Military Memoirs of Capt. George Carleton by Daniel Defoe

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THE Military Memoirs

OF

Capt. _George Carleton_

FROM THE
DUTCH WAR, 1672.
In which he Serv'd, to the

Conclusion of the Peace at
UTRECHT, 1713.

Illustrating

Some of the most Remarkable TRANSACTIONS, both by Sea
and Land, during the Reigns of King _Charles_ and King
_James II_. hitherto unobserved by all the Writers of those
times.

Together with

An exact Series of the War in _Spain_; and a particular Description
of the several Places of the Author's Residence in
many Cities, Towns, and Countries; their Customs,
Manners, _&c_. Also Observations on the Genius of the
_Spaniards_ (among whom he continued some Years a
Prisoner) their Monasteries and Nunneries (especially that
fine one at _Montserat_) and on their publick Diversions;
more particularly their famous BULL-FEASTS.

_LONDON_, Printed for E. SYMON, over against the Royal
Exchange, _Cornhill_, MDCCXXVIII.

* * * * *

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

_Spencer_ Lord _Wilmington_,

_Knight of the_ Bath, _and one of his Majesty's most Honourable Privy
Council_.

'Twas my fortune, my Lord, in my juvenile Years, _Musas cum Marte
commutare_, and truly I have Reason to blush, when I consider the small
Advantage I have reap'd from that Change. But lest it should be imputed
to my Want of Merit, I have wrote these Memoirs, and leave the World to
judge of my Deserts. They are not set forth by any fictitious Stories,
nor imbelished with rhetorical Flourishes; plain Truth is certainly most
becoming the Character of an old Soldier. Yet let them be never so
meritorious, if not protected by some noble Patron, some Persons may
think them to be of no Value.

To you therefore, my Lord, I present them; to you, who have so eminently
distinguished your self, and whose Wisdom has been so conspicuous to the
late Representatives of _Great Britain_, that each revolving Age will
speak in your Praise; and if you vouchsafe to be the _Mecoenas_ of these
Memoirs, your Name will give them sufficient Sanction.

An old Soldier I may truly call my self, and my Family allows me the
Title of a Gentleman; yet I have seen many Favourites of Fortune,
without being able to discern why they should be so happy, and my self
so unfortunate; but let not that discourage your Lordship from receiving
these my Memoirs into your Patronage; for the Unhappy cannot expect
Favour but from those who are endued with generous Souls.

Give me Leave, my Lord, to congratulate this good Fortune, that neither
Whig nor Tory (in this complaining Age) have found fault with your
Conduct. Your Family has produced Heroes, in defence of injured Kings;
and you, when 'twas necessary, have as nobly adher'd to the Cause of
Liberty.

_My_ LORD,
_Your Lordship's
Most obedient
And most devoted
Humble Servant_,
G. CARLETON.

TO THE READER

_The Author of these Memoirs began early to distinguish himself in
martial Affairs, otherwise he could not have seen such Variety of
Actions both by Sea and Land. After the last Dutch War he went into
Flanders, where he not only serv'd under the Command of his Highness the
Prince of Orange, whilst he was Generalissimo of the Dutch Forces, but
likewise all the time he reign'd King of Great Britain. Most of the
considerable Passages and Events, which happened during that time, are
contained in the former Part of this Book_.

_In the Year 1705, the Regiment in which he serv'd as Captain was
order'd to embark for the West Indies; and he, having no Inclination to
go thither, chang'd with an half-pay Captain; and being recommended to
the Earl of Peterborow by the late Lord Cutts, went with him upon that
noble Expedition into Spain_.

_When the Forces under his Lordship's Command were landed near
Barcelona, the Siege of that Place was thought by several impracticable,
not only for want of experienc'd Engineers, but that the Besieged were
as numerous as the Besiegers; yet the Courage of that brave Earl
surmounted those Difficulties, and the Siege was resolv'd upon_.

