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Multiple Choice
1. Which one of the following Button control names is not a legal C# identifier?
a._calculateTotalButton
b.printSalesReportButton
c.clear_customer_names_button
d.1stPlayerStartButton

ANS: D

2. Which one of the following Button control names is a legal C# identifier?

a._DisplayOption5Button
b.Exit!Button
c.*Clear*Button*
d.delete Record Button

ANS: A

3. The naming convention gets its name because the uppercase characters
that appear in a name are sometimes reminiscent of a camel’s humps.
a. camelCase
b. Pascal
c. Hungarian notation
d. CaMeL style

ANS: A

4. When learning computer programming, it is traditional to start by learning to write a

program.
a.Simple
b.Hello World
c.Pseudocode
d.K&R Style

ANS: B
©2016 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ. All Rights Reserved.
5. The PictureBox control’s property determines whether the image stored
in the control will cause the control to be shrunk or expanded.
a. DisplayMode
b. Visible
c. SizeMode
©2016 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ. All Rights Reserved.
d. Render

ANS: C

6. Programmers commonly use in their code to create a sense of visual

organization.
©2016 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ. All Rights Reserved.

a. different font colors

b. documentation comments
c. blank lines and indentation
d. bold images, such as photos

ANS: C

7. To close an application’s form in code, you use the statement .

a.me.Quit();
b.this.Close();
c.form.Exit();
d.app.Stop();

ANS: B

8. When you enter a statement into the code editor, Visual Studio analyzes it, and if a
syntax error is found, it is .
a. automatically corrected
b. underlined with a jagged line
c. crossed out
d. highlighted

ANS: B

9. The shows a description of the error, the name of the source code file
containing the error, the error’s line number and column number, and the name of the
project.
a. Debug dialog box
b. Crash pop up
c. Error List window
d. Just In Time debugger

ANS: C

10. The file contains an application’s start-up code, which executes when the
application runs.
a. Main.cs
b. Code.cs
c. Program.cs
d. Source.cs

ANS: C

11. The file named contains code associated with a form named Form1.
a. Form1.cs
b. MainForm.cs
c. Control.cs
d. Window.cs

ANS: A
©2016 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ. All Rights Reserved.

12. A is a declared block in a program between braces {…} that holds classes.
a. method
b. program
c. namespace
d. list

ANS: C

13. A(n) is a logical container in a program that holds methods (as well as
other program elements).
a. event
b. namespace
c. queue
d. class

ANS: D

14. A(n) is a sequence of one or more programming statements (code) that

performs some operation.
a. algorithm
b. method
c. class
d. namespace

ANS: B

15. The directives appearing at the top of a C# source code file indicate
which namespaces the program will use. Usually, these namespaces belong to the .NET
Framework.
a.include
b.namespace
c.public
d.using

ANS: D

16. Code containers, such as namespaces, classes, and methods, use to

enclose code.
a. braces ({})
b. asterisks (**)
c. parentheses (())
d. brackets ([])

ANS: A

17. An easy way to switch between the Designer and the code editor is to click the
for the desired window. This only works if both the code file and
designer file have already been opened.
a. icon
©2016 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ. All Rights Reserved.

b. tab
c. button
d. bounding box

ANS: B

18. A(n) is a method that executes when a specific event (such as clicking the
mouse) takes place while an application is running.
a. action sequencer
b. feature coordinator
c. event handler
d. incident manager

ANS: C

19. A(n) event occurs on a control when the user clicks the mouse on a
control while the program is running.
a. Action
b. Click
c. Live
d. Mouse

ANS: B

20. A is a small pop-up window, also known as a dialog box, that displays a
message.
a. standard window
b. pop up
c. banner
d. message box

ANS: D

21. If you want your code to execute a method, write a statement known as a(n)
.
a. event handler
b. executor statement
c. initialization routine
d. method call

ANS: D

22. Which one of the following statements correctly display the text “Hello” in a message
box?
a.Messagebox("Hello")
b.MessageBox.Show("Hello");
c.msgbox(Hello);
d.msgbox.show(Hello)

ANS: B
©2016 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ. All Rights Reserved.

23. When a(n) appears around an object in the Visual Studio Designer, it
indicates that the object is selected and is ready for editing.
a. sizing handle
b. editing icon
c. bounding box
d. frame

ANS: C

24. allow you to resize a selected object in the Visual Studio Designer by
clicking and dragging the mouse when the mouse cursor becomes a two-headed arrow.
a. Bounding boxes
b. Sizing handles
c. ToolTips
d. Properties

ANS: B

25. When you select an object in the Visual Studio Designer, the object’s size, color, text,
and other characteristics are displayed in the window.
a.Designer
b.Editing
c.Object
d.Properties

ANS: D

26. The property of a form determines the text that is displayed in a form’s
title bar.
a. Title
b. Caption
c. Name
d. Text

ANS: D

27. The property can be used to change a form’s width and height,
measured in pixels.
a. Area
b. Resolution
c. Size
d. Rectangle

ANS: C

28. When selected in the Properties window toolbar, the button causes the
items in the Properties window to be displayed in alphabetical order.
a. Arrange
b. Ascending
©2016 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ. All Rights Reserved.

c. Descending
d. Alphabetical

ANS: D

29. Selecting the button in the Properties window causes the items in the
window to be displayed in logical groups.
a. Grouped
b. Categorized
c. Ordered
d. Type

ANS: B

30. The Visual Studio window shows a scrollable list of controls that you can
add to a form.
a.Collection
b.Bank
c.Toolbox
d.Shelf

ANS: C

31. In the design window, you can click and drag a control to a new location when the
mouse cursor is positioned inside the control and the mouse cursor becomes a
.
a. two-headed arrow
b. four-headed arrow
c. hand icon
d. scissor icon

ANS: B

32. To delete a control, you can select it on a form and then press the key on
the keyboard.
a. Delete
b. Z
c. Tab
d. X

ANS: A

33. A Button control has a property that holds a string to be displayed on the
face of the button.
a. Text
b. Name
c. Description
d. Face

ANS: A
©2016 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ. All Rights Reserved.

34. A control’s property identifies the control in the application’s code and in
the Visual Studio environment.
a. Text
b. Source
c. Tag
d. Name

ANS: D

35. Control names are also known as , the same term used for variables in
programs.
a. tags
b. identifiers
c. values
d. labels

ANS: B

36. To run an application in Visual Studio, press the button on the keyboard
or click the Start Debugging button on the toolbar.
a. Enter
b. F5
c. Tab
d. Shift

ANS: B

37. A file that contains program code iscalled a .

a. source code file
b. program file
c. C# file
d. cs file

ANS: A

38. In programming we use the term to mean a sequence of characters that

could be enclosed in quotation marks “…”.
a. statement
b. thread
c. word
d. string

ANS: D

39. In C# code, are required to indicate the beginning and the end of astring.
a. single quotation marks, such as (‘)
b. double quotation marks, such as (“)
c. parentheses
d. semicolons
©2016 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ. All Rights Reserved.

