Page Number | Note/Query | Explanation |
|
47 - | Baggage trains | see page 61 about women in the baggage train. Also much of the time the army would push on ahead leaving baggage to follow, and one of the annoying things was that in retreat baggage would be left so they might retreat faster thereby risking losing everything - at Vittoria the English managed to overtake the French baggage train looting it and taking Soult's Marshall Baton. They were slow and uncomfortable and might for long periods be days behind the army.
|
|
48 - | Wellington's predilection for the fairer sex was well known | He was known for his terse speech, but his inability resist talking with a beautiful woman.
|
|
50- | Guerrea - | virago - means (he/she) makes the war. "Guerrera"
means a warrior (female) or military coat.
|
|
50 - | una nina buena | a good girl
|
|
50 - | toda mi alma, bien amado | (with) all my life/soul, beloved sweetheart
|
|
50 - | dolce como la miel | as sweet as honey (should be spelled dulce)
|
|
50 - | enamorada! amanta! - | "in love (female) or girlfriend" - "amante" means "lover (neutral)"
|
|
52 - | feu de joie | Fire of joy
|
|
52 - | drumhead wedding: | Drumhead - a turned up drum - usually used for courtmartials as Mark Pottenger points ou in this extract from the (OED); "5. attrib., as drumhead court-martial, a
court-martial round an up-turned drum, for summary treatment of offences
during military operations; hence drumhead discipline, law, that which is
dispensed at a drumhead court-martial."
|
|
53 - | blur an ouns | corruption of blood and wounds. Another similar corruption seen is Tare and Ouns or
tears and wounds which was, of course, all about Christ's 'tears and wounds' on the cross.
|
|
53 - | battles | for accounts of the peninsula war and these battles see The Peninsular War
|
|
55 - | hija | daughter (affectionate term) - also (also "child" - female)
|
|
55 - | queridísima muger | my dearest woman (should be 'mujer')
|
|
56 - | mi esposo | my husband
|
|
56 - | 52nd | Oxford and Bucks light Infantry
|
|
57 - | Captain Ross's troop of Chestnut horse artillery | The artillery division were a separate branch to the army, and could be either mounted as with the horse artillery, or horse brigades as they were also known, or they could be on foot. Occasionally there are instances where an entire regiment will have only one coloured horse - ie the Cavalry had the 'Greys'. For more on the Army structure see The Army
|
|
58 - | Espadachin |
Juana called Harry "espadachín" as an insult, which means "swordsman". The RAE dictionary of 1732 says it can beused as an insult!
This is the entry: "el preciado de guapo y valentón, alborotador y amigo de
ruidos y pendencias", ie, quarrelsome, troublemaker. Another entry says that in
German it means a petty scoundrel. (Thanks to Costanza for her help on this one)
|
|
58 - | Tirano odioso | My odious tyrant
|
|
58 - | Insensato | foolish/stupid
|
|
59 - | Alemtejo | Alemtejo was considered
deadly because so many soldiers died from the fevers they caught there. In mid summer with the river down the troops were plagued with
constant flies and mosquitoes, it was suffocatingly hot, the area was rife with snakes and scorpions and what pools of water there
was were stagnant and full of leeches. Nearly half the army was down with ague, fevers when Wellington first marched the men there. Many
of the men took refuge in alcohol.
|
|
60 - | Frieze cloak | frieze is a rough textured cotton/wool fabric, commonly used for tough outerwear.
|
|
62 - | Despite Vandeleur rejoining his regiment | on 5 April the night before the Siege of Badajoz on
the 6th of April, his role was taken by Colonel Barnard, Vandeleur still being injured.
|
|
63 - | Why do a General, ADC and Brigade major sit down together | The General has the ADC to support him
and transport his messages, wishes, the Brigade Major gives the General's orders to the troops. See The Army
|
|
63 - | bete noire | literally "black beast". It's a nemesis, a particular thing or situation which is destined to give you trouble.
|
|
63 - | there would be no marches for Mrs John Kincaid | There was no Mrs John Kincaid, he fell in love completely too frequently and died a bachelor.
|
|
66 - | Soult in Estremeda | this is near Madrid
|
|
66 - | Manana - policy of | This is leaving something until tomorrow, as lasseiz faire attitude which Wellington hated and mistrusted. The Spanish had already showed they could not be trusted with disastrous consequences for the British when Sir John Moore was forced into rapid retreat at huge losses to Corunna in 1809.
|
|
66 - | Soult attempting to find Provender for his army | unlike the British, the French had a policy of foraging for their food. It meant the army did not have to pay to feed themselves. However, it also meant that the French made few friends on their marches. The British were punished for foraging, and the quarter-masters were expected to provision the army, paying for local goods where necessary.
|
|
66 - | Rowland Hill | Known as Daddy Hill, he was one of the best loved men in Wellington's army - for more see Rowland Hill
|
|
66 - | Sabugal 8th April - 1811 | see page 67 of Notes and Queries
|
|
66 - | Castello Branco | 12th April
|
|
67 - | Mj gen Baron Charles Alten of Kings German Legion | Takes over from Craufurd the light Division -
See Sir Charles Alten
|
|
67 - | The slouch of the light division | they were skirmishers which meant that intense drilling to stay
upright and in formation was less important than their ability to move forward spread out - in front of the army and harass
the enemy with 'sniper' fire.
|
|
67 - | Sabugal | Craufurd led the light division - this from the Autobiography of Sir Harry Smith Chapter 6th.
.."Within a few weeks of Redinha (see note for page 19) in the campaign of 1811 the bloody battle of Sabugal was fought. "Our next great fight was a bitter one, Sabugal [3 April]. I shall never forget the German 1st Hussars, my old friends, moving on that day; their singing was melodious. Sir W. Erskine commanded the cavalry and Light Division, a near-sighted old ass, and we got meléed with Reynier's corps d'armée strongly posted on heights above Sabugal, and attacked when the Duke intended we should have moved round their left to Quadraseyes, as the 5th, 4th, and 3rd Divisions were to attack their front in the centre of their position. However, we began, and never was more gallantry mutually displayed by friend and foe than on this occasion, particularly by dear old Beckwith and his 1st Brigade. Some guns were taken and retaken several times. A French officer on a grey horse was most gallant. Old Beckwith, in a voice like thunder, roared out to the Riflemen, "Shoot that fellow, will you ?" In a moment he and his horse were knocked over, and Sydney exclaimed, "Alas! you were a noble fellow."
My Brigadier, as I soon discovered, left the command to me, so I led away, and we came in for a pretty good share in preventing Reynier's turning the left of Beckwith's Brigade. Fortunately, the 5th Division got into action just in time, for the French at the moment were squeezing us awfully. The Light Division, under the shout of old Beckwith, rushed on with an impetuosity nothing could resist, for, so checked had we been, our bloods were really up, and we paid off the enemy most awfully. Such a scene of slaughter as there was on one hill would appal a modern soldier. The night came on most awfully wet, and the 5th and Light Division were sent back to Sabugal for shelter. Most dilapidated the place was, but the roofs were on, and Sir W. Gomm, A.Q.M.G. of the 5th, and I divided the town between us, our poor wounded lying out in the rain and cold all night. "
|