Military Memoirs of Capt. George Carleton by Daniel Defoe

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Soon after which, that successful General embark'd for _Genoa_,
according to the Resolutions of the Council of War at _Guadalaxara_, on
a particular Commission from the Queen of _England_, another from
_Charles_ King of _Spain_, and charged at the same time with a Request
of the Marquiss _das Minas_, General of the _Portugueze_ Forces, to
negotiate Bills for one hundred thousand Pounds for the use of his
Troops. In all which, tho' he was (as ever) successful; yet may it be
said without a figure, that his Departure, in a good measure, determin'd
the Success of the confederate Forces in that Kingdom. True it is, the
General return'd again with the fortunate, Fruits of those Negotiations;
but never to act in his old auspicious Sphere: And therefore, as I am
now to take leave of this fortunate General, let me do it with Justice,
in an Appeal to the World, of the not to be parallel'd Usage (in these
latter Ages, at least) that he met with for all his Services; such a
vast variety of Enterprizes, all successful, and which had set all
_Europe_ in amaze; Services that had given occasion to such solemn and
public Thanksgivings in our Churches, and which had received such very
remarkable Approbations, both of Sovereign and Parliament; and which had
been represented in so lively a Manner, in a Letter wrote by the King
_of Spain_, under his own Hand, to the Queen of _England_, and
communicated to both Houses in the Terms following:

Madam, my Sister,

I should not have been so long e'er I did my self the Honour to repeat
the Assurances of my sincere Respects to you, had I not waited for the
good Occasion which I now acquaint you with, that the City of
_Barcelona_ is surrendered to me by Capitulation. I doubt not but you
will receive this great News with intire Satisfaction, as well, because
this happy Success is the Effect of your Arms, always glorious, as from
the pure Motives of that Bounty and maternal Affection you have for me,
and for every Thing which may contribute to the Advancement of my
Interest.

I must do this Justice to all the Officers and common Soldiers, and
particularly to my Lord _Peterborow_, that he has shown in this whole
Expedition, a Constancy, Bravery, and Conduct, worthy of the Choice that
your Majesty has made of him, and that he could no ways give me better
Satisfaction than he has, by the great Zeal and Application, which he
has equally testified for my Interest, and for the Service of my Person.
I owe the same Justice to Brigadier _Stanhope_, for his great Zeal,
Vigilance, and very wise Conduct, which he has given Proofs of upon all
Occasions: As also to all your Officers of the Fleet, particularly to
your worthy Admiral _Shovel_, assuring your Majesty, that he has
assisted me in this Expedition, with an inconceivable Readiness and
Application, and that no Admiral will be ever better able to render me
greater Satisfaction, than he has done. During the Siege of _Barcelona_,
some of your Majesty's Ships, with the Assistance of the Troops of the
Country, have reduc'd the Town of _Tarragona_, and the officers are made
Prisoners of War. The Town of _Girone_ has been taken at the same time
by Surprize, by the Troops of the Country. The Town of _Lerida_ has
submitted, as also that of _Tortosa_ upon the _Ebro_; so that we have
taken all the Places of _Catalonia_, except _Roses_. Some Places in
_Aragon_ near _Sarrogosa_ have declared for me, and the Garrison of the
Castle of _Denia_ in _Valencia_ have maintained their Post, and repulsed
the Enemy; 400 of the Enemies Cavalry have enter'd into our Service, and
a great number of their Infantry have deserted.

This, Madam, is the State that your Arms, and the Inclination of the
People have put my Affairs in. It is unnecessary to tell you what stops
the Course of these Conquests, it is not the Season of the Year, nor the
Enemy; these are no Obstacles to your Troops, who desire nothing more
than to act under the Conduct that your Majesty has appointed them. The
taking of Barcelona, with so small a Number of Troops, is very
remarkable; and what has been done in this Siege is almost without
Example; that with seven or eight thousand Men of your Troops, and two
hundred Miquelets, we should surround and invest a Place, that thirty
thousand _French_ could not block up.