ANS: B

40. Just as a period marks the end of asentence, a marks the end of a
programming statement in C#.
a. space
b. underscore
c. semicolon
d. period

ANS: C

41. When a piece of data such as 23 or “Hello” is written into a program’s code, it is called a
.
a. constant
b. sentinel
c. value
d. literal

ANS: D

42. When a string is written into a program’s code, it is called a(n) .

a. string literal
b. typed string
c. encoded string
d. string constant

ANS: A

43. When you have a project open in Visual Studio, the time during which you build the GUI
and write the application’s code is referredto as .
a. prototyping
b. design time
c. visual planning
d. application progression

ANS: B

44. The time during which an application is executing is referred to as .

a. up time
b. execution
c. run time
d. instancing

ANS: C

45. When you want to display text on a form but not allow the user to change the text, you
use a .
a. String control
b. Label control
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©2016 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ. All Rights Reserved.

c. Text control
d. Font control

ANS: B

46. The Label control can be found in the group of the Toolbox.
a.Common Controls
b.Containers
c.Data
d.Components

ANS: A

47. The property allows you to set the font, font style, and size of a control’s
text.
a. Appearance
b. Text
c. Font
d. Graphics

ANS: C

48. The can be accessed from the Properties window by clicking the ellipses
(…) appearing next to the Font property’s value.
a. Text designer
b. Font dialog box
c. Text editor
d. Font selector

ANS: B

49. Each Label control has a property that allows you to display a rectangle
around the control’s text.
a. Border
b. FrameStyle
c. Frame
d. BorderStyle

ANS: D

50. Which one of the following is not a valid setting for a Label control’s BorderStyle
property?
a. FixedSingle
b. None
c. Fixed3D
d. FixedDouble

ANS: D
©2016 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ. All Rights Reserved.

51. Label controls have a(n) property that affects the way they can be
resized.
a. Resize
b. AutoSize
c. SizeMode
d. Redraw

ANS: B

52. A property can be set to one of two possible values: True or False.
a. Boolean
b. Binary
c. Singular
d. Toggle

ANS: A

53. A Label control’s property can be used to change the alignment of text
within the Label.
a. TextPosition
b. DisplayFont
c. TextAlign
d. HorizontalAlign

ANS: C

54. In code, you use a(n) to store a value in a control’s property.

a. string literal
b. assignment statement
c. dialog box
d. constant

ANS: B

55. In C#, the equal sign (=) is known as the .

a. equality operator
b. parity operator
c. assignment operator
d. transfer operator

ANS: C

56. The standard notation for referring to a control’s property in code is:
a.ControlName.PropertyName
b.ControlName->PropertyName
c.ControlName::PropertyName
d.ControlName<PropertyName/>

ANS: A
©2016 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ. All Rights Reserved.

57. Which of the following statements would display the number 25 in a Label control
named ouputLabel?
a.outputLabel.Text = 25;
b.outputLabel.Text = "25";
c.outputLabel(25);
d.outputLabel = "25";

ANS: B

58. Which of the following statements would clear the text displayed in a Label control
named cityLabel?
a.cityLabel.Text = "empty";
b.cityLabel.Text = "none";
c.cityLabel.Text = "clear";
d.cityLabel.Text = "";

ANS: D

59. is a feature of Visual Studio that provides automatic code completion as

you write programming statements.
a. IntelliSense
b. AutoComplete
c. Snippet
d. CodeHelper

ANS: A

60. You can use a(n) control to display a graphic image on a form.
a. Image
b. Graphics
c. Texture2D
d. PictureBox

ANS: D

61. Once you have created a PictureBox control, you use its property to
specify the image it will display.
a. Picture
b. Image
c. Source
d. Display

ANS: B

62. is the default value of the PictureBox control’s SizeModeproperty.

a. AutoSize
b. Normal
c. Zoom
d. StretchImage
©2016 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ. All Rights Reserved.

ANS: B

63. is a term that refers to an image’s width to height ratio.

a. Area
b. Bounding box
c. Aspect ratio
d. UV map

ANS: C

64. When a PictureBox control’s SizeMode property is set to , the image is

uniformly resized to fit the PictureBox without losing its original aspect ratio.
a. Normal
b. Zoom
c. CenterImage
d. StretchImage

ANS: B

65. Most controls have a(n) property that determines whether the control
can be seen by the user at run time.
a. Enabled
b. Invisible
c. Show
d. Visible

ANS: D

66. Assuming an application has a PictureBox control named profilePictureBox,

which one of the following assignment statements will hide the PictureBox from the
user at run time?
a.profilePictureBox.Visible = False;
b.profilePictureBox.Visible = false;
c.profilePictureBox.Invisible = True;
d.profilePictureBox.Invisible = true;

ANS: B

67. are short notes placed in a program’s source code, explaining how the
program works.
a. Sketches
b. Tags
c. Comments
d. Labels

ANS: C

68. A(n) appears on one line in a program and begins with two forward
slashes (//).
a. line comment
©2016 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ. All Rights Reserved.

b. short comment
c. block comment
d. documentation comment

ANS: A

69. A(n) can occupy multiple consecutive lines in a program. It starts with /*
(a forward slash followed by an asterisk), and ends with */ (an asterisk followed by a
forward slash).
a. line comment
b. block comment
c. short comment
d. documentation comment

ANS: B

70. are used by professional programmers to embed extensive

documentation in a program’ source code.
a. Line comments
b. Block comments
c. Documentation comments
d. Embedded comments

ANS: C

True or False

1. When you use the Properties window to change a control’s Visible property at design
time, the control will become invisible in the Designer.

ANS: F

2. A control’s Visible property cannot be modified in code.

ANS: F

3. When you write the values true or false in code, they must be written in all
lowercase letters.

ANS: T

4. When a method executes, the statements in the method always execute in the order
that they appear, from the beginning of the method to the end of the method.

ANS: T

5. Comments are short notes intended for the compiler to read and interpret.

ANS: F
©2016 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ. All Rights Reserved.

6. In C#, there are three types of comments: line comments, block comments, and
compilation comments.

ANS: F

7. A line comment does not have to occupy an entire line, so a line comment can appear
after an executable statement.

ANS: T

8. Block comments make it easier to write long explanations because you do not have to
mark every line with a comment symbol.

ANS: T

9. Writing comments should be avoided, especially for large and complex programs.

ANS: F

10. The indentation of statements inside methods, classes, and namespaces is a convention
that virtually all programmers follow.

ANS: T

11. The standard Windows close button is the only way to close a running application in
Visual Studio.

ANS: F

12. If you double-click an error message in the Error List window, the code editor will
highlight and display the line of code that caused the error.

