, s^Dcaking to the General in French, 