After a March of thirteen Hours, the Troops climb'd up the Rocks and
Precipices, to attack a Fortification stronger than the Place, which the
Earl of _Peterborow_ has sent you a Plan of; two Generals, with the
Grenadiers, attack'd it Sword in Hand. In which Action the Prince of
_Hesse_ died gloriously, after so many brave Actions: I hope his Brother
and his Family will always have your Majesty's Protection. With eight
hundred Men they forc'd the cover'd Way, and all the Intrenchments and
Works, one after another, till they came to the last Work which
surrounded it, against five hundred Men of regular Troops which defended
the Place, and a Reinforcement they had receiv'd; and three Days
afterwards we became Masters of the Place. We afterwards attack'd the
Town on the Side of the Castle. We landed again our Cannon, and the
other Artillery, with inconceivable Trouble, and form'd two Camps,
distant from each other three Leagues, against a Garrison almost as
numerous as our Army, whose Cavalry was double the Strength of ours. The
first Camp was so well intrench'd, that 'twas defended by two thousand
Men and the Dragoons; whilst we attack'd the Town with the rest of our
Troops. The Breach being made, we prepar'd to make a general Assault
with all the Army. These are Circumstances, Madam, which distinguish
this Action, perhaps, from all others.

Here has happen'd an unforeseen Accident. The Cruelty of the pretended
Viceroy, and the Report spread abroad, that he would take away the
Prisoners, contrary to the Capitulation, provok'd the Burghers, and some
of the Country People, to take up Arms against the Garrison, whilst they
were busy in packing up their Baggage, which was to be sent away the
next Day; so that every thing tended to Slaughter: But your Majesty's
Troops, entering into Town with the Earl of _Peterborow_, instead of
seeking Pillage, a Practice common upon such Occasions, appeas'd the
Tumult, and have say'd the Town, and even the Lives of their Enemies,
with a Discipline and Generosity without Example.

What remains is, that I return you my most hearty Thanks for sending so
great a Fleet, and such good and valiant Troops to my Assistance. After
so happy a Beginning, I have thought it proper, according to the
Sentiments of your Generals and Admirals, to support, by my Presence,
the Conquests that we have made; and to shew my Subjects, so
affectionate to my Person, that I cannot abandon them. I receive such
succours from your Majesty, and from your generous Nation, that I am
loaded with your Bounties; and am not a little concern'd to think that
the Support of my Interest should cause so great an Expence. But, Madam,
I sacrifice my Person, and my Subjects in Catalonia expose also their
Lives and Fortunes, upon the Assurances they have of your Majesty's
generous Protection. Your Majesty and your Council knows better than we
do, what is necessary for our Conservation. We shall then expect your
Majesty's Succours, with an entire Confidence in your Bounty and Wisdom.
A further Force is necessary: We give no small Diversion to _France_,
and without doubt they will make their utmost Efforts against me as soon
as possible; but I am satisfy'd, that the same Efforts will be made by
my Allies to defend me. Your Goodness, Madam, inclines you, and your
Power enables you, to support those that the Tyranny of France would
oppress. All that I can insinuate to your Wisdom, and that of your
Allies, is, that the Forces employ'd in this Country will not be
unprofitable to the public Good, but will be under an Obligation and
Necessity to act with the utmost Vigour against the Enemy. I am,

With an inviolable Affection,
Respect, and most
Sincere Acknowledgment,
Madam, my Sister,
Your most affectionate
Brother,
CHARLES.