ANS: T

13. Each form and control in an application’s GUI is assigned a default name.

ANS: T

14. The appearance and other characteristics of a GUI object are determined by the object’s
properties.

ANS: T

15. The Properties window contains a scrollable list of properties, which has two columns:
the left column shows each property’s name, and the right column shows each
property’s value.

ANS: T
©2016 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ. All Rights Reserved.

16. Changing a form’s Text property will change the form’s name.

ANS: F

17. When the properties in the Properties window are displayed alphabetically, the (name)
property appears at the bottom of the list.

ANS: F

18. To add a control to a form, you find it in the Toolbox and then double-click it.

ANS: T

19. You cannot click and drag controls from the Toolbox onto a form.

ANS: F

20. Once a control has been added to a form, it cannot be deleted.

ANS: F

21. To remove a control from a form, you select it and then press the F4 key on the
keyboard.

ANS: F

22. When you create Button controls, they are automatically given default names such as
button1, button2, and so forth.

ANS: T

23. When Button control is created, its Text property is initially set to the same value as the
Button control’s name.

ANS: T

24. Text displayed on a button should hint at what the button willdo when it is clicked.

ANS: T

25. A control’s name should reflect the purpose of the control.

ANS: T

26. C# identifiers can contain spaces after the first character.

ANS: F

27. The first character of a C# identifier must be one of the letters a through z or A through
Z or an underscore character (_).
©2016 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ. All Rights Reserved.

ANS: T

28. A Hello World program is a simple program that merely displays the words “Hello
World” on the screen.

ANS: T

29. The only way to run a program in Visual Studio is by clicking the Start Debugging button
on the toolbar.

ANS: F

30. C# source code files always end with the .cs extension.

ANS: T

31. The Program.cs file contains auto-generated code that serves as an outline to which you
should add your own code as you develop the application.

ANS: F

32. It is important that you do not modify the contents of the Form1.cs file because doing
so will prevent the application from executing.

ANS: F

33. C# code is primarily organized in three ways: namespaces, classes, and methods.

ANS: T

34. C# code is organized using namespaces, which are contained inside classes, which are
contained inside methods.

ANS: F

35. Each opening brace ({) of a code container must have a matching closing brace (}) later
in the program.

ANS: T

36. You can detach the code editor window and use the mouse to drag it to another part of
the screen.

ANS: T

37. When an event handler is generated for a control by Visual Studio, it doesn’t do
anything until you add your own code.

ANS: T
©2016 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ. All Rights Reserved.

38. The .NET Framework provides a method named MessageBox.Show that you can use
in Visual C# to display a pop-up message box.

ANS: T

39. Programmers refer to the act of executing a method as calling themethod.

ANS: T

40. Single quotation marks can be used in program code to mark the beginning and ending
of a string.

ANS: F

41. Ending a programming statement with a semicolon is not required in C#.

ANS: F

42. If you wish to create a Click event handler for a control in Visual Studio, it is not
necessary to double-click the control in the Designer first.

ANS: F

43. In C#, string literals must be enclosed in double quotation marks.

ANS: T

44. Programmers sometimes say that literals are values that are soft coded into a program
because the value of a literal can be changed while the program is running.

ANS: F

45. In a C# application, all buttons on a form must share the same Click event handler in
form’s source code file.

ANS: F

46. At run time, you should not use the Designer, Toolbox, Properties window, or code
editor to modify the program.

ANS: F

47. The terms run time, runtime, and run-time all typically mean the samething.

ANS: T

48. Once you have placed a Label control on a form, set its Text property to the string you
want to display.
©2016 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ. All Rights Reserved.

ANS: T

49. A Label control’s Text property is initially set to the same value as the Label control’s
name.

ANS: T

50. A control’s name should never be changed to something other than the default name
that Visual Studio gives it.

ANS: F

51. A Label control’s BorderStyle property is set to FixedSingle by default.

ANS: F

52. To change the BorderStyle property of a Label control in the Designer, select it in the
Properties window and then click the down-arrow button that appears next to the
value.

ANS: T

53. By default, a Label control’s text is aligned with the top and left edges of the label’s
bounding box.

ANS: T

54. The assignment operator assigns the value that appears on its left side to the item that
appears on its right side.

ANS: F

55. Because the Label control’s Text property can accept only strings, you cannot display a
number in a label.

ANS: F

56. In code, if you want to clear the text that is displayed in a Label control, you can assign
an empty string ("") to the control’s Text property.

ANS: T

57. When typing a statement in code, press the Tab key on the keyboard to accept
suggestions made by the IntelliSense feature of Visual Studio.

ANS: T

58. In the Designer, the PictureBox tool is located in the Common Controls group in the
Toolbox window.
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Other documents randomly have
different content
 CHAPTER XIII.

WE RETURN TO THE PENINSULA.

A
fter having filled up some hundred vacancies caused by our
Dutch expedition, we again received orders to prepare for
foreign service; and in January 1810 the 28th Regiment for
the fourth time in four successive years marched from Colchester to
go out and meet the foe in foreign lands. On this occasion we
proceeded to Portsmouth, and with the 2nd Battalion of the 4th or
King’s Own Regiment embarked for Gibraltar, where we arrived
towards the latter end of the ensuing month. In the April following,
Major Browne of the regiment, with the light companies of the 9th,
30th, and 41st Regiments, a battalion company of the 28th which I
accompanied, two guns and thirty gunners, the whole amounting to
three hundred and sixty men and officers, marched to Tarifa, a small
town at the entrance of the gut of Gibraltar, afterwards rendered
celebrated by its noble defence under Colonel Skerrett against
Marshal Victor.