_Our Author having obtain'd, by his long Service, some Knowledge of the
practick Part of an Engineer, and seeing at that critical Time the great
Want of such, readily acted as one, which gave him the greater
Opportunity of being an Eye-Witness of his Lordship's Actions; and
consequently made him capable of setting them forth in these his
Memoirs._

_It may not be perhaps improper to mention that the Author of these
Memoirs was born at Ewelme in Oxfordshire, descended from an ancient and
an honourable Family. The Lord Dudley Carleton, who died Secretary of
State to King Charles I. was his Great Uncle; and in_ _the same Reign
his Father was Envoy at the Court of Madrid, whilst his Uncle, Sir
Dudley Carleton, was Embassador to the States of Holland, Men in those
Days respected both for their Abilities and Loyalty._

MEMOIRS

OF AN

_English Officer, &c._

In the year one Thousand six Hundred seventy two, War being proclaimed
with _Holland_, it was looked upon among Nobility and Gentry, as a
Blemish, not to attend the Duke of _York_ aboard the Fleet, who was then
declared Admiral. With many others, I, at that Time about twenty Years
of Age, enter'd my self a Voluntier on board the _London_, commanded by
Sir _Edward Sprage_, Vice-Admiral of the _Red_.

The Fleet set Sail from the _Buoy of the Nore_ about the beginning of
_May_, in order to join the _French_ Fleet, then at Anchor in St.
_Hellen's Road_, under the Command of the _Count de Estree_. But in
executing this Design we had a very narrow Escape: For _De Ruyter_, the
Admiral of the _Dutch_ Fleet, having Notice of our Intentions, waited to
have intercepted us at the Mouth of the River, but by the Assistance of
a great Fog we pass'd _Dover_ before he was aware of it; and thus he
miscarried, with the poor Advantage of taking only one small Tender.

A Day or two after the joining of the _English_ and _French_, we sailed
directly towards the _Dutch_ Coast, where we soon got sight of their
Fleet; a Sand called the _Galloper_ lying between. The _Dutch_ seem'd
willing there to expect an Attack from us: But in regard the _Charles_
Man of War had been lost on those Sands the War before; and that our
Ships drawing more Water than those of the Enemy, an Engagement might be
render'd very disadvantageous; it was resolv'd in a Council of War to
avoid coming to a Battle for the present, and to sail direftly for
_Solebay_, which was accordingly put in Execution.

We had not been in _Solebay_ above four or five Days, when _De Ruyter_,
hearing of it, made his Signal for sailing in order to surprize us; and
he had certainly had his Aim, had there been any Breeze of Wind to
favour him. But though they made use of all their Sails, there was so
little Air stirring, that we could see their Fleet making towards us
long before they came up; notwithstanding which, our Admirals found
difficulty enough to form their Ships into a Line of Battle, so as to be
ready to receive the Enemy.

It was about Four in the Morning of the 28th of _May_, being _Tuesday_
in _Whitson Week_, when we first made the Discovery; and about Eight the
same Morning the Blue Squadron, under the Command of the Earl of
_Sandwich_, began to engage with Admiral _Van Ghent_, who commanded the
_Amsterdam_ Squadron; and about Nine the whole Fleets were under a
general Engagement. The Fight lasted till Ten at Night, and with equal
Fury on all Sides, the _French_ excepted, who appeared stationed there
rather as Spectators than Parties; and as unwilling to be too much upon
the Offensive, for fear of offending themselves.

During the Fight the _English_ Admiral had two Ships disabled under him;
and was obliged about Four in the Afternoon to remove himself a third
Time into the _London_, where he remain'd all the rest of the Fight, and
till next Morning. Nevertheless, on his Entrance upon the _London_,
which was the Ship I was in, and on our Hoisting the Standard, _De
Ruyter_ and his Squadron seem'd to double their Fire upon her, as if
they resolv'd to blow her out of the Water. Notwithstanding all which,
the Duke of _York_ remain'd all the time upon Quarter Deck, and as the
Bullets plentifully whizz'd around him, would often rub his Hands, and
cry, _Sprage, Sprage, they follow us still_. I am very sensible later
Times have not been over favourable in their Sentiments of that
unfortunate Prince's Valour, yet I cannot omit the doing a Piece of
Justice to his Memory, in relating a Matter of Fact, of which my own
Eyes were Witnesses, and saying, That if Intrepidity, and Undauntedness,
may be reckon'd any Parts of Courage, no Man in the Fleet better
deserv'd the Title of Couragious, or behav'd himself with more Gallantry
than he did.

