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    TWENTY-FIVE YEARS
    IN
    THE RIFLE BRIGADE.

    BY THE LATE
    WILLIAM SURTEES,
    QUARTERMASTER.

    WILLIAM BLACKWOOD, EDINBURGH; AND
    T. CADELL, STRAND, LONDON.

    MDCCCXXXIII.


    EDINBURGH:
    PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE AND COMPANY, PAUL'S WORK, CANONGATE.




    TO
    MAJOR-GEN. SIR ANDREW F. BARNARD,
    K.C.B. and K.C.H.
    AND THE OFFICERS OF THE RIFLE BRIGADE,
    THESE REMAINS OF MY DECEASED BROTHER
    ARE MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED,
    BY THEIR OBLIGED AND MOST
    OBEDIENT SERVANT,
    JOHN SURTEES.




PREFATORY NOTICE.


The Author of the following Narrative entered the Army in early life. He
commenced his military career in 1795, as a private soldier in the
Northumberland Militia; and in the following year he volunteered into
the Pompadours. In this regiment he first faced the enemy, during the
expedition to Holland under the Duke of York. On getting his discharge
from the Pompadours, in 1802, he again entered the service as a private
in the Rifle Brigade, to which he was attached for a period of
twenty-five years. From his steady conduct, and ardent love for his
profession, he was soon advanced from the ranks, and, after various
intermediate steps, was appointed Quartermaster; a situation which he
held as long as he continued in the corps, enjoying the respect and
esteem of his brother officers of all ranks, as is amply testified by
the letters which form the Appendix to this volume.

Though, as Quartermaster, the Author was not called by duty to join in
battle, yet he lost no opportunity of entering the scene of action, or
of placing himself in a favourable situation for observing what was
passing. It is unnecessary to enumerate the arduous services of the
Rifle Brigade from 1802 to 1815. During the whole of that period the
Author was actively engaged with his corps.

The Narrative is faithfully--indeed literally--printed from the Author's
MS. as he left it at his death. The critical reader may therefore detect
various inaccuracies which, had life been spared to the Author, would
probably have been corrected; but he will find much to approve, and,
hackneyed as Narratives of the Peninsular War have become, he will also
find much that is new. There is no embellishment in the style of the
Author's composition, but there is a quiet Defoe-like sincerity and
simplicity characteristic of his pages, and a strain of unaffected
piety, that is very pleasing; and the scenes and descriptions which he
gives, though sometimes singularly chosen, and reported quite with a
manner of his own, are on the whole portrayed with strong graphic
effect. One word, however, before closing,--our Author is never vulgar.

A severe pulmonary affection compelled him to quit his corps in 1826. He
retired to Corbridge, his native village, where he arrived on the 24th
of October in that year, and continued there, respected and beloved, and
constantly engaged in acts of benevolence, till the period of his death,
28th May, 1830.

    _November 23, 1832._




CONTENTS.


    CHAPTER I.
                                                                  PAGE.

    Birth and Parentage--Enters the Militia--Volunteers into the
    Line--Joins the army destined for Holland--The troops embark at
    Deal--Land at the Helder--Laxity of discipline--March for
    Schagen--Detachment under Sir Ralph Abercromby sent to surprise
    Hoorne--Hoorne surrenders,                                        1

    CHAPTER II.

    The Russian Allies carry Bergen--Allow themselves to be
    surprised, and the whole army forced to retire to their former
    position--Skirmishing in the vicinity of Old Patten--The
    Russians endeavour to force their way back to Bergen--The
    Russian and British forces joined--The enemy forced to abandon
    Egmont-op-Zee--Alkmaar surrenders--The troops advance to Egmont
    Binnen--Skirmishing--General engagement--The Enemy
    repulsed--The Forces retire to Zaand Wyck--Armistice
    concluded--Return to England,                                    13

    CHAPTER III.

    Arrive in England--The Pompadours embark for Ireland--Arrive at
    Kinsale--Privations in Ireland in 1800--Peace concluded--Our
    Author resolves to return home, but ultimately volunteers into
    the Rifle Corps or 95th--Embarks for England, and joins his
    Regiment at Sussex--Is promoted,                                 35

    CHAPTER IV.

    Made Pay-sergeant--Moral Reflections--Wreck of a Dutch East
    Indiaman--Reduced Officers--War with France in 1803--Encampment
    at Thorncliffe under the command of General Sir John
    Moore--Encampment broke up, November 1804--Embark for Germany,
    October 1805--Vicissitudes at Sea--Land at Cuxhaven--March to
    Bremen--Outposts established--Retrograde movements, in
    consequence of the defeat of the Allied Forces at
    Austerlitz--The Allied Forces evacuate Germany--Re-embarkation
    of the troops--The Rifle Corps, or 95th, land at Yarmouth,       45

    CHAPTER IV.*

    Our Author made Quartermaster-Sergeant of the 2d battalion,
    which he joins at Feversham, Kent--Expedition to
    Denmark--Embark at Deal--Land at Vedbeck, Zealand--Partial
    Engagements--Siege of Copenhagen