CHASED BY
Soon after our arrival I was sent by Major Browne
FRENCH with despatches to General Campbell, then
HORSEMEN. Lieutenant-Governor of Gibraltar. Returning next day
with the general’s instructions, when I had got about
half way, my attention was suddenly called by the peasantry, who
pastured their flocks on the neighbouring hills, frequently crying out,
“Beware of the French!” Neither the dragoon who accompanied me
nor I myself could discover the slightest appearance of an enemy,
and I knew that the French occupied no part within twenty miles of
the place. Under this conviction I proceeded forwards, yet cautiously,
for the shepherds, who seemed much excited, were running in all
directions collecting their flocks. On our advancing a short way, we
heard the shouts, “Beware of the French!” repeated with redoubled
vehemence. I now stopped short, when suddenly a French cavalry
piquet, consisting of about twenty men and an officer, darted from
out the thickets, which were so high and the patrol so well
concealed that, although within a hundred and fifty yards of us,
neither the dragoon nor I had discovered any appearance of either
man or horse. They were in their saddles in an instant, and saluted
us with their carbines and pistols literally before we had time to turn
our horses round. My dragoon darted like lightning off the road
towards the coast, calling upon me to follow, and in an instant was
lost to sight. I felt much disinclination to trust my safety to
concealment in a country with one yard of which off the road I was
not acquainted. I therefore resolved to rely on the abilities of my
horse to make good my retreat along the road; I could depend upon
him for speed. The patrol gave me chase for upwards of four miles.
We always preserved nearly the same distance, from a hundred to a
hundred and fifty yards apart, losing sight of each other only when a
turn in the road or some high brambles intervened. Our uniformly
preserving nearly the same distance did not depend on the equal
speed of our animals, but on the nature of the road which was
perhaps the worst mountain road in Europe; and so deep and so
little apart were the ruts by which it was completely traversed that to
push a spirited horse would be to break his neck to a certainty and
most probably that of the rider also. On approaching the cork wood
not far from Algesiras, the ground being comparatively level, I very
soon left the dragoons far behind.
On my arrival at Algesiras, learning that two Spanish regiments
of cavalry had just arrived there, I immediately waited on the senior
officer, and informed him of what had occurred, using every
remonstrance which I could suggest to induce him to march to the
aid of Tarifa, which, even before I entered the town, he knew from
the peasantry to be attacked. But all my prayers that he would aid
Tarifa, or at least cut off the retreat of the enemy, were ineffectual,
the Spanish commandant alleging that without orders he could not
move. Upon this I wrote to Lieutenant Belcher, assistant military
secretary to General Campbell, stating all that had taken place, at
the same time remarking that from the fact, which I learned also
from the peasantry who from far and near drove their flocks into
Algesiras, that no sortie had been made by Major Browne, I felt
convinced that he was attacked by a force much superior to his own.
This letter I immediately sent off by a boat to Gibraltar.
As soon as it became dusk I again mounted my horse, if possible
to get to Tarifa, attended by the same dragoon who accompanied
me in the morning. This man, who was no coward, found his way
into Algesiras about the same time that I arrived there. He assured
me that he could conduct me by a coast road to within a hundred
yards of Tarifa without being discovered by any, as it was a road or
rather goat-track but little known. As a proof of the confidence which
he felt, he insisted on taking the lead, for two horses could not move
abreast, and like a true Spaniard drew his sabre even before he left
the town. The only thing I obtained from the Spanish commandant
was his gratuitous adieu, strongly recommending that I should not
attempt to return to Tarifa until it should be thoroughly ascertained
that the enemy had retired, to which advice, to avoid the enemy, I
paid as much attention as he did to my recommendation to seek the
enemy. I felt much anxiety to be at Tarifa, the more as I wished to
tell Browne of what I had done, and that consequently he might
expect a reinforcement.
We arrived before daybreak near the town, where meeting a
friar we heard that we might advance with safety, for the French had
retired. It appears that as soon as Marshal Victor, whose corps were
lying before Cadiz, had learned that Tarifa was occupied by English
troops, he sent out a strong patrol of infantry and cavalry to
ascertain our strength. He felt very jealous of the post, as it
threatened his foraging parties, who frequently came to the
neighbouring fertile plains to procure nourishment for his army, and
principally to collect forage for his cavalry. For this reason it was that
he sent the party mentioned, who appeared before the walls of
Tarifa on the morning of April 20th before daybreak, seven days
after the place had been in our possession. The surmise stated in my
letter to Lieutenant Belcher proved true. Major Browne, in
consequence of the strong force brought against him, did not move
out of the garrison until the evening, when the enemy drew off a
part of their troops; then, as they still occupied a large convent and
some uninhabited houses close to the town, a sortie was made,
headed by Captain Stovin, when they were soon dislodged and
pursued for a considerable distance. This demonstration against
Tarifa was attended with but few results or casualties, one man only,
a gunner, being killed and a few more wounded. Lieutenant Mitchell,
a gallant officer, commanded the artillery.
TARIFA On my arrival at Tarifa I acquainted Major Browne
REINFORCED. with all that had occurred to me during my absence,
my useless endeavours to induce the Spanish
regiments or any part of the garrison of Algesiras to intercept the
enemy’s return from Tarifa, and finally with my having written to
Gibraltar. The major fully approved of all the steps I had taken; and,
my letter being laid before General Campbell, he ordered four
companies of the 47th Regiment, under the command of Captain
O’Donoghue of that corps, instantly to embark for Tarifa, but the
wind becoming contrary, they were obliged to disembark at Algesiras
and proceed overland. They arrived at Tarifa the night after my
return there; and here they continued until the month of September.
Then the 28th Regiment, whose colonel, Belson, had gone to
England in consequence of ill-health, were ordered to Tarifa; and
Captain O’Donoghue’s detachment, together with the light
companies which originally had accompanied Major Browne, were
then recalled to Gibraltar.
Shortly after this attack on Tarifa, an English merchant vessel
was captured by a French privateer in the neighbourhood of Vejer,
not far from Tarifa. A midshipman, who commanded a gunboat
detached from the guardship at Gibraltar, reported the circumstance
to Major Browne, and applied to him for a detachment of soldiers to
embark on board his boat, stating that so strengthened he might
retake the vessel. Browne, in whose estimation the honour of His
Majesty’s arms in whatever branch of the service was paramount to
any other sentiment, hesitated not a moment, and ordered me, with
as many men of the light company (28th) as the gunboat could
stow, to embark immediately.