And yet, after all, was this noble General not only recall'd, the
Command of the Fleet taken from him, and that of the Army given to my
Lord _Galway_, without Assignment of Cause; but all Manner of Falsities
were industriously spread abroad, not only to dimish, if they could, his
Reputation, but to bring him under Accusations of a malevolent Nature. I
can hardly imagine it necessary here to take Notice, that afterward he
disprov'd all those idle Calumnies and ill-invented Rumours; or to
mention what Compliments he receiv'd, in the most solemn Manner, from
his Country, upon a full Examination and thorough canvassing of his
Actions in the House of Lords. But this is too notorious to be omitted,
That all Officers coming from _Spain_ were purposely intercepted in
their Way to _London_, and craftily examin'd upon all the idle Stories
which had pass'd tending to lessen his Character: And when any Officers
had asserted the Falsity of those Inventions (as they all did, except a
military Sweetner or two) and that there was no Possibility of laying
any thing amiss to the Charge of that General--they were told, that they
ought to be careful however, not to speak advantagiously of that Lord's
Conduct, unless they were willing to fall Martyrs in his Cause--A Thing
scarce to be credited even in a popish Country. But _Scipio_ was
accus'd--tho' (as my Author finely observes) by Wretches only known to
Posterity by that stupid Accusation.

As a mournful Valediction, before I enter upon any new Scene, the Reader
will pardon this melancholy Expostulation. How mortifying must it be to
an _Englishman_, after he has found himself solac'd with a Relation of
so many surprising Successes of her Majesty's Arms, under the Earl of
_Peterborow_; Successes that have lay'd before our Eyes Provinces and
Kingdoms reduc'd, and Towns and Fortresses taken and reliev'd; where we
have seen a continu'd Series of happy Events, the Fruits of Conduct and
Vigilance; and Caution and Foresight preventing Dangers that were held,
at first View, certain and unsurmountable: to change this glorious
Landskip, I say, for Scenes every way different, even while our Troops
were as numerous as the Enemy, and better provided, yet always baffled
and beaten, and flying before the Enemy till fatally ruin'd in the
Battle of _Almanza_: How mortifying must this be to any Lover of his
Country! But I proceed to my Memoirs.

_ALICANT_ is a Town of the greatest Trade of any in the Kingdom of
_Valencia_, having a strong Castle, being situated on a high Hill, which
commands both Town and Harbour. In this Place I resided a whole Year;
but it was soon after my first Arrival, that Major _Collier_ (who was
shot in the Back at _Barcelona_, as I have related in the Siege of that
Place) hearing of me, sought me out at my Quarters; and, after a
particular Enquiry into the Success of that difficult Task that he left
me upon, and my answering all his Questions to satisfaction (all which
he receiv'd with evident Pleasure) he threw down a Purse of Pistoles
upon the Table; which I refusing, he told me, in a most handsome Manner,
his Friendship was not to be preserved but by my accepting it.

After I had made some very necessary Repairs, I pursu'd the Orders I had
receiv'd from the Earl of _Peterborow_, to go upon the erecting a new
Battery between the Castle and the Town. This was a Task attended with
Difficulties, neither few in Number, nor small in Consequence; for it
was to be rais'd upon a great Declivity, which must render the Work both
laborious and precarious. However, I had the good Fortune to effect it
much sooner than was expected; and it was call'd _Gorge's_ Battery, from
the Name of the Governor then commanding; who, out of an uncommon
Profusion of Generosity, wetted that Piece of Gossiping with a
distinguishing Bowl of Punch. Brigadier _Bougard_, when he saw this Work
some time after, was pleas'd to honour it with a singular Admiration and
Approbation, for its Compleatness, notwithstanding its Difficulties.

This Work, and the Siege of _Cartagena_, then in our Possession, by the
Duke of _Berwick_, brought the Lord _Galway_ down to this place.
_Cartagena_ is of so little Distance from _Alicant_, that we could
easily hear the Cannon playing against, and from it, in our Castle,
where I then was. And I remember my Lord _Galway_, on the fourth Day of
the Siege, sending to know if I could make any useful Observations, as
to the Success of it; I return'd, that I was of Opinion the Town was
surrender'd, from the sudden Cessation of the Cannon, which, by our News
next Day from the Place, prov'd to be fact. _Cartagena_ is a small
Sea-Port Town in _Murcia_; but has so good an Harbour, that when the
famous Admiral _Doria_ was ask'd, which were the three best Havens in
the _Mediterranean_, he readily return'd, _June, July_, and _Cartagena_.