The _English_ lost the _Royal James_, commanded by the Earl of
_Sandwich_, which about Twelve (after the strenuous Endeavours of her
Sailors to disengage her from two _Dutch_ Fire Ships plac'd on her, one
athwart her Hawsers, the other on her Star-board Side) took Fire, blew
up, and perish'd; and with her a great many brave Gentlemen, as well as
Sailors; and amongst the rest the Earl himself, concerning whom I shall
further add, that in my Passage from _Harwich_ to the _Brill_, a Year or
two after, the Master of the Pacquet Boat told me, That having observ'd
a great Flock of Gulls hovering in one particular Part of the Sea, he
order'd his Boat to make up to it; when discovering a Corpse, the
Sailors would have return'd it to the Sea, as the Corpse of a _Dutch
Man_; but keeping it in his Boat, it proved to be that of the Earl of
_Sandwich_. There was found about him between twenty and thirty Guineas,
some Silver, and his Gold Watch; restoring which to his Lady, she kept
the Watch, but rewarded their Honesty with all the Gold and Silver.

This was the only Ship the _English_ lost in this long Engagement. For
although the _Katherine_ was taken, and her Commander, Sir _John
Chicheley_, made Prisoner, her Sailors soon after finding the
Opportunity they had watch'd for, seiz'd all the _Dutch_ Sailors, who
had been put in upon them, and brought the Ship back to our own Fleet,
together with all the _Dutch Men_ Prisoners; for which, as they
deserv'd, they were well rewarded. This is the same Ship which the Earl
of _Mulgrave_ (afterwards Duke of _Buckingham_) commanded the next Sea
Fight, and has caus'd to be painted in his House in St. _James's Park_.

I must not omit one very remarkable Occurrence which happened in this
Ship, There was a Gentleman aboard her, a Voluntier, of a very fine
Estate, generally known by the Name of _Hodge Vaughan_. This Person
receiv'd, in the beginning of the Fight, a considerable Wound, which the
great Confusion, during the Battle, would not give them leave to inquire
into; so he was carried out of the Way, and disposed of in the Hold.
They had some Hogs aboard, which the Sailor, under whose Care they were,
had neglected to feed; these Hogs, hungry as they were, found out, and
fell upon the wounded Person, and between dead and alive eat him up to
his very Scull, which, after the Fight was over, and the Ship retaken,
as before, was all that could be found of him.

Another Thing, less to be accounted for, happen'd to a Gentleman
Voluntier who was aboard the same Ship with my self. He was of known
personal Courage, in the vulgar Notion of it, his Sword never having
fail'd him in many private Duels. But notwithstanding all his
Land-mettle, it was observ'd of him at Sea, that when ever the Bullets
whizz'd over his Head, or any way incommoded his Ears, he immediately
quitted the Deck, and ran down into the Hold. At first he was gently
reproach'd; but after many Repetitions he was laugh'd at, and began to
be despis'd; sensible of which, as a Testimonial of his Valour, he made
it his Request to be ty'd to the Main Mast. But had it been granted him,
I cannot see any Title he could have pleaded from hence, to true
Magnanimity; since to be ty'd from running away can import nothing less,
than that he would have still continued these Signs of Cowardice, if he
had not been prevented. There is a Bravery of Mind which I fansy few of
those Gentlemen Duellists are possess'd of. True Courage cannot proceed
from what Sir _Walter Raleigh_ finely calls _the Art_ or _Philosophy of
Quarrel_. No! It must be the Issue of Principle, and can have no other
Basis than a steady Tenet of Religion. This will appear more plain, if
those Artists in Murder will give themselves leave cooly to consider,
and answer me this Question, Why he that had ran so many Risques at his
Sword's Point, should be so shamefully intimidated at the Whiz of a
Cannon Ball?

_The Names of those English Gentlemen who lost their Lives, as I
remember, in this Engagement_.