A NAVAL
Leaving Tarifa in the evening and pulling all night,
BATTLE. we found ourselves next morning at dawn in the
celebrated bay of Trafalgar; and as soon as light
enabled us to see we discovered the vessel alluded to about two
miles distant. We immediately swept towards her. Soon after a boat
put off from the shore, now in possession of the French, with
intention, as we afterwards discovered, to set the ship on fire. While
some of the sailors and soldiers in turn used every exertion to row,
or rather sweep, we kept up as quick a fire as possible with a long
twelve-pounder and a twenty-four-pounder at the boat coming from
shore. One shot having struck not far beyond her, whilst a shower of
grape fell but little short, she thought proper to retire. Being thus
freed from the enemy’s boat, we made a wide offing to keep the
vessel between us and shore, within musket-shot of which she was
run aground. On boarding her, we placed bales of wool or cotton,
which formed the principal part of her cargo, along her side next the
shore to cover us from the fire of musketry; for by this time a strong
detachment of French infantry came down close to the water’s edge,
ranging themselves in loose order, so as not to offer any dense body
to the fire of the gunboat, which, after putting the soldiers on board
the merchantman, retired beyond musket range of the shore and
kept up a fire of round shot and grape. The enemy on shore had a
similar covering to our own, having the night before disembarked
several bales of the cotton. Whenever any of these was struck by a
round shot, its bounding from the beach presented a most fantastic
appearance and caused shouts of laughter among the men, which
tended to lighten their fatigue.
 After working indefatigably for several hours, we at length
succeeded in getting the vessel afloat. Our labour was much
heightened by our being obliged to work her off by the windlass,
since her capstan was unshipped and carried away by the French,
who had everything in preparation on board to set fire to her as
soon as unloaded, or if there were an attempt at rescue.
Having succeeded in carrying her off, we returned next day to
Tarifa, where we landed in triumph from our prize, as she was
termed. Next day she was sent to Gibraltar, and condemned, I think,
to salvage or some such term; but never having on entering the
army contemplated becoming a prize-fighter, I may be mistaken as
to terms. On a distribution of this said salvage money being made, I
was put down to receive a portion such as is allotted to a sailor,
probably an able-bodied one. But on some person in Gibraltar
suggesting that probably it would not be correct to class me, who
was the only commissioned officer present at the recapture or within
sight of it, with a common sailor, I was on reflection ranked with the
petty officers, cooks, etc., thereby gaining promotion from the
forecastle to the caboose, and obtaining the rank if not the title of
cook. I employed no agent, considering my claim safe in the hands
of the sister profession. Captain Vivian, who commanded the
guardship, the San Juan, at Gibraltar, I was told, superintended the
arrangement; and, together with the whole of his officers and crew,
shared in the spoil, each officer having a much larger portion than
that dealt out to me, although neither he nor they aided or assisted,
or were or could be in sight, when the capture took place. The
midshipman who commanded the gunboat was equally unfortunate
as to the share to which he was entitled as the only acting naval
officer present at the capture; but I heard at the time that to quiet
him he was otherwise rewarded. If true, I feel happy at it; and we
both should feel content, he at being promoted to the rank of a
commissioned officer, and I at receiving a diploma as a master of
gastronomic science, although to this day I am ignorant how to
compose even a basin of peasoup. Shortly afterwards I met Mr.
William Sweetland, who was employed as agent on the occasion. On
questioning him as to the extraordinary distribution, he with
professional coolness replied that he was employed on the other
side, that no person appeared on my behalf, and that if anybody
had, of course there could be no question as to the sentence which
must have been passed. I was strongly advised to appeal to the
Admiralty, as I might thereby gain a sum of money that would tend
to my advancement; but I foolishly disregarded the counsel. So I
took my cook’s wages, and therewith drank to the health of my
Sovereign, the honour and glory of my old profession, and success
for ever to the Royal Navy. I was afterwards informed that thanks
were given to me in public orders by Sir Richard Keats. I never saw
the order, and therefore cannot answer for its existence; yet the fact
could easily be ascertained by any feeling interest in the subject. For
my own part, I felt so dissatisfied at the mercenary or jobbing part
of the transaction that I never took any step to ascertain whether
the thanks were or were not published. Colonel Browne having
visited Gibraltar shortly after the transaction had taken place, fully
explained his and my sentiments to Captain Vivian on the quarter-
deck of the San Juan, among other assertions upholding that he
himself and the whole garrison of Tarifa, from which Lieutenant
Blakeney was detached, had as strong a claim to participation in the
salvage as Captain Vivian and the crew of the guardship; and here
he was perfectly right, for the garrison of Tarifa was five-and-twenty
miles nearer to the scene of action than the San Juan stationed at
Gibraltar.
A DANGEROUS During our long stay at Tarifa few days passed on
FORD. which I was not employed either in opposing the
French foraging parties or in carrying despatches to
and from Gibraltar. On one of these latter occasions, when returning
to Tarifa after an absence of three days, detained by heavy rains, I
was not a little surprised at finding a stream through the cork wood
of Algesiras much changed in its aspect. But three days previously I
crossed it when the horse’s hoofs were scarcely wetted; now it had
become a roaring and rapid torrent. The passage of this torrent was
very dangerous; its bed, with which I was well acquainted having
crossed it fifty times, was formed of large smooth flags much
inclined, making it somewhat perilous at any time to ride over it.
Within fifteen or twenty yards of this, the only part passable, the
water-course suddenly wound round the base of an abrupt
mountain, against which the torrent rushed with violence, and
continuing its new direction soon disgorged itself into the ocean. To
make a false step in crossing was certain destruction. The current
passed rapidly downwards between the mountains, its foaming surf
interrupted in its course by huge and prominent rocks, with which
the mountain sides were studded down to the very bed of the
torrent, which, now passing underneath, now boiling over the
rugged and unseemly heads of those frightful masses of stone, gave
them apparent animation; like monstrous spirits of the flood, they
seemed to threaten destruction to all who came within their reach.
With such a picture before me and considering it a stupid way of
losing one’s life, I hesitated for some moments, when the Spanish
dragoon, who always accompanied me on such excursions, boldly
took the lead and entered the hissing foam. His horse made some
few slips, and more than once I expected to see both dashed to
pieces, which must have taken place had the animal made a really
false step. Fortunately they got safe across; but this did not induce
me to follow. Few perils I would not have encountered rather than
ride through that frightful torrent, knowing as I did the nature of its
bed. Yet to return to Algesiras I considered degrading, especially