Upon the Surrender of this Place, a Detachment of Foot was sent by the
Governor, with some Dragoons, to _Elsha_; but it being a Place of very
little Strength they were soon made Prisoners of War.

The Siege of _Cartagena_ being over, the Lord _Galway_ return'd to his
Camp; and the Lord _Duncannon_ dying in _Alicant_, the first Guns that
were fir'd from _Gorge's_ Battery, were the Minute-Guns for his Funeral.
His Regiment had been given to the Lord _Montandre_, who lost it before
he had Possession, by an Action as odd as it was scandalous.

That Regiment had received Orders to march to the Lord _Galway's_ Camp,
under the Command of their Lieutenant-Colonel _Bateman_, a Person before
reputedly a good Officer, tho' his Conduct here gave People, not
invidious, too much Reason to call it in Question. On his March, he was
so very careless and negligent (though he knew himself in a Country
surrounded with Enemies, and that he was to march through a Wood, where
they every Day made their Appearance in great Numbers) that his Soldiers
march'd with their Muskets slung at their Backs, and went one after
another (as necessity had forc'd us to do in _Scotland_) himself at the
Head of 'em, in his Chaise, riding a considerable way before.

It happened there was a Captain, with threescore Dragoons, detach'd from
the Duke of _Berwick's_ Army, with a Design to intercept some Cash, that
was order'd to be sent to Lord _Galway's_ Army from _Alicant_. This
Detachment, missing of that intended Prize, was returning very
disconsolately, _Re infecta_; when their Captain, observing that
careless and disorderly March of the _English_, resolv'd, boldly enough,
to attack them in the Wood. To that Purpose he secreted his little Party
behind a great Barn; and so soon as they were half passed by, he falls
upon 'em in the Center with his Dragoons, cutting and slashing at such a
violent Rate, that he soon dispersed the whole Regiment, leaving many
dead and wounded upon the Spot. The three Colours were taken; and the
gallant Lieutenant-Colonel taken out of his Chaise, and carried away
Prisoner with many others; only one Officer who was an Ensign, and so
bold as to do his Duty, was kill'd.

The Lieutenant who commanded the Granadiers, received the Alarm time
enough to draw his Men into a House in their way; where he bravely
defended himself for a long Time; but being killed, the rest immediately
surrender'd. The Account of this Action I had from the Commander of the
Enemy's Party himself, some Time after, while I was a Prisoner. And
Captain _Mahoni_, who was present when the News was brought, that a few
_Spanish_ Dragoons had defeated an _English_ Regiment, which was this
under _Bateman_, protested to me, that the Duke of _Berwick_ turn'd pale
at the Relation; and when they offer'd to bring the Colours before him,
he would not so much as see them. A little before the Duke went to
Supper, _Bateman_ himself was brought to him, but the Duke turn'd away
from him without any further Notice than coldly saying, that _he thought
he was very strangely taken_. The Wags of the Army made a thorough jest
of him, and said his military Conduct was of a piece with his Oeconomy,
having two Days before this March, sent his young handsome Wife into
_England_, under the Guardship of the young Chaplain of the Regiment.

_April_ 15. In the Year 1707, being _Easter Monday_, we had in the
Morning a flying Report in _Alicant_, that there had been the Day before
a Battle at _Almanza_, between the Army under the Command of the Duke of
_Berwick_, and that of the _English_, under Lord _Galway_, in which the
latter had suffer'd an entire Defeat. We at first gave no great Credit
to it: But, alas, we were too soon woefully convinced of the Truth of
it, by Numbers that came flying to us from the conquering Enemy. Then
indeed we were satisfied of Truths, too difficult before to be credited.
But as I was not present in that calamitous Battle, I shall relate it,
as I received it from an Officer then in the Duke's Army.