Commissioner Cox, Captain of the _Royal Prince_, under the Command of
the Admiral; and Mr. _Travanian_, Gentleman to the Duke of _York_; Mr.
_Digby_, Captain of the _Henry_, second Son to the Earl of _Bristol_;
Sir _Fletchvile Hollis_, Captain of the _Cambridge_, who lost one of his
Arms in the War before, and his Life in this; Captain _Saddleton_, of
the _Dartmouth_; the Lord _Maidstone_, Son to the Earl of _Winchelsea_,
a Voluntier on board the _Charles_, commanded by Sir _John Harman_,
Vice-Admiral of the Red.

Sir _Philip Carteret_, Mr. _Herbert_, Mr. _Cotterel_, Mr. _Peyton_, Mr.
_Gose_, with several other Gentlemen unknown to me, lost their Lives
with the Earl of _Sandwich_, on board the _Royal James_; Mr. _Vaughan_,
on board the _Katherine_, commanded by Sir _John Chicheley_.

In this Engagement, Sir _George Rook_ was youngest Lieutenant to Sir
_Edward Sprage_; Mr. _Russel_, afterwards Earl of _Orford_, was Captain
of a small Fifth Rate, called the _Phnix_; Mr. _Herbert_, afterwards
Earl of _Torrington_, was Captain of a small Fourth Rate, called the
_Monck_; Sir _Harry Dutton Colt_, who was on board the _Victory_,
commanded by the Earl of _Offery_, is the only Man now living that I can
remember was in this Engagement.

* * * * *

But to proceed, the _Dutch_ had one Man of War sunk, though so near the
Shore, that I saw some part of her Main Mast remain above Water, with
their Admiral _Van Ghent_, who was slain in the close Engagement with
the Earl of _Sandwich_. This Engagement lasted fourteen Hours, and was
look'd upon the greatest that ever was fought between the _English_ and
the _Hollander_.

I cannot here omit one Thing, which to some may seem trifling; though I
am apt to think our Naturalists may have a different Opinion of it, and
find it afford their Fansies no undiverting Employment in more curious,
and less perilous Reflections. We had on board the _London_ where, as I
have said, I was a Voluntier, a great Number of Pidgeons, of which our
Commander was very fond. These, on the first firing of our Cannon,
dispers'd, and flew away, and were seen no where near us during the
Fight. The next Day it blew a brisk Gale, and drove our Fleet some
Leagues to the Southward of the Place where they forsook our Ship, yet
the Day after they all returned safe aboard; not in one Flock, but in
small Parties of four or five at a Time. Some Persons at that Time
aboard the Ship admiring at the Manner of their Return, and speaking of
it with some Surprize, Sir _Edward Sprage_ told them, That he brought
those Pidgeons with him from the _Streights_; and that when, pursuant to
his Order, he left the _Revenge_ Man of War, to go aboard the _London_,
all those Pidgeons, of their own accord, and without the Trouble or Care
of carrying, left the _Revenge_ likewise, and removed with the Sailors
on board the _London_, where I saw them; All which many of the Sailors
afterwards confirm'd to me. What Sort of Instinct this could proceed
from, I leave to the Curious.

Soon after this Sea Engagement I left the Fleet. And the Parliament, the
Winter following, manifesting their Resentments against two of the
Plenipotentiaries, _viz. Buckingham_ and _Arlington_, who had been sent
over into _Holland_; and expressing, withal, their great Umbrage taken
at the prodigious Progress of the _French_ Arms in the _United
Provinces_; and warmly remonstrating the inevitable Danger attending
_England_ in their Ruin. King _Charles_ from all this, and for want of
the expected Supplies, found himself under a Necessity of clapping up a
speedy Peace with _Holland_.

This Peace leaving those youthful Spirits, that had by the late Naval
War been rais'd into a generous Ferment, under a perfect Inactivity at
Home; they found themselves, to avoid a Sort of Life that was their
Aversion, oblig'd to look out for one more active, and more suitable to
their vigorous Tempers Abroad.