when the dragoon had so boldly passed across. At length, and
contrary to his advice, I determined to wade on foot, and flogged
forward my horse into the water, which he unwillingly took, and like
the other narrowly escaped. The last trial was my own. I recollected
that, close above where the horses passed, a rock about two feet
high stood in the centre of the stream, and to lean against that in
case of necessity, I entered the water a little higher. Fortunately I
thought of this precaution, for by the time I had with the greatest
exertion got to where this rock was situated, I felt so spent and
incapable of resisting the torrent that I could neither proceed nor
retire. Placing both legs firmly against the rock, and feeling quite
giddy from the glare and the rapidity with which the waters passed,
I felt compelled to close my eyes for some moments.
ESCAPE FROM My situation was now neither wholesome nor
DROWNING. pleasant. Boughs and trunks of trees rapidly passed at
intervals down the stream, any one of which coming
upon me must have either smashed me on the spot or dashed me
headlong against the rocks below. But luckily I was preserved by
another rock, which stood in the centre of the channel not far above
me, rearing its ample head over the water; this dividing the torrent,
sent the floating batteries on either side. The poor Spaniard
appeared desperate, violently striking his head, but he did not
attempt the water a second time, nor could I blame him. I wore a
very long sash with its still longer cords, such as light infantry bucks
then used. Untying it and holding one end, I flung the other towards
the Spaniard, who anxiously prepared to catch it; but it proved too
short. He now took off his sash, which was also long as all Spanish
sashes are, and rolling up a stone within it flung it towards me with
such precision that I caught it with both hands. I now tied the two
sashes together, and fastened the stone within one end of the
dragoon’s sash, which I flung back to him. He caught it and gave a
cheer. The only thing I now dreaded was that the Spaniard in his
anxiety would give a sudden pull, which, with the heavy load of
water I carried, might cause the silken bridge to snap or pull me off
my legs, either of which things must be fatal. I therefore cautioned
him to hold firm, but on no account to pull unless I should fall. He
fully obeyed the directions, and I warped myself safely across. The
faithful Spaniard hugged me to his breast, and having raped my
cheeks of a kiss each, burst into a flood of tears, declaring that had
anything happened to me he would instantly have deserted to the
French; he said that, had I been drowned and of course carried into
the ocean, no assertion of his could have prevented any one from
considering him the cause, and that consequently he would have
been torn to pieces by the English soldiers at Tarifa.
It was now about dusk, and the Spaniard having assisted me to
mount, we started forward as fast as the badness of the road would
permit, for we had several miles still to traverse. The expression of
the inexpressible part of my dress at every stride of the horse
resembled the sound made by steaks being fried in an adjoining
room while the door is continually shutting and opening. This simile
will now no doubt be considered excessively vulgar; but at the
period alluded to most officers were familiar with a frying-pan, and
even a guardsman in those days could rough it on a beefsteak and a
bottle of old port.
We arrived at Tarifa long after the officers had dined. Colonel
Browne well recollects the circumstance, as it was on this occasion
that I brought him a letter written by Lord Bathurst appointing him
Lieutenant-Governor of Tarifa, with a pecuniary advantage attached
which was not the least acceptable part of the communication.
In this expedition I lost the use of a gold repeater, which was so
gorged by the mountain torrent that I never afterwards could keep it
in order.
A REVOLT OF Soon after this I was again sent to Gibraltar with
WOMEN. despatches, relative to which some notable
occurrences took place. I should have previously
mentioned that shortly after our occupation of Tarifa a corps or civic
guard, composed of young men, inhabitants of the town, was
formed. The command of this body, called the Tarifa Volunteers,
amounting to from forty to fifty individuals, was confided to Captain
Meacham, 28th Regiment, not only because he was a gallant and
experienced officer, but also on account of his knowledge of the
Spanish language, acquired at an earlier period when the regiment
was stationed in Minorca. This corps in its infancy imperfectly drilled,
without any established uniform and not very imposing in
appearance owing to their diversity of dress, could not be relied on
as an efficient force. For these reasons perhaps it was that they got
the name of “Meacham’s Blind Nuts,” so baptised, if I mistake not,
by Captain Allen of the 10th Regiment. However, to ascertain what
might be expected from them in case of an emergency which was
daily expected, Major Browne determined to put their alertness at
least to trial, confiding his plan to the Spanish lieutenant-governor.
After a jovial dinner-party he, about an hour before daybreak,
ordered the drums and bugles to sound to arms and troops to line
the walls immediately, stating that the French were rapidly
advancing against the town. The first to be seen, sabre in hand, was
the Spanish governor, previously warned; then came forth the British
garrison with firm and equal step; and last and not too willingly
appeared the rather tardy volunteers. They were to be seen in small
groups scattered through the town, no kind of formation having
taken place preparatory to their going to the walls; and so they
slowly moved along the streets. To hurry them up a gun was fired,
when an extraordinary scene was presented. Suddenly all the doors
in the town flew open, and out rushed a fiercer and more warlike
body by far. The streets were instantly crowded with women, one
seizing a husband, another a son, a third a brother; some clinging to
their dearly beloved, all endeavouring to snatch them by force from
out their warlike ranks, loudly and bitterly exclaiming against the
British, who, they cried or rather screamed, being fond of bloodshed
themselves, would force others into fight whether willing or
otherwise. At length, urged by some British officers and breaking
away from their wives, mothers, sisters and lovers, in whose hands
remained many cloaks, coats, hats and even torn locks of hair, the
poor Nuts arrived half shelled upon the ramparts. Dawn soon after
breaking, all the guns were fired off, but surpassed by the louder
screaming inside the town. The rough music of the artillery was
immediately succeeded by the more harmonious sounds of the band
playing “God save the King.” All was soon restored to tranquillity,
save for a few contentious Blind Nuts, each claiming to be the first
who mounted the walls and offered himself to be cracked in defence
of his country.
Scarcely had this scene terminated when Colonel Browne
received important intelligence of the enemy, and I was immediately
sent with despatches to Gibraltar by water, the wind being rather
favourable though strong, but the weather rainy. On my arrival at
Gibraltar, to my utter astonishment I found the landing-place
crowded with inhabitants, officers and soldiers, all greedy to know
the nature of my despatches, especially as I had come away in such
boisterous weather and in an open boat. All were in the greatest
anxiety; for an English man-of-war, happening to pass by Tarifa at
the moment the guns were firing from the ramparts, reported the
circumstance at Gibraltar, but as it was blowing hard at the time and
