Lord | started for some place beyond Agueda, they where his militia were encamped. with him, had escaped unhurt. Wellington gave orders that should be treated with the greatest consideration, and an English officer gave up his room to them. Next morning, when their baggage was sent for, Massena delivered it at once, and the general's wife took advantage of this opportunity to join him. The Rifles suffered greatly, as they were not relieved, and had to sustain the enemy's fire the whole day, throughout which they showed great bravery. One of their captains told me that if they had three such days not a man would escape. Though no great number were killed the wounded were very numerous, and at night eighty carts were loaded with those who, after having their wounds dressed, had been brought into the convent yard. We gave them wine and whatever else they asked for. One thing surprised us immensely, and this was that although many were dying and others were in great danger, yet none asked to be confessed, nor did they speak of Jesus, as is so natural and right for an afflicted Christian to do. Beresford, whose headquarters were at Santa Eufemia, slept at night in our library, and the general, who had been taken prisoner, was sent to Coimbra with his wife and secretary. The artillery fire was continued on our side, but the enemy scarcely replied, and there was little bloodshed. Colonel Trant came to confer with Lord Wellington, and it was rumored that he was to take back reinforcements; but this did not prove true, and in the evening he wipe out his fault and recover the time which he had lost to his promotion, dashed forward bravely at the head of his brigade, cleared all the obstacles, climbed the rocks under a hail of bullets, broke the English line, and was the first to enter the enemy's entrenchments. There, however, a shot fired point blank smashed his jaw, just at the moment when the English second line repulsed our troops, who were hurled back into the valley with considerable loss. The unfortunate general was found lying in the redoubt among the dead and dying, with scarcely a human feature left. We lington treated him with much kindness, and, as soon as he was fit to be moved, sent him as a prisoner of war to England. Later on he was allowed to return to France, but his horrible wound did not permit him to serve again." (Memoirs of the Baron de Marbot, 1892.) Towards 11 P.M. the French retired very quietly in the direction of Mortagua, then turned towards Boialro and struck the Oporto road at a point not guarded by our troops. An English officer commanding an outpost noticed the movement, though only by chance, as the night was very dark. On receiving his report, the general instantly got up, and at midnight set out with the whole army for Coimbra. He sent us notice that we should leave at once, and this advice was followed by all except Friars Ignacio, Antonio, and myself. It was very dark, and raining hard, so we put off starting until the morning. I arose very early to see what the troops were doing, and met several regiments retiring in great haste. When all had passed, we went to look at the French camp; but only some cavalry pickets, scattered at intervals along the road, were to be seen, and these gradually retired, until the last had disappeared. A squadron of English cavalry had remained to watch their movements, and the commander now despatched a small force along the Mortagua road for the same purpose. Shortly after passing Moura this party came upon seventy wounded Frenchmen, who had been abandoned by their comrades, and felt such pity for them that they mounted them on their horses and brought them back to the chapel of All Souls, which lies just outside our wall. This pious work occupied them the whole day. The English set fire to an immense quantity of powder, and the explosion caused great damage to our property; it knocked down a wall immediately in front, uprooted trees, and broke a large window in the church. The vedettes retired early next morning, after charging us to give water to the Frenchmen who were in the chapel, to avoid the peasants who did nothing but rob and murder, and to bring in more wounded who were still lying in the wood. I started at once to see about these latter, and at my request two Portu guese officers accompanied me; but on | four days afterwards, being driven to it by my constant importunity; but by In the early morning of October 1 we were alarmed by the report that the French were at Villariça, a village not more than a quarter of a league distant. While discussing this news with the priest who had remained with me, the latter said he was at a loss to know how to get rid of the two officers I have already mentioned; these were a captain of militia and a lieutenant of the rifles. It was now more than a week since they had introduced themselves, with much show of friendship, and we were supporting them without being either their friends or debtors. After considering the matter, I said, "I see how it can be done without offending them. As the French are at Villariça, let us give out that we wish to shut up the convent and leave this arriving at the Sulla gate they let me go on alone, saying it was too far; how ever, near the village of Moura I met three men who agreed to go with me. A short distance further on we found twelve French soldiers lying close to the roadside. They were so badly hurt that not one of them could raise himself; some had their legs broken, and three of them were dying, worn out with pain and cold, with hunger and thirst. The moment they saw us they raised their hands to Heaven, sobbing and crying out, "Oh, Mother of God! Mother of God! Water, for the love of God!" 1 asked the peasants who had come with me if they would go for water, and they replied most certainly not that it was not likely they were going to do good to their enemies. Hurt by their inhumanity, I did all in my power to arouse feelings of compassion in them, but in spite of my efforts they did not move a step, and I declared that as they would not help me I would go for the water myself. Taking some bottles which the men had brought with them, I started down the hillside. Seeing how determined I neighborhood, lest we fall into their was they began to relent, and one of them went with me. On my return I distributed the water amongst the wounded, and as they had no food except some maize which grew close by, a peasant gave them