I must acknowledge my self one of that Number; and therefore in the Year
1674,1 resolv'd to go into _Flanders_, in order to serve as Voluntier in
the Army commanded by his Highness the Prince of _Orange_. I took my
Passage accordingly at _Dover_ for _Calais_, and so went by way of
_Dunkirk_ for _Brussels_.

Arriving at which Place, I was inform'd that the Army of the
Confederates lay encamp'd not far from _Nivelle_; and under the daily
Expectation of an Engagement with the Enemy. This News made me press
forward to the Service; for which Purpose I carry'd along with me proper
Letters of Recommendation to Sir _Walter Vane_, who was at that time a
Major-General. Upon further Enquiry I understood, that a Party of Horse,
which was to guard some Waggons that were going to Count _Montery's_
Army, were to set out next Morning; so I got an _Irish_ Priest to
introduce me to the Commanding Officer, which he readily oblig'd me in;
and they, as I wish'd them, arriv'd in the Camp next day.

I had scarce been there an Hour, when happen'd one of the most
extraordinary Accidents in Life. I observ'd in the East a strange dusty
colour'd Cloud, of a pretty large Extent, riding, not before the Wind
(for it was a perfect Calm) with such a precipitate Motion, that it was
got over our Heads almost as soon as seen. When the Skirts of that Cloud
began to cover our Camp, there suddenly arose such a terrible
Hurricaine, or Whirlwind, that all the Tents were carry'd aloft with
great Violence into the Air; and Soldiers' Hats flew so high and thick,
that my Fansy can resemble it to nothing better than those Flights of
Rooks, which at Dusk of Evening, leaving the Fields, seek their roosting
Places. Trees were torn up by the very Roots; and the Roofs of all the
Barns, _&c._ belonging to the Prince's Quarters, were blown quite away.
This lasted for about half an Hour, until the Cloud was wholly past over
us, when as suddenly ensued the same pacifik Calm as before the Cloud's
Approach. Its Course was seemingly directly West; and yet we were soon
after inform'd, that the fine Dome of the great Church at _Utrecht_ had
greatly suffer'd by it the same Day. And, if I am not must mistaken, Sir
_William Temple_, in his Memoirs, mentions somewhat of it, which he felt
at _Lillo_, on his Return from the Prince of _Orange's_ Camp, where he
had been a Day or two before.

As soon after this, as I could get an Opportunity, I deliver'd, at his
Quarters, my recommendatory Letters to Sir _Walter Vane_; who receiv'd
me very kindly, telling me at the same time, that there were six or
seven _English_ Gentlemen, who had enter'd themselves Voluntiers in the
Prince's own Company of Guards: And added, that he would immediately
recommend me to Count _Solmes_, their Colonel. He was not worse than his
Word, and I was enter'd accordingly. Those six Gentlemen were as
follows, ---- _Clavers_, who since was better known by the Title of Lord
_Dundee_; Mr. _Collier_, now Lord _Portmore_; Mr. _Rooke_, since
Major-General; Mr. _Hales_, who lately died, and was for a long time
Governor of _Chelsea-Hospital_; Mr. _Venner_, Son of that _Venner_
remarkable for his being one of the Fifth-Monarchy Men; and Mr. _Boyce_.
The four first rose to be very eminent; but Fortune is not to all alike
favourable.

In about a Week's Time after, it was resolv'd in a Council of War, to
march towards _Binch_, a small wall'd Town, about four Leagues from
_Nivelle_; the better to cut off the Provisions from coming to the
Prince of _Conde's_ Camp that Way.

Accordingly, on the first Day of _August_, being _Saturday_, we began
our March; and the _English_ Voluntiers had the Favour of a Baggage
Waggon appointed them. Count _Souches_, the Imperial General, with the
Troops of that Nation, led the Van; the main Body was compos'd of
_Dutch_, under the Prince of _Orange_. as Generalissimo; and the
_Spaniards_, under Prince _Vaudemont_, with some Detachments, made the
Rear Guard.