there was no port, she had not been able to stop to ascertain the
cause of the firing. This, since a second attack on Tarifa by a larger
force was threatened by the enemy, caused the greatest excitement
at Gibraltar.
The first person who addressed me on landing was Lieutenant
Taylor, 9th Regiment (afterwards shot through the body at Barossa),
demanding, without any prelude whatever, if Captain Godwin of his
regiment was wounded. I dryly answered, “Yes.” “Where?” “In the
shoulder.” “Are they beaten off?” “They are not there now.” This was
sufficient to extricate me from the surrounding crowd, which
otherwise would have impeded my progress to the convent for at
least an hour. As soon as Taylor got his information, he, followed by
the crowd, whom I refused to answer, ran off to communicate his
intelligence to his commanding officer, Colonel Mole, and Mole
instantly galloped off with the news to General Bowes.
NEWS OF In the meantime I delivered my despatches to
BATTLE. General Campbell at the convent. Proceeding thence
to Captain Power, who temporarily commanded the
28th Regiment, I was there met by Captain Loftus, aide-de-camp to
General Bowes, with a message from the general that I should
immediately, and in writing, state my reasons for having propagated
unfounded reports of an attack and battle fought at Tarifa. I instantly
answered that I had propagated no reports; that the words battle or
Tarifa never escaped my lips; that to get rid of an idle and
troublesome multitude who surrounded me on landing, I muttered
something in a low tone of voice to Lieutenant Taylor, telling him
loud enough to be heard by many not to divulge anything until the
contents of the despatches which I carried should be made known
through the proper channel; that Taylor promised secrecy; and that
my stratagem succeeded, for on his departure at a quick pace the
crowd followed. I further added that, had I the slightest conception
that anything thus communicated could be believed by a general
officer, I should certainly have remained silent, however
incommoded by the mob; and that to free myself from them was my
only object. This explanation seemed to have been sufficient. I had
no further communication from the general; but the circumstance
having been privately communicated to General Campbell, he sent
for Bowes and said, “So, general, I understand that you have had a
flying despatch relative to a great battle being fought at Tarifa. I
should think, general, that if such had been the case, this would
have been the proper place for you to seek information, instead of
sending in pursuit of the officer who carried despatches to me to
know his reasons for any heedless conversation that might have
taken place between him and any idlers by whom he was
surrounded at the Mole. I understand also, general, that so pressing
were you for his written explanation, that time was not allowed him
to change his wet clothes, for which purpose it was I allowed him to
go away, since he had been drenched with rain for several hours in
an open boat.” I met General Bowes the same day at the general’s
table. With a smile upon his countenance he very politely invited me
to drink wine with him; and the governor requested that, whenever I
brought despatches, I should make the best of my way through the
idlers, but should communicate with no one until I saw him. Thus
the affair terminated as far as the generals were concerned.
But all my troubles were not as yet ended; I had to encounter
others on my return. During my absence Godwin had been told that
I reported his having been wounded in the back of his shoulder; but
although he taxed me with the report in a laughing way, still he
appeared not well pleased. His usual good-humour returned when I
assured him that I never made use of such an expression; and
certainly Godwin was one of the last to whom I should attribute a
wound in the back. The fact was that he had been hurt in the
shoulder a short time previously by his horse running with him
against a tree.
A BOY OF
I frankly confess that while the affair was in
NERVE. agitation between the generals at Gibraltar I felt
somewhat nervous, owing to a circumstance which
took place five years previously. It may be recollected that in 1805
the regiment were encamped at the Curragh of Kildare. During the
early part of this encampment, when I was on duty on the quarter-
guard, it so happened that General Campbell was general officer of
the lines; and unfortunately it so fell out that the adjutant neglected
to send me the parole and countersign until a very late hour. In the
meantime came the grand rounds, who were rather hesitatingly
challenged for the password, of which we ourselves were in total
ignorance. The general, noticing the not very correct manner in
which he was received and disregarding the challenge, rode up at
once to the quarter-guard, and, reprimanding me for the slovenly
manner in which the advanced files were sent forward, demanded
the countersign, adding that he believed I did not know it. At the
moment, as the general turned his head away, the sergeant of the
guard, having that instant received the parole and countersign,
stepped forward and whispering the words in my ear put the paper
containing them in my hand; but the general perceiving some
movement rowed the sergeant for being unsteady under arms, and
called me forward rather briskly, repeating his belief that I had not
the countersign. I told him I had.
“And what is the countersign?” quickly demanded the general.
I now coolly replied, “I am placed here to receive, not to give
the countersign.”
The general was evidently amazed at the reply, and saying,
“Very well, sir, we shall see about this in the morning,” turned his
horse round to ride off.
This was the first quarter-guard I had ever mounted, and from
the novelty of the scene and my not having the countersign when
the grand rounds arrived, I felt excessively nervous; but although
my knees at the first onset beat the devil’s tattoo against each other,
yet, having now gained full confidence, rather augmented by a titter
amongst the general’s staff one of whom was his son, afterwards Sir
Guy Campbell, I told the general that my orders were to allow no
person to pass without his first giving the countersign. Here the
titter increased.
“What,” said he—“not let me pass?”
I made no reply; but retiring the two paces which the general
had called me forward, I remained on the right of my guard, looking
most respectfully at the general. After a moment’s thought he gave
me the countersign, and having received the parole in exchange
rode away. I was in hopes that the unpleasant affair had ended
here; but immediately after I was relieved from guard I was sent for
by Colonel Johnson, who, although not my immediate commanding
officer, commanded both battalions as senior lieutenant-colonel. To
him therefore the general complained, and to him he seemed to
attach most blame for allowing so young an officer, and so totally
ignorant of his duty, to take charge of a quarter-guard. All the field
officers of the two battalions were summoned on the occasion to
Colonel Johnson’s tent, and in their presence the general recounted
the whole transaction. I remained perfectly silent. On his coming
towards a conclusion, when he mentioned my having refused to let
him pass, which he repeated with emphasis, I saw a suppressed
smile on the faces of both Colonel Johnson and Colonel Belson. But
Major Browne, impatient of restraint, broke into a laugh exclaiming,
“Well, he is only one year in the Service; I am many, yet I wish I
knew my duty as well; and,” continued he with increased laughter,
“it is the first time I ever heard of a boy ensign taking his own
general prisoner.” Browne was wrong as to my rank, for I had been
five days a lieutenant.