To bring the Lord _Galway_ to a Battle, in a Place most commodious for
his purpose, the Duke made use of this Stratagem: He ordered two
_Irishmen_, both Officers, to make their way over to the Enemy as
Deserters; putting this Story in their Mouths, that the Duke of
_Orleans_ was in a full March to join the Duke of _Berwick_ with twelve
thousand Men; that this would be done in two Days, and that then they
would find out the Lord _Galway_, and force him to Fight, where-ever
they found him.

Lord _Galway_, who at this Time lay before _Villena_, receiving this
Intelligence from those well instructed Deserters, immediately rais'd
the Siege; with a Resolution, by a hasty March, to force the Enemy to
Battle, before the Duke of _Orleans_ should be able to join the Duke of
_Berwick_. To effect this, after a hard March of three long _Spanish_
Leagues in the heat of the Day; he appears a little after Noon in the
face of the Enemy with his fatigu'd Forces. Glad and rejoyc'd at the
Sight, for he found his Plot had taken; _Berwick_, the better to receive
him, draws up his Army in a half Moon, placing at a pretty good Advance
three Regiments to make up the Centre, with express Order, nevertheless,
to retreat at the very first Charge. All which was punctually observ'd,
and had its desired Effect; For the three Regiments, at the first Attack
gave way, and seemingly fled towards their Camp; the _English_, after
their customary Manner, pursuing them with Shouts and Hollowings. As
soon as the Duke of _Berwick_ perceiv'd his Trap had taken, he order'd
his right and left Wings to close; by which Means, he at once cut off
from the rest of their Army all those who had so eagerly pursu'd the
imaginary Runaways. In short, the Rout was total, and the most fatal
Blow that ever the _English_ receiv'd during the whole War with _Spain_.
Nor, as it is thought, with a great probability of Reason, had those
Troops that made their Retreat to the Top of the Hills, under Major
General _Shrimpton_, met with any better Fate than those on the Plain,
had the _Spaniards_ had any other General in the Command than the Duke
of _Berwick_; whose native Sympathy gave a check to the Ardour of a
victorious Enemy. And this was the sense of the _Spaniards_ themselves
after the Battle. Verifying herein that noble Maxim, _That Victory to
generous Minds is only an Inducement to Moderation_.

The Day after this fatal Battle (which gave occasion to a _Spanish_
piece of Wit, _that the English General had routed the French_) the Duke
of _Orleans_ did arrive indeed in the Camp, but with an Army of only
fourteen Attendants.

The fatal Effects of this Battle were soon made visible, and to none
more than those in _Alicant_. The Enemy grew every Day more and more
troublesome; visiting us in Parties more boldly than before: and often
hovering about us so very near, that with our Cannon we could hardly
teach 'em to keep a proper Distance. _Gorge_ the Governor of _Alicant_
being recall'd into _England_, Major General _Richards_ was by King
_Charles_ appointed Governor in his Place. He was a Roman Catholick, and
very much belov'd by the Natives on that Account; tho' to give him his
due, he behaved himself extremely well in all other Respects. It was in
his Time, that a Design was laid of surprising _Guardamere_, a small
Sea-port Town, in _Murcia_: But the military Bishop (for he was in a
literal Sense excellent _tam Marte, quam Mercurio_, among his many
others Exploits), by a timely Expedition, prevented that.