a piece of black bread which he had in his pocket. I wished to take one of the soldiers back with me, but he had lost so much blood from a wound in his head, that even when leaning against me he was too weak to walk, and was so overcome by this slight exertion that he fell senseless to the ground. Being unable to render further assistance I returned to the convent, and after midday again set out with a supply of water, bread, wine, and fish. I carried one of the wounded on a hand-cart as far as Moura, being helped by a poor old man from Labao. Two of the villagers had joined us, and I impressed on them that they should give the Frenchmen water, and, if possible, take them to some place of shelter. This they did hands; we will then take a walk over the hills, and when it seems good to us we will return." He approved of my suggestion, for we had no intention of leaving the convent, having been warned that as soon as we did so it would be plundered by people from the neighboring villages, and possibly even the French might not treat us as badly as that. I went at once to the officers and told them to fetch whatever belonged to them, as we intended to close the convent and could not allow any one to remain inside. As they did not wish to leave they began to argue the point, saying that the French would not come here, that they were not even at Villariça, and that the boy who had spread the report ought to be well beaten. My reply was that they should get ready immediately, as most decidedly we were going to shut up the convent and take refuge in a safer place. When the farm servants heard this they declared that it was not possible for them to go been told so. I assured them that it with us, as they were engaged in bak- was not the case and that they had ing bread and could not leave it. I been deceived. On this they remarked, told them secretly of my plan, which "To-morrow another French officer they applauded, for they also were tired will come here to find out whether you of these officers, who did nothing but speak the truth." These words caused collect all the powder and muskets they me no little uneasiness, and I said to could lay hands on, while they ate and the officer, "If you will dismount I drank at our expense; they therefore will show you over the whole conthrew their coats over their shoulders | vent." He was quite pleased, and told and urged us to depart without delay. The officers said we must breakfast first, but I replied, "There is no time for that; take a sip of wine and nothing more. Let us get away from here at once." While they haruessed an old horse to carry the things they had collected, I went to the cellar to have a drink of wine, but was interrupted by the noise of horses outside. I shut the door quickly and went to the yard gate whence I saw a number of cavalry soldiers advancing towards me. At first sight I took them for English, but on looking more closely at their shakos I saw they were French. They marched slowly past without addressing a word to me, at which I was much surprised. In the middle of the troop were three officers, who beckoned to me, and when I got near, one of them took off his shako and bowed politely. He then said, "We have come to take charge of the stores of food which the English left behind." "The English left nothing here but a large quantity of powder, to which they themselves set fire when the last party evacuated the place," I replied. "At what hour did this take place?" he inquired. "At night," I answered; then they laughed because they saw that I was speaking the truth, for they had heard the explosion. They further asked if there were any troops in the woods and how many friars there were in the convent. I told them that no troops remained, and that there were only three friars here, all the others having left in accordance with orders received from the English general. They still insisted that there must be large stores of food here, as they had me that I need not be in the least anxious, as they had no intention of harming either our persons or property and would give us an official document which would ensure us good treatment in case any more French troops should visit the convent. My comrade the priest and the two persons we had planned to get rid of now joined me. The lieutenant was at once made prisoner, but was allowed to retain his sword. The other officer escaped notice, as he was not in uniform and had torn the gold lace off his cap without being seen. I was again asked what provisions we had, and replied that the dough was ready to be baked and that there was a little corn and wine, which I showed them. They thereupon asked for sacks, which having been brought, they sent some bushels of corn, a great pitcher of wine, a basket of maize bread, and fifty salt codfish to the soldiers who had remained near the chapel where the wounded still lay. One of the officers chanced to notice a large iron bolt on the door of the oilstore, which he requested should be opened at once, thinking something valuable was hidden there. The first thing he saw inside was a basket of very salt mackerel; of these he gave some to a soldier who was standing by, and ordered others to be cooked with all haste. I told him they were much too salt, and that without being first soaked in water they were not fit to eat. He replied that it did not matter, he wished to have them cooked at once. His attention was so entirely taken up with the fish that, without examining any further, he asked me to show them the way to the dining-room and to send them something to eat. I explained that, as there was not anything ready, they would have to wait until our usual midday dinner. This they declared was quite out of the question, as at that hour they were to meet the general at Coimbra; adding that they preferred their food underdone, like the English. We gave them maize bread, as the other was not yet baked, wine, eggs, fruit, and the aforesaid mackerel. While at table they asked for port wine, cheese, and preserved fruit, but were satisfied with my assurance that we had none of these luxuries. As they were finishing their meal an orderly came to say that a number of armed peasants were collecting outside our walls. The officers sent me to reason with them, and recommend them to go home again, cultivate their fields, and leave fighting to be done by soldiers. I begged that the orderly might come with me, and we went together as far as