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With the Third Guards during the Peninsular War

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Colborne: A Singular Talent for War

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Colborne: A Singular Talent for War
Leonaur Original
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Author(s): John Colborne
Date Published: 2007/12
Page Count: 280
Softcover ISBN-13: 978-1-84677-345-7
Hardcover ISBN-13: 978-1-84677-346-4

The military career of the Duke of Wellingtons champion There have been few British soldiers during the Napoleonic era of comparatively junior rank who achieved fame in their own time rather than as a result of their subsequent careers. Many of the names we know today owe that to their authorship rather than their deeds. The subject of this book is different. John Colborne was a great soldier. He possessed the talents of his master-the Duke of Wellington-and but for his humble background could have become one of our foremost military men. Every superior he served under became an admirer and his advancement through a time of almost perpetual warfare-based upon an appreciation of his ability-was rapid. From Moore to Wellington, Colborne was more than a reliable and trusted lieutenant-he could unilaterally combine daring, vigour, aggression and sound judgement making him an invaluable asset. Students of the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars will all be very familiar with his name and many would have wished for an account of his military career. This riveting book, compiled from his correspondence and other writings and combined with many anecdotes by those who knew him well, is enhanced by an informed commentary by G.C Moore Smith. We join Colborne in battle on the bloody sands of Egypt, during the gruelling Peninsular War and finally on the apocalyptic fields of Waterloo where his inspired flank attack on the advance of the Imperial Guard delivered the final coup de grace of that momentous day. These are the exploits of John Colborne-the consummate warrior of whom Napier would say here was a man with 'a singular talent for war'.

Marshal Soult was collecting his force at Seville, and on the 15th his advanced guard arrived at St. Martha, three leagues from our position. Marshal Beresford was obliged to retire from his lines before Badajos and concentrate his force. The Spaniards, under Blake and Balesteros, joined our army on the night of the 15th, and we occupied a position near Albuera. Soult began his attack at 8 a.m., and having menaced the village of Albuera, I was ordered into it, but as soon as I had marched there, the enemy commenced his attack on the right, and was in the act of turning it. Our brigade was then ordered to occupy the ground where the Spaniards should have been, and we were brought up under very disadvantageous circumstances, and obliged to deploy under the enemy’s fire. The regiments were ordered to charge before the deployment was complete, and without support; in the act of charging two very heavy columns, a regiment of Polish cavalry passed by our right, which was unprotected, and having gained our rear, the three right-hand regiments were almost destroyed. The Spaniards on our left behaved very well, but, as we had not any support, the few who were not killed or wounded were taken prisoners. The 4th Division came up and drove the enemy off, supported by the 2nd and 3rd brigades of the division. Soult retreated about 2 p.m. Our loss has been immense, nearly 6,000, the greater part British. The enemy retreated to Almendralejo last night, and I believe we are to pursue him immediately. This has been a most unfortunate affair for me, although I had nothing to do with the arrangement, but merely obeyed the orders of General Stewart. Yet, it being my first trial, and having had so considerable a command, it is truly unfortunate for your brother. I did not receive any injury personally, although in the hands of the Poles some minutes. Poor Colonel Duckworth was killed leading on the 48th; he received three shots at the same time. His horse was wounded. Pray communicate this sad intelligence to Mrs. Duckworth. I was very intimate with him. The poor fellow had been long sighing to revisit his home. You can easily conceive what a stroke this has been on me, and yet if Bonaparte had been in my place nothing could have saved the three battalions. The enemy had 4,000 cavalry and 20,000 infantry.<br>
Yours sincerely,<br>
J. Colborne<br>
Colborne’s conduct at Albuhera received the following commendation from his superior officer:<br>
To H. E. Marshal Sir W. Beresford<br>
17th May<br>
The conduct of the 1st Brigade, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Colborne, was very gallant. Although the loss in prisoners and in colours has fallen on that part of the division, you are probably aware, Sir, that the 1st Brigade was suddenly attacked in flank and rear by a body of the enemy’s cavalry, while it was engaged in the almost desperate effort of charging the whole attacking force of the enemy. The form of the hill up which that brigade was so ably led to the charge by its commander, and the obscurity occasioned by the smoke of musquetry and a heavy squall of rain prevented the enemy’s cavalry from being either seen or sufficiently early resisted.<br>
The colours of the 2nd Battalion of the 48th and 66th Regiments were unfortunately lost on this occasion, but they were not so lost until the officers who bore them were killed. . . .<br>
W. Stewart<br>
Major-General<br><br>

On our arriving near the cross-road on the summit of the hill, near the Belgian guns, I halted the 52nd. Many of our wounded were lying a few paces in our front. My anxious attention had been attracted to the dense columns moving on the Genappe road towards the centre of our position, and observing their rapid advance I ordered our left-hand company to wheel to the left and formed the remaining companies on that company. Colonel Charles Rowan assisted in completing this formation, with whom I had had some conversation on the intended movement and on the necessity of menacing the flank of the French columns.<br>
This movement placed us nearly parallel with the moving columns of the French Imperial Guards. I ordered a strong company to extend in our front, and at this moment Sir F. Adam rode up and asked me what I was going to do. I think I said, ‘To make that column feel our fire.’ Sir F. Adam then ordered me to move on and that the 71st should follow, and rode away towards the 71st.<br>
I instantly ordered the extended company of the 52nd, about 100 men under the command of Lieutenant Anderson, to advance as quickly as possible without any support except from the battalion, and to fire into the French column at any distance. Thus the 52nd formed in two lines of half-companies, the rear line at 10 paces distance from the front, after giving three cheers, followed the extended company, passed along the front of the Brigade of Guards in line, commanded by Sir John Byng, and about 500 yards in front of them. If our line had been produced it would have formed an obtuse angle with this Brigade of Guards.<br>
I observed that as soon as the French columns were sharply attacked by our skirmishers, a considerable part of the column halted and formed a line facing towards the 52nd and opened a very sharp fire on the skirmishers and on the battalion. The only skirmishers, I think, that were out on that day from our brigade were those of the 52nd which I have mentioned, but I am certain that none fired but those of the 52nd. Three or four companies of the 95th were formed on our left, rather to the rear of our line; the remainder of the brigade, the 71st, must have been at least 600 yards to the rear5 when the 52nd commenced its movement towards the Imperial Guards; but I think I observed the 71st moving on, as well as the whole of Sir H. Clinton’s Division, when we had advanced a few hundred paces.<br>
I have no doubt that the fire on the flank of the French column from the 52nd skirmishers and the appearance of a general attack on its flank from Sir F. Adam’s Brigade and Sir H. Clinton’s Division generally, was the cause of the first check received, or halt made, by the Imperial Guards. The 52nd suffered severely from the fire of the enemy; the loss of skirmishers was severe and the two officers of the company were wounded. The right wing of the 52nd lost nearly 150 men during the advance; the officer carrying the regimental colour was killed.
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