tack made that day; and we retired behind the line of batteries, at night, quite worn out with hunger and fatigue.

For five nights I had never been in bed, and, during good part of that time, it had rained hard. We were upon ploughed land, which was rendered so soft, that we sunk over the shoes at every step. The manner in which I passed the night was thus: I placed my canteen upon the ground, put my knapsack above, and sat upon it, supporting my head upon my hands; my musket, between my knees, resting upon my shoulder, and my blanket over all,-ready to start, in a moment, at the least alarm. The nights were chill: indeed, in the morning, I was so stiff, I could not stand or move with ease for some time; my legs were benumbed to the knees. I was completely wet three nights out of the five. A great number of the men took the fever and ague, after we retired behind the lines. I was not a whit the worse.

On our arrival behind the lines, our brigade, consisting of the 50th, 71st, and 92d, commanded by Major-General Sir William Erskine, was quartered in a small village, called Sabreira. Our first care was to place out-posts and sentinels between the batteries, about twenty yards distant from each other. We communicated with the foot guards, on our right, and the Brunswick infantry, on our left. Those off duty were employed throwing up batteries and breast-works, or breaking up the roads. The day after we fell into the lines, the French placed sentinels in front of us, without any dispute. There was a small valley and stream of water between us.

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We remained thus, for five weeks; every day, when off duty, forming defensive works, or breaking up the roads; it being a place that no army could pass, save upon the highway. The advanced picquet of the French lay in a windmill; ours, consisting of one captain, two subalterns, and 400 men, in a small village. There was only a distance of about 150 yards between us. We learned from the deserters, that the French were much in want of provisions. provoke them, our sentinels, at times, would fix a biscuit to the point of their bayonets, and present to them. One day the French had a bullock, in endeavouring to kill which, their butcher missed his blow, and the animal ran off right into our lines. The French looked so foolish, we hurraed at them, secured the bullock, brought him in front, killed him in style. They looked on, but dared not approach to seize him. Shortly after, an officer and four men came with a flag of truce, and supplicated in the most humble manper for the half of the bullock, which they got for godsake.

On the evening of the 14th November, the French made their outposts stronger than they had yet been, and kindled great fires after dark. We were all under arms an hour before day, expecting to be attacked; but, when the day dawned, there was not a Frenchman to be seen. As soon as the sun was up, we set off after them.

When we arrived at Sobral, we found a great number of our men, who had been wounded on the 14th and 15th October, besides a greater proportion of French wounded and sick. We were told by our men, that the weakly men, and the

baggage of the French army, had been sent off eight days before. We were halted at Sobral, until provisions came up; when three days' allowance was served out to each man. We again commenced our advance. The weather was very bad; it rained for a great part of the time without intermission. On the fourth day, we took about 100 prisoners, who had concealed them-> selves in a wood.

This retreat brought to my mind the Corunna race. We could not advance one hundred yards, without seeing dead soldiers of the enemy stretched upon the road, or at a little distance from it, who had lain down to die, unable to proceed through hunger and fatigue. We could not pity them, miserable as they were. Their retreat resembled more that of famished wolves than men. Murder and devastation marked their way; every house was a sepulchre, a cabin of horrors! Our soldiers used to wonder why the Frenchmen were not swept by heaven from the earth, when they witnessed their cruelties. In a small town called Safrea, I saw twelve dead bodies lying in one house upon the floor!-Every house contained traces of their wanton barbarity. Often has a shade of doubt crossed my mind, when reading the accounts of former atrocities; often would I think they are exaggerated—thank God we live in more civilized times. How dreadfully were my doubts removed! I cease to describe, lest I raise doubts similar to my own.

At this time, I got a distaste I could never overcome. A few of us went into a wine-store, where there was a large tun, with a ladder to get to the

top, in which was a hole about two feet square. There was not much wine in it, so we buckled our canteen straps together, until a camp-kettle attached to them reached the liquor. We drew it up once we all drank; down it went again-it got entangled with something at the bottom of the tun-a candle was lowered;-to our great disappointment, the corpse of a French soldier lay upon the bottom! Sickness came upon me; and, for a long time afterwards, I shuddered at the sight of red wine. The Portuguese soldiers never would drink red wine, if white could be got. When I asked the reason, their reply was, they knew how it was made.

We continued our pursuit, every day taking more or less prisoners, who were unable to keep up with the main army, until we came in front of Santarem. Here we piled arms upon the sandy ground; the French were in possession of the heights. Colonel Cadogan made the smartest of the men run races, in front, for rum. From this sport, we were suddenly called to form line for attack but the French position was too strong for us. By this time it was quite dark, and we had a large plain to cross, to a village where we were to halt all night. In our march we were put into confusion, and a good number of the men knocked over, by a flock of goats, of which we caught a few, which made a delicious supper for On our arrival at the village, we were forced to break up the doors, as the inhabitants would not let us in.

us.

Next morning was very wet. The following evening, we halted at a village; but two Portuguese regiments had been before us, and swept

all away. We sent out parties to forage, and got some Indian corn, which we ground ourselves, at a mill, the inhabitants having all fled. We were then quartered in a convent in Alcanterina, where we lay from the beginning of December until 5th March 1811. Provisions were very scarce. Fatigue parties were sent out every day, for Indian corn and pot-herbs. We had beef; but we could not subsist upon beef alone, which was seldom good, being far driven, very tough, and lean. An accident procured us a short relief; some of our men, amusing themselves in piercing the ceiling, with their bayonets, discovered a trap-door, and found a great concealed store of food and valuables. We fared well while it lasted. Having very little duty, our time was spent at football. We were very badly off for shoes; but, by good luck, discovered a quantity of leather in a tan-yard. Those who found it, helped themselves first, and were wasting it. The Colonel then ordered each man a pair of soles and heels, to be put up in his knapsack.

The French gave us the slip, at the commencement of their retreat, by placing wooden guns in their batteries, and stuffing old clothes with straw, which they put in place of their sentinels. By this means, their retreat was not discovered for two days; and, only then, by one of our cavalry riding up to their lines, to take a sentinel prisoner, who appeared asleep. As soon as it was ascertained there was a trick, we set off after them ; and, beginning to come up with them, took a good many prisoners. Our advance was so rapid, that provisions could not be brought up to us. We were often two days without bread. The

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