the gate, where he asked me to wait while he spoke to his companions, who had remained near the chapel. Presently he returned and said it was all a mistake and no peasants were to be seen. Having made his report to the offcers he rejoined me, and begged me to pour a little wine into his bottle; this I consented to do, but immediately the cellar door was opened all the other soldiers crowded in. I ordered them to go out, but they objected to do so until their bottles were also filled. On this I shouted in an angry voice to one of the farm lads, "Call one of the officers to drive out these men!" Hearing this they began to go, but sadly. The captain came and cleared the place in an instant, and I at once locked the cellar door. Our visitors asked for some food to take with them, and we gave them four fowls and two partridges. They begged us to supply the wounded with bread, wine, and broth; to protect them from the peasants, and that one of us should stay with them at night. A lay brother and a servant slept for two nights in the chapel, but the former did not go any more, because the wounded men themselves said that the servant was sufficient. On our way to the gate a soldier came to say that he had found arms and ammunition in one of the servants' rooms. He then went back again and broke up six guns, emptied out a keg of powder in the yard, and threw all the cartridges he could find into a bowl of water. Just as the force was about to march some one called out that a certain person amongst the bystanders was a captain. Hearing this one of the officers asked him if it was true, on which he turned pale, not knowing what to reply. We explained that he really was a captain, but only of militia, and had no men under his command. They said to him, "We must take you with us." He did all in his power to avoid going, even saying that my companion was his cousin and he could not leave him, but the priest replied, "Go, go; do as these gentlemen wish," so he was obliged to accompany them. I now begged them to give me the document they had promised, and having been provided with ink and paper, they handed it to me written as follows: Au nom de l'humanité. Je prie et supplie tous les militaires françois qui viendront au Couvent Bussaco, de ne rien exiger ni des pères ni des paysans des villages voisins. Soixante blessés françois seroient victimes de la moindre violence. Ces pères ce sont obligés à fournir des vivres aux blessés jusqu'au moment de l'évacuation. Le 1er d'octobre, 1810. returned by the road along which they | excuse himself, but the sub-lieutenant, came, the two prisoners having to ac-snatching up a piece of board, gave company them on foot. These French him such heavy blows on his back that, fearing bloodshed inside the church, I caught hold of his arms and begged did not demand money from any one, nor were they in the least rude, although they found arms and ammuni-him to stop. The third culprit did not tion in the convent. say a word, and escaped punishment, but he was as white as a sheet. The officers were profuse in their apologies and recommended me to write to the general, who would, without doubt, do all in his power to make amends for the outrage. After a pause the captain asked me whether, as a favor, the officers could be given just a little bread and wine. I replied "Certainly, sir," and led them to the dining-room, where we Between eight and nine o'clock next morning, as I was standing at the gate of the courtyard, I saw some fifty soldiers slowly ascending the hill. When they came near I advanced to meet them and handed one of the officers the document which had been given to me the previous day. After reading it and speaking to his comrades he returned it, saying that there was no need to be alarmed as they had only come to make a list of the wounded, whom they supplied them with the best food we wished to move to the hospital. Having dismounted, and posted guards at the end of the courtyard and at the door leading to the convent, they accompanied me to where the wounded were lying, and the whole party, consisting of a captain, lieutenant, sub-lieutenant, and a Spanish doctor, conversed with me by the way. had. One of them mentioned that he had not tasted bread for a month; and when I inquired what they lived on, he said they were obliged to eat the same grain as was given to the horses, grinding it between their teeth as best they could. When they were ready to start, it was found that the peasant whom they had brought as a guide was lying on the ground and groaning incessantly. On being asked what was the matter he put his hand on his chest and declared that he was in such pain that he could not stand up. I suggested that the doctor should examine him, which he did, and then told me to make an infusion of elder-flowers. The other officers mounted, and laughed more and more as the man's groans became louder. The fact was that he did not wish to return with them. Another peasant agreed to show the way, and they promised to send him back as soon as they could find any one to take his place. They then bade us adieu most politely and took the road which Having examined the sick, the doctor asked for hot water to wash their wounds, and we returned to the convent to get it. On our arrival the lay brother came up to us, looking very pale, and said, "The soldiers have done much damage to the church, and have even torn my waistcoat in looking for money." When the officers joined us I told them what had occurred and took them to the church to prove my statement. They all appeared very sorry, but said nothing until I had finished; then they asked me if I could point out the culprits. My companion said that a sergeant who had come to his assistance knew who they were. He was accordingly sent for and or-led across the summit of the hill. dered to bring them in. After a short delay he returned with three soldiers who were without shakos, arms, or belts. The officers pointed out the damage they had done, and one of them beginning to deny his guilt, the lieutenant seized him by the collar and threw him backwards on to the steps of the high altar. A second also tried to Scarcely were they out of sight when the sick man jumped up and asked, "Have those devils gone away? They jeered enough at me. May they have Barabbas for company!" At this we all burst out laughing, and he, having rapidly recovered from his illness, made off without saying good-bye to any one. |