Governor _Richards_, my Post being always in the Castle, had sent to
desire me to give notice whenever I saw any Parties of the Enemy moving.
Pursuant to this Order, discovering one Morning a considerable body of
Horse towards _Elsha_, I went down into the Town, and told the Governor
what I had seen; and without any delay he gave his Orders, that a
Captain with threescore Men should attend me to an old House about a
Mile distance. As soon as we had got into it, I set about barricading
all the open Places, and Avenues, and put my Men in a Posture ready to
receive an Enemy, as soon as he should appear; upon which the Captain,
as a feint, ordered a few of his men to shew themselves on a rising
Ground just before the House. But we had like to have caught a Tartar:
For tho' the Enemy took the Train I had laid, and on sight of our small
Body on the Hill, sent a Party from their greater Body to intercept
them, before they could reach the Town; yet the Sequel prov'd, we had
mistaken their Number and it soon appeared to be much greater than we at
first imagin'd. However our Out-scouts, as I may call 'em, got safe into
the House; and on the Appearance of the Party, we let fly a full Volly,
which laid dead on the Spot three Men and one Horse. Hereupon the whole
Body made up to the House, but stood a-loof upon the Hill without reach
of our Shot. We soon saw our Danger from the number of the Enemy: And
well for us it was, that the watchful Governor had taken notice of it,
as well as we in the House. For observing us surrounded with the Enemy,
and by a Power so much superior, he marched himself with a good part of
the Garrison to our Relief. The Enemy stood a little time as if they
would receive 'em; but upon second thoughts they retir'd; and to our no
little Joy left us at Liberty to come out of the House and join the
Garrison.

Scarce a Day pass'd but we had some visits of the like kind attended
sometimes with Rencounters of this Nature; in so much that there was
hardly any stirring out in Safety for small Parties, tho' never so
little away. There was within a little Mile of the Town, an old
Vineyard, environed with a loose stone Wall: An Officer and I made an
Agreement to ride thither for an Airing. We did so, and after a little
riding, it came into my Head to put a Fright upon the Officer. And very
lucky for us both was that unlucky Thought of mine; pretending to see a
Party of the Enemy make up to us, I gave him the Alarm, set Spurs to my
Horse, and rid as fast as Legs could carry me. The Officer no way bated
of his Speed; and we had scarce got out of the Vineyard but my Jest
prov'd Earnest, twelve of the Enemy's Horse pursuing us to the very
Gates of the Town. Nor could I ever after prevail upon my
Fellow-Traveller to believe that he ow'd his Escape to Merriment more
than Speed.

Soon after my Charge, as to the Fortifications, was pretty well over, I
obtain'd Leave of the Governor to be absent for a Fortnight, upon some
Affairs of my own at _Valencia_. On my Return from whence, at a Town
call'd _Venissa_, I met two Officers of an _English_ Regiment, going to
the Place from whence I last came. They told me, after common
Congratulations, that they had left Major _Boyd_, at a little Place
call'd _Capel_, hiring another Mule, that he rode on thither having
tir'd and fail'd him; desiring withal, that if I met him, I would let
him know that they would stay for him at that Place. I had another
Gentleman in my Company, and we had travell'd on not above a League
further, whence, at a little Distance, we were both surpriz'd with a
Sight that seem'd to have set all Art at defiance, and was too odd for
any thing in Nature. It appear'd all in red, and to move; but so very
slowly, that if we had not made more way to that than it did to us, we
should have made it a Day's Journey before we met it. My Companion could
as little tell what to make of it as I; and, indeed, the nearer it came
the more monstrous it seem'd, having nothing of the Tokens of Man,
either Walking, Riding, or in any Posture whatever. At last, coming up
with this strange Figure of a Creature (for now we found it was
certainly such) what, or rather who, should it prove to be, but Major
_Boyd_? He was a Person of himself far from one of the least Proportion,
and mounted on a poor little Ass, with all his warlike Accoutrements
upon it, you will allow must make a Figure almost as odd as one of the
old _Centaurs_. The Morocco Saddle that cover'd the Ass was of Burden
enough for the Beast without its Master; and the additional Holsters
and Pistols made it much more weighty. Nevertheless, a Curb Bridle of
the largest Size cover'd his little Head, and a long red Cloak, hanging
down to the Ground, cover'd Jackboots, Ass, Master and all. In short, my
Companion and I, after we could specifically declare it to be a Man,
agreed we never saw a Figure so comical in all our Lives. When we had
merrily greeted our Major (for a _Cynick_ could not have forborn
Laughter) He excus'd all as well as he could, by saying he could get no
other Beast. After which, delivering our Message, and condoling with him
for his present Mounting, and wishing him better at his next Quarters,
he settled into his old Pace, and we into ours, and parted.

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