As we were upon our March, I being among those Detachments which made up
the Rear Guard, observ'd a great Party of the Enemy's Horse upon an
Ascent, which, I then imagin'd, as it after prov'd, to be the Prince of
_Conde_ taking a View of our Forces under March. There were many
Defiles, which our Army must necessarily pass; through which that Prince
politickly enough permitted the _Imperial_ and _Dutch_ Forces to pass
unmolested. But when Prince _Vaudemont_, with the _Spaniards_, and our
Detachments, thought to have done the like, the Prince of _Conde_ fell
on our Rear Guard; and, after a long and sharp Dispute, entirely routed
'em; the Marquiss of _Assentar_, a _Spanish_ Lieutenant-General, dying
upon the spot.

Had the Prince of _Conde_ contented himself with this Share of good
Fortune, his Victory had been uncontested: But being pushed forward by a
vehement Heat of Temper (which he was noted for) and flush'd with this
extraordinary Success, he resolv'd to force the whole Confederate Army
to a Battle. In order to which, he immediately led his Forces between
our Second Line, and our Line of Baggage; by which means the latter were
entirely cut off; and were subjected to the Will of the Enemy, who fell
directly to plunder; in which they were not a little assisted by the
routed _Spaniards_ themselves, who did not disdain at that time to share
with the Enemy in the plundering of their Friends and Allies.

The _English_ Voluntiers had their Share of this ill Fortune with the
rest; their Waggon appointed them being among those intercepted by the
Enemy; and I, for my Part, lost every Thing but Life, which yet was
saved almost as unaccountably as my Fellow-Soldiers had lost theirs. The
Baggage, as I have said, being cut off, and at the Mercy of the Enemy,
every one endeavour'd to escape through, or over the Hedges. And as in
all Cases of like Confusion, one endeavours to save himself upon the
Ruins of others: So here, he that found himself stopt by another in
getting over the Cap of a Hedge, pull'd him back to make way for
himself, and perhaps met with the same Fortune from a Third, to the
Destruction of all. I was then in the Vigour of my Youth, and none of
the least active, and perceiving how it had far'd with some before me,
I clapt my left Leg upon the Shoulders of one who was thus contending
with another, and with a Spring threw my self over both their Heads and
the Hedge at the same time. By this Means I not only sav'd my Life (for
they were all cut to Pieces that could not get over) but from an
Eminence, which I soon after attain'd, I had an Opportunity of seeing,
and making my Observations upon the remaining Part of that glorious
Conflict.

It was from that advantageous Situation, that I presently discover'd
that the Imperialists, who led the Van, had now join'd the main Body.
And, I confess, it was with an almost inexpressible Pleasure, that I
beheld, about three a-Clock, with what intrepid Fury they fell upon the
Enemy. In short, both Armies were universally engag'd, and with great
Obstinacy disputed the Victory till Eleven at Night. At which Time the
_French_, being pretty well surfeited, made their Retreat. Nevertheless,
to secure it by a Stratagem, they left their lighted Matches hanging in
the Hedges, and waving with the Air, to conceal it from the Confederate
Army.

About two Hours after, the Confederate Forces follow'd the Example of
their Enemies, and drew off. And tho' neither Army had much Reason to
boast; yet as the Prince of _Orange_ remained last in the Field; and die
_French_ had lost what they before had gain'd, the Glory of the Day fell
to the Prince of _Orange_; who, altho' but twenty-four Years of Age, had
the Suffrage of Friend and Foe, of having play'd the Part of an old and
experienc'd Officer.

There were left that Day on the Field of Battle, by a general
Computation, not less than eighteen Thousand Men on both Sides, over and
above those, who died of their Wounds: The Loss being pretty equal, only
the _French_ carried off most Prisoners. Prince _Waldeck_ was shot
through the Arm, which I was near enough to be an Eye-witness of; And my
much lamented Friend, Sir _Walter Vane_, was carried off dead. A Wound
in the Arm was all the Mark of Honour, that I as yet could boast of,
though our Cannon in the Defiles had slain many near me.

The Prince _of Conde_ (as we were next Day inform'd) lay all that Night
under a Hedge, wrapp'd in his Cloke: And either from the Mortification
of being disappointed in his Hopes of Victory; or from a Reflection of
the Disservice, which is own natural over Heat of Temper had drawn upon
him, was almost inconsolable many Days after. And thus ended the famous
Battle of _Seneff_.

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