COALS OF
However, the general did not seem to enjoy the
FIRE. joke as much as Browne did, and ordered Colonel
Johnson to reprimand me. Johnson, who was brother-
in-law to the general and one of the most gentlemanlike persons
possible, bowed assent, but in some way gave the general to
understand that he was at a loss to understand what particular part
of my conduct it was for which I was to be censured. The general
having retired, Johnson’s rebuke to me was very slight indeed,
particularly when I mentioned, as I refrained from doing while the
general was there, that the countersign and parole, with which I
should have been furnished before sunset, were not sent to me until
midnight, just as the grand rounds advanced. But if the lieutenant-
governor recollected this anecdote when at Gibraltar, it certainly
caused no difference in his courtesy or hospitality towards me; for
he insisted that whenever I visited Gibralter I should always make
the convent my headquarters.
 CHAPTER XIV.

A LITTLE CAMPAIGN FROM TARIFA.

T
o relate the many and divers occurrences which took place
during our stay at Tarifa, although all more or less interesting,
would swell these pages to an imprudent size. I shall
therefore pass over many and come down to the month of January
1811.

PLANS OF
The Duke of Dalmatia, who directed the
GENERAL operations carried on against Cadiz and commanded
GRAHAM. the French force in Andalusia, was ordered by the
Emperor to proceed into Estremadura, principally for
the purpose of reducing the fortresses of Olivenza and Badajoz.
Pursuant to these instructions he marched from Seville in the first
days of the month with an army of sixteen thousand men, having
withdrawn a part of the troops from before Cadiz. The British troops
stationed in this fortress were commanded by General Graham. This
active officer, indignant at seeing the gallant troops under his
command ignobly and unnecessarily caged up in a fortress by an
inferior force, (counting each Spaniard who wore military uniform a
soldier), and anxious to shake off the dead weight of his sluggish
ally, General La Peña, who impeded the Spaniards under his
command both in working on the fortifications and fighting against
the enemy, eagerly seized the opportunity offered by Soult’s
departure of bursting the trammels which fettered British valour and
striking a decisive blow against the enemy. To carry into full effect
his well-digested plans, he proposed to the drowsy Spanish general,
La Peña, and to the active British admiral, Sir R. Keats, a sortie from
the Isla de Leon, purposing to attack the whole French line, beat
back the besiegers and bring the disgracefully pent-up Spanish and
British troops into open air and active movement in the field. This
bold and masterly project was eagerly embraced by Sir R. Keats, and
apparently so by La Peña. It was therefore agreed that whilst a
bridge should be thrown across the River Santi Petri, a general
attack should take place by the gunboats against the whole
advanced French line from Ronda to Santa Maria. One obstacle
however opposed: the bank opposite the Isla, upon which the
proposed bridge was to rest, was with a strong force held by the
enemy. To obviate this it was determined that a diversion should be
made on the outposts in rear of the French lines, to call off his
attention, whilst the bridge was laid down. In furtherance of this
plan General Graham requested General Campbell to allow Colonel
Browne, who commanded at Tarifa, to move forward and attack
Casa Vieja. Orders at the same time were sent by La Peña to the
Spanish general, Beguines, who commanded at Alcala de los
Gazules, to attack Medina Sidonia, distant from his post about fifteen
miles due west and directly leading to Chiclana. A despatch dated
January 25th was late that night received at Tarifa by Colonel
Browne, containing orders from General Campbell to move forward,
with all the troops he could take with him, to attack Casa Vieja, and
at the same time to favour as much as possible the movement
against Medina Sidonia by the Spanish troops. Pursuant to his
instructions, Browne, with four hundred and seventy bayonets of the
28th Regiment and thirty artillerymen commanded by Lieutenant
Mitchell, left Tarifa at three o’clock on the afternoon of the 26th and
arrived at Fascinas—a distance of about twelve miles—at eight
o’clock. Here we halted for a few hours; and Captain Bowles of the
regiment was detached with his company to watch the Vejer road
and prevent our return to Tarifa being cut off by any troops coming
from that direction, since Vejer was in possession of the French.
 About twelve o’clock at night we again moved forward and at
seven in the morning we came in sight of Casa Vieja, a large
convent with some outhouses strongly fortified and garrisoned by
French troops, amounting to upwards of a hundred men and having
two twenty-four pounders on top of the building. This building is
situated twenty-five miles from Tarifa, in the direction of Chiclana
and Medina Sidonia, with which places it forms a triangle. We now
moved forward, crossing the River Barbate immersed to our middle,
when we were warmly saluted from the “Blessed old House,” as the
Spaniards called it, which at the same time sent out from twenty to
thirty sharpshooters. The regiment circled round to get in rear of the
convent, while the light company driving in the sharpshooters took a
more direct line and soon gained the crown of the hill immediately
over the building. We now lay down, after descending to within
pistol-shot of the place, and opened so hot a fire that even a
sparrow could not live on the walls. A parley was now sounded and
the garrison summoned to surrender, which the commandant
without any hesitation resolutely refused to do. Colonel Browne
thought of attacking the convent by storm, although he had no
scaling ladders and the walls were very high; but reflected that even
though we should succeed (which must be attended with severe loss
from the great strength of the works lately constructed), its
possession to us would be useless. He judged correctly that his
instructions would be more effectually carried out by allowing the
post to remain in the hands of the enemy, and by continuing to
threaten it so as to induce the French at Medina to detach a force to
its aid. Since it was no part of our object to come upon the place by
stealth, the commandant there had time in the morning, previous to
the investment, to apprise the garrison at Medina of our approach
and of his own danger; and consequently both infantry and cavalry
were immediately sent to his succour.
TACTICS OF Leaving the light company to look down on the
COLONEL convent and prevent all communication, Colonel
BROWNE.
Browne, with the rest of the regiment, marched
towards Medina to favour any attack on that place. As he advanced
he encountered the detachment sent from Medina, whom he
attacked and put to the rout. He then halted giving his harassed
men, who were soaked through with mud and rain and with wading
rivers, an opportunity of refreshing and hoping also to induce the
enemy at Medina to come forward. In both he fully succeeded. We
had already with us some mounted guerillas, who were of more or
less use; and during Colonel Browne’s halt he was fortunately joined
by from thirty to forty Spanish cavalry commanded by an officer,
who gallantly did their duty as long as they remained with us; and it
was a well-authenticated fact in those days that a small body of
Spaniards attached to or acting with a British force, when there were
no Spanish generals with false pride to interfere, would proudly
imitate the heroic conduct of their allies.
The French force who now advanced from Medina were at least
equal in infantry and far superior in cavalry to that commanded by
Browne, who, his men now refreshed by their halt, retired steadily
on Casa Vieja, followed by the enemy, whose numbers increased
every moment, particularly in cavalry. The light company were now
imperceptibly withdrawn from the high ground, which prevented
those within the convent from seeing either our troops or those who
were advancing to their aid. A few of the company, in very extended
order and partly covered by the brushwood, were left, and these
fired at any showing themselves on the walls, so that those in the
fort were in total ignorance of what was passing so near them; and
thus we dreaded no attack from our rear. The light company having
joined the regiment and the Spanish dragoons closed in, Colonel
Browne formed line, placing some cavalry on either flank. The main
body of cavalry, together with the few baggage horses and those
which carried our provisions, were judiciously posted on a gently
rising ground immediately in rear of our centre, which gave an
imposing appearance. On coming closer the enemy halted, no doubt
awaiting still stronger reinforcements, or probably imagining that we
did not show our entire force.
As the dusk of evening advanced, Colonel Browne, covering his
whole front with the Spanish cavalry who commenced skirmishing
with that of the enemy, and considering that he had a French
garrison in his rear, a superior force in his front, and the ground
favourable for cavalry in which the enemy exceeded him by far,
silently retired in the dark, recrossed the Barbate, and entered the
gorge of the mountain pass, which being thickly planted with wood
secured us against an attack of horsemen. On this night the
Spaniards were to attack Medina; but reports coming in frequently
during the night and down to a late hour on the morning of the
28th, showed us that the enemy’s troops, whom we had drawn on at
such risk, had not retired, and therefore that Medina had not been
attacked.
NUTS TO OUR Among the many messengers we sent out to
AID. collect information as to the movements of the
Spaniards, one returned that forenoon, bringing a
letter from the Spanish general stating that his troops were still in
Alcalá, but that he intended moving forward immediately. Thus all
our hardships and risk counted for nothing. We felt much mortified,
and would willingly have returned to Tarifa from a scene where in
appearance at least deceit had been used. But Browne, faithful to his
instructions, moved out of his stronghold as soon as he learned that
the enemy, whom we had drawn forward, had commenced a
retrograde movement. Succeeding again in drawing them back, he
again retired. The opposing cavalry were by this time much
increased. On this day we were joined by forty men of the Tarifa
Volunteers. Our situation was comfortless, neither houses, tents nor
huts to shelter us, and the rain falling heavily. It was the first time
that Meacham’s corps were ever washed clean, and the Blind Nuts
began to see what was the varied life of a soldier. However we kept
up a blazing fire. Frequent reports during the night stated that the
enemy were collecting in considerable numbers in our front with
intent to attack us; but, confiding in the vigilance of the Spanish
cavalry, we felt no alarm.
Between three and four o’clock on the morning of the 29th our
attention was suddenly called by the trampling of horses quickly
approaching. Springing up from our seats round the fire (lying down
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