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The Diary of a Cavalry Officer in the Peninsular War and Waterloo

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The Diary of a Cavalry Officer in the Peninsular War and Waterloo BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME FROM THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND THE GIFT OF Henrg HI. Sa^e 1S91 Cornell University Library DC 232.T65 1895 3 1924 024 323 663 The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924024323663 THE DIARY OF A CAVALRY OFFICER — — — — — SOME OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. for " A delightful book. It is a thousand pities it was not published long ago, it is one of the works that go to the making of history." Daily Chronicle. " Its narrative is simple and direct, the unpretending work of a modest man and a good soldier, who is content to record what he sees of the campaigns in which he ' served. '— Times. "This is the report of a transparently honest witness on a long heroic fight, of which Englishmen cannot be too proud in a sober, manly yiay." —Saturaay Review. " Mr. James Tomkinson has been well advised in publishing the diary of his father. The careful record of the daily life of an intelligent man and a good soldier through a period of the deepest interest. His diary affords just the kind of material that the historian rejoices to possess, and usually finds it most difiScult to acquire. He gives us a better idea of the state of daily life under Wellington's com- mand than any made book could afford. His pages are seldom dull, even when they are most occupied with technical details." Liverpool Post. " Colonel Tomkinson's son now performs a graceful and filial act in giving to the world this record of his gallant father's services. The book contains, besides explana- tory maps and plans, tables, statistics, and extracts of the greatest interest to military men and historical students. Two excellent reproductions of the likenesses of the diarist, his friend Major Cocks, and his favourite charger ' Bob,' add to the charm of the book, which from cover to cover is full of good reading." Si. James's Budget. " It is difScult to understand why these deeply-interesting records should have been allowed to lie hidden for a period of eighty years, when every word of such independent evidence as to the conduct of Wellington's great campaigns would have been eagerly prized by historians and the country at large. As a reliable account of the operations in the Peninsula and at Waterloo as witnessed by an ofiScer of Light Horse who took an active and honourable part in them, the diary of the late Lieutenant-Colonel William Tomkinson is quite unique. It is complete in every particular. The present volume is plain and practical, befitting characteristics of an English soldier ; it is free from every trace of exaggeration, or from the least intention of sacrificing absolute truth to a picturesque and thrilling style. This most clear and valuable account of Wellington's crowning triumph will be read by a very large circle. Colonel Tomkinson's Diary, now that it has at last been printed, will take a prominent position among the contemporary records of the gallant armies who faced and vanquished the legions of Napoleon." Morning Post. " Many readers, both military and civilian, and most of all the officers, and we trust men also, of the l6th Lancers will welcome this very graphic journal of an officer who contributed greatly to tlie honours of that regiment. Mr. Tomkinson has done exceeding well to give to the public this stoiy of brave deeds, and interesting circumstances. Such narratives give life to our history, and the pity is that there are not more of them." Army and Navy Gazelle. ^y/-:f'r/..^., „/./„.„., THE Diary of a Cavalry Officer IN THE PENINSULAR WAR AND WATERLOO CAMPAIGN 1S09— 1815 The Late Lieut.-Col. TOMKINSON idih Light Dragoons Edited by his Son JAMES TOMKINSON SECOND EDITION LONDON SWAN SONNENSCHEIN & CO. NEW YORK: MACMILLAN & CO. 1895 Debication TO THE COLONEL AND OFFICERS OF THE i6th (queen's) lancers as a tribute of respect to their distinguished regiment and in the hope that the contents may be . interesting in the present valuable in the future and an addition to the records of the past this book is dedicated by the AUTHOR'S SON EDITOR'S PREFACE. Although it may appear late in the day to publish for the first time a record of military life in the Peninsular and Waterloo campaigns, at a date now separated from us by the greater part of a century, I am encouraged by the opinion of many friends to hope that the contents of this book may prove not without interest to the general public, and possibly of some value to the student of military history. A recent perusal of the " Memoirs of General Marbