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A guide to the characters and events:
The addressee Thomas Sydenham was the
British Chargé d'Affaires in Lisbon (under
Sir Charles Stuart) and a close friend and protégé
of Richard Wellesley, the Earl of Mornington, then British
Foreign Minister in Spencer Perceval's cabinet (1809-1812) and
Wellington's eldest brother.
"His Highness" refers to William of Orange, at
this point the Prince of the House of Orange and heir to the crown of
the Netherlands, and to which he succeeded upon the death of his father.
Here he is arriving to become Wellington's ADC. We have handled several of his letters while he was an aide de Camp for
Wellington in the Peninsula. He was apparently well liked and was
nicknamed Slender Billy.
William of Orange was the subject of particular controversy at
Quatre Bras where the British considered his actions somewhere between
incompetence and cowardice, while the Dutch consider his actions heroic
given the conditions. Willem II (William Frederick George Louis - December 6, 1792 – March 17,
1849) was King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg from
October 7, 1840 until his death on March 17, 1849. Note that Willem is
the Dutch form of William, who, educated at Oxford, actually used the English form, William,
of his name within the family and among friends.
He was born in The Hague, the son of King William I of the Netherlands
and Queen Wilhelmina, princess of Prussia. His maternal grandparents
were Frederick William II of Prussia and his second wife Frederika
Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt. When William was three he and his family fled
to England after allied British-Hanoverian mercenaries left the Republic
and entering French troops joined the anti-orangist Patriots. William
spent his youth in Berlin at the Prussian court. There he followed a
military education and served in the Prussian army. Afterwards he
studied at the University of Oxford. It was to his friends at
Oxford that this letter was written. He entered the British Army, and in
1811, as aide-de-camp to Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, took
part in several campaigns of the Peninsular War, where he was mentioned
in dispatches and noted approvingly by Wellington. He returned to the
Netherlands in 1813 when his father became sovereign prince following
the defeat and retreat of Napoleon from the Low Countries following the
battle of Leipzig. In 1815 William became crown prince and he took
service in the army when Napoleon I of France escaped from Elba. He
fought as commander of combined Dutch and Belgian forces at the Battle
of Quatre Bras (June 16) and the Battle of Waterloo (June 18), where he
was wounded. He was considered a hero although his military inexperience
was the cause of several critical errors.
In 1816 William became briefly engaged with Princess Charlotte Augusta
of Wales, only daughter of George IV of the United Kingdom and Caroline
of Brunswick. The marriage was arranged by George but Charlotte did not
want to marry William so the engagement was broken. On February 21,
1816, William married Grand Duchess Anna Pavlovna of Russia, sister to
Czar Alexander I of Russia, who arranged the marriage to seal the good
relations between Imperial Russia and the Netherlands. On February 17,
1817 his eldest son Willem Alexander was born (the future King Willem
III) in Brussels, where he lived. He enjoyed considerable popularity in
Belgium, as well as in the Netherlands for his affability and
moderation, and in 1830, on the outbreak of the Belgian revolution, he
did his utmost in Brussels as a peace broker, to bring about a
settlement based on administrative autonomy for the southern provinces,
under the House of Orange-Nassau. His father afterwards rejected the
terms of accommodation that he had proposed. Relations with his father
remained tense. In April 1831 he was leader of the ten day campaign in
Belgium which was driven back to the North by French intervention.
European intervention established Leopold of Saxe-Gotha on the new
throne of Belgium. Peace was finally established between Belgium and the
Netherlands in 1839.
On October 7, 1840, on his father's abdication, Willem acceded the
throne as Willem II. Like his father he was conservative and less likely
to initiate changes. He intervened less in policies than his father did.
There was increased agitation for broad constitutional reform and a
wider electoral franchise. And though he was personally conservative and
no democrat, he acted with sense and moderation. The Revolutions of 1848
broke out all over Europe. In Paris the Bourbon-Orléans monarchy fell.
William became afraid of revolution in Amsterdam. One morning he woke up
and said: "I changed from conservative to liberal in one night". He gave
orders to Johan Rudolf Thorbecke to create a new constitution which
included that the Eerste Kamer (Senate) would be chosen indirectly by
the Provincial States and that the Tweede Kamer (House of
Representatives) would be chosen directly. Electoral system changed into
census suffrage in electoral districts (in 1917 census suffrage was
replaced by common suffrage for all adults, and districts were replaced
by party lists of different political parties), whereby royal power
decreased sharply. The constitution is still in effect today. He swore
in the first parliamentary cabinet a few months before his sudden death
in Tilburg, North Brabant (1849).
"Capt Cocks", later Major, was the Honorable
Edward Charles Cocks, son of John Cocks, of London. He served in various
capacities in the Peninsular war. He was attached to the regular Spanish
army for a time and also with the 16th Light Dragoons. He worked as an
intelligence officer behind enemy lines [as referenced in this letter],
performed special missions for Wellington, and was a field officer
commanding soldiers. His family wanted him in Parliament, but Charles,
as he was called, loved soldiering more than anything else. He was the
consummate professional soldier, very much in his element in the war in
Spain. In a letter to his uncle, Charles wrote: “Few regard soldiers in
their true light, that is as a body of men giving up many individual
pleasures and comforts for a general national advantage, coupled
certainly with the hope of personal fame and at the same time preserving
more individual independence than any class of men....Men unused to war
and ignorant of its ways regard soldiers as pernicious characters
because they always figure them as intent on the destruction of their
enemy, but a soldier only meets his foe now and then and he is every day
engaged in reciprocal offices of kindness with his comrades....for my
part I think there is much less ferocity in putting your foe to death
when you see him aiming at your life, than in coolly rejoicing in your
cabinet at home at successes purchased by the blood of thousands--Your
dutiful and affectionate nephew, E. Charles Cocks”
On October 8, 1812, at the age of 26, Charles Cocks was
acting as a field officer in the siege of Burgos. In the hours before
dawn he led his men up a slope to regain the outer wall. When he reached
the top, a French soldier fired straight at him. The ball passed through
his chest, piercing the artery above his heart. He died instantly. That
morning Wellington strode into Ponsonby's office, paced to and fro
without speaking for several minutes. He started back toward the door,
saying only, "Cocks is dead" before he walked out. Later Wellington
wrote, "He (Cocks) is on every ground the greatest loss we have yet
sustained." When Wellington stood at his graveside, ashen-faced and
remote, none of his officers dared speak to him. The Duke of Wellington
stated: "had Cocks outlived the campaigns ... he would have become one
of the first Generals in England." 50 years following his death the
family changed the name from Cocks to Somers-Cocks.
[extracts from Intelligence Officer in the Peninsula Letters and Diaries of Major The
Honorable Edward Charles Cocks 1786-1812, Julia V. Page, editor
(1986, Spellmount Ltd)
"Colonel Campbell"
Possibly Lt Colonel Campbell who led the 94th
Regiment, and 2nd Battalion of the 5th through the breach to storm the
Ramparts in the successful recapture of Ciudad Rodrigo on 19th January
of 1812.
Possibly Major-General Sir Colin Campbell,
KCB (1776-13 June 1847) who was a British Army officer and colonial
governor. Then Lt. Colonel Colin Campbell was on Wellington's
staff and likely would have been at headquarters.
Possibly Sir Colin Campbell (1792-1863)
On 28 January 1809 Campbell became a Lieutenant and in 1810 he joined
the 2nd Battalion in Gibraltar. Lieutenant-General Colin Campbell
(unrelated but then Military Governor of Gibraltar) then attached
Campbell to the Spanish army where he served with them until December
1811 (during this time he was at Portalegre). He then rejoined the 2nd
Battalion. In January 1813 he joined the 1st Battalion of the 9th, under
the command of Colonel John Cameron. Campbell served at the battle of
Vittoria and the siege of San Sebastian. On 17 July 1813 Campbell led
the attack on the fortified convent of San Bartholomé; on 25 July he led
the unsuccessful attempt to storm the fortress itself. He was wounded
twice and subsequently was recommended for promotion. On 9 November 1813
he was given a company in the 60th rifles. He was awarded a pension of
£100 a year for his wounds, and ordered to join the 7th battalion of the
60th rifles in Nova Scotia.
"Lord March"
Charles Gordon Lennox
(1791 - 1860)
later 5th Duke Richmond was an Aide de Camp and assistant Military
Secretary to the Duke of Wellington from July 1810 to July 1814. He was
wounded at Orthes in February in 1813. Although he had been painfully
wounded on his thigh which meant he could only walk with the support of
sticks, Wellington rode several miles to see him when he heard March had
been injured, and it is reported he came from the room in tears. Before
inheriting the Dukedom of Richmond in 1819 he was the MP (Tory) for
Chichester. He married the eldest daughter of Lord Uxbridge and
was, as one would expect, at the famous Duchess of Richmond ball in
Brussels on the eve of Waterloo.
"the melancholy end of Lieutenant Colonel Bevan"
Born in 1778, Charles Bevan was commissioned into the 28th Foot with
whom he served in Egypt, at Copenhagen, Walcheren and in the Peninsula.
He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 18th January, 1810 and
appointed to command the 2nd Battalion 4th Foot, then stationed at
Colchester with the 1st Battalion. The 2nd/4th embarked for Ceuta in
North Africa, opposite Gibraltar, arriving on 21st march 1810, but
unfortunately during the passage a storm had driven some of the
transports ashore near Cadiz and some three hundred men of the regiment
were taken prisoner; the Battalion remained in Ceuta until April 1812.
Meanwhile the 1st/4th had left Colchester and embarked from Harwich for
Spain on 25th October, 1810. In early January 1811 Bevan was appointed
to command the 1st/4th in the place of Lieutenant Colonel James Wynch
 Following the British victory over the French at the
battle of Fuentes de Oñoro (3–5 May 1811), French Marshal André Massena
ordered the besieged garrison at Almeida under General Brennier to break
out and rejoin the French forces near Ciudad Rodrigo via the bridge at
Barba del Puerco over the river Agueda. Wellington anticipated this move
and ordered General Sir William Erskine to extend his 5th Division
northward as far as the Bridge of Barba del Puerco by sending Colonel
Bevan and the 4th Foot to the rocky defile which overhangs
the bridge. Meanwhile, Campbell’s 6th Division and Pack’s Brigade were
to continue the investment of Almeida. The orders were sent out by 2
p.m. on the 10th and reached Erskine at his Headquarters by
about 4 p.m. Although Erskine subsequently claimed to have sent the
orders immediately to the 4th Foot at Val de Mula, it would
appear that they were not received until around midnight.
The French unit’s escape was carefully planned to carry out a
strategic withdrawal and pass over the stone bridge on the River Agueda.
The Spanish call this area Barba del Puerco. At midnight on the 10th
of May 1811, the garrison of Almeida (about 1400 men), in three separate
detachments, left the fortress. They conducted their march with such
quietness that they succeeded in slipping through the siege lines and
eluding the allied sentry units [2nd Regiment of Foot and
Portuguese pickets]. They had virtually completed their escape before
their flight was discovered. Belatedly the French troops were pursued by
Pack’s and Campbell’s Brigades towards the bridge at Barba del Puerco.
Lieutenant Colonel Charles Bevan, having not received his
orders around midnight, had decided to wait the few hours until
day-break before moving. However, on hearing gunfire, Bevan ordered the
4th Foot (King’s Own Regiment) to move off quickly towards
the bridge. The French arrived at the bridge first, pursued by Pack’s
force. The first contingent of the French hastened their march across
the bridge and joined the main French forces on the hilly grounds above
the Agueda. The second contingent (the second column of march) was
slowed down while descending the mountainous steep road from the town of
Barba del Puerco (today known as Puerto Seguro) which lead to the
bridge. The King’s Own with the 36th Foot were able to attack
the second French column in flank as it was descending the steep road to
the Bridge. British attacks onto the bridge and attempts to catch the
French were brutally repulsed under a withering fire from the entrenched
French troops is the hills on the east side of the river. Neither
Lieutenant Colonel Cockrane’s determination – partially supported by a
force of Campbell’s 36th Regiment of Foot – nor the 4th Foot,
rushing proudly onward, were successful; quite the contrary, British
columns were decimated. Compelled to recoil, further severe losses were
suffered in the intensive fire fight.
Wellesley, who had correctly anticipated this very
situation, was appalled at both the French escape and the British
losses. He noted that, “the 4th Regiment, which it is said
did not receive their orders before midnight, and had only two and a
half miles to march, missed their road and did not arrive, at Barba del
Puerco till after the French”. In a later dispatch he said, “the enemy
are indebted for the small part of the garrison which they saved
principally due to the unfortunate mistake of the road to Barba del
Puerco by the 4th Regiment”. In a letter to Lord Liverpool he
said, “Thus your Lordship will see, that, if the 4th Regiment
had received the orders issued at 1 p.m. before it was dark at 8 o’clock
at night, or if they had not missed their road, the [French] garrison
must have lain down its arms.”
But it may not have been quite as simple as that. Wellington
was asked to formally hold a court of inquiry for prosecution into the
affair. The request was not granted (possibly because it might have
shown that Erskine had been incompetent, as he certainly was later in
the war, and would impair the credibility of the army and fail to
inspire confidence in the command structure). It was only much later
that the excuse given by Erskine, that the 4th had “taken the
wrong road”, was shown to be fabricated. Bevan was accordingly deprived
of this right to defend himself.
When it became apparent that Bevan would not receive
his day in court, he could not tolerate this stain on his and his
regiment’s honor and shot himself on 8 July 1811, a most sad day for the
British army. The funeral service - which was attended by all the
officers of the division - was held on the 11th of July in the border
town of Portalegre. It was here, in the castle yard, that Bevan was
buried. A memorial stone was engraved with words of honour: “This stone
is erected to the memory of Charles Bevan Esquire. Late Lieutenant
Colonel of the 4th or King’ s Own Regiment with intention of recording
his virtues. They are deeply engraven on the hearts of those who knew
him and will ever live in their remembrance”.
Bevan’s wife and children in England were informed that he had
died of fever. It was not until 1843, that his eldest son, Charles found
out the sad truth about his death from an uncle, Admiral James Richard
Dacres, who wrote informing him that the 4th had received their orders
too late and that neither Bevan nor his Regiment were at fault. Although
this letter clearly shows what those in the field thought of the matter.
A final note on "a pat of
Windsor Soap". A scented soap well known for its excellence.
[Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)] It would seem
that Manners was in dutch with General Charles Stewart, Wellington
Adjutant General and brother to Lord Castlereagh, 2nd Marquess of
Londonderry, and wanted to make amends by bringing what was likely a
rare commodity at the frontier headquarters. This is a remarkable
contemporary letter that ties together all of these people and events.
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General Lord Charles Henry Somerset Manners, KCB was a British
soldier and nobleman, the second son of Charles Manners, 4th Duke of
Rutland, and Lady Mary Isabella Somerset.
He entered the army as Cornet in the 10th Dragoons
in 1800; became Lieutenant in August, and Captain in September of the
same year; and attained the rank of Major in Oct. 1808. In that year he
served in Spain, and was in the action at Benavente. In 1809 he served
as Aide- de-camp to Lord Chatham in the expedition to Walcheren, and was
present at the siege of Flushing. He also served in Spain, and commanded
the 3d Dragoons at the battles of Salamanca, Vitoria, and Toulouse, for
which he received a medal and two clasps. He became Lieut. Colonel in
the regiment on the 2d July, 1812. In 1815 his Lordship was nominated a
Companion of the Bath, and in 1838 he was advanced to the rank of a
Knight Commander. On the 6th November 1817 he was appointed Aide-de-camp
to H. R. H. the Prince Regent, with the rank of Colonel in the army. His
Lordship became a Major-General in 1825, a Lieut. -General in 1838, and
was appointed to the command of the 3d Dragoons in November 1839. He
attained the full rank of General in 1854. During nearly the whole of
his military career Lord Charles Manners was a knight of the shire in
Parliament.
Lord Charles Manners was an excellent horseman. A contemporary report
from the War reported that "having one day
unexpectedly come upon a French cavalry picket, they gave chase, until a
brook was reached, which Lord Charles, in the Melton fashion,
immediately cleared, taking off his hat, and bidding the Frenchmen ( who
were so surprised as not to fire until too late), "Adieu, messieurs" A
caricature published at the time, descriptive of the event, called "A
Belvoir Leap" or "Teaching the French Good Manners!" is in the
possession of the late lordship's god-son, Mr. Charles D. Johnson."
He was lieutenant colonel of the
3rd (King's Own) Regiment of Dragoons in 1815, during the Waterloo
campaign. After a brief appointment to the colonelcy of the 11th
Regiment of (Light) Dragoons, he was transferred to the colonelcy of the
3rd, which he commanded until his death in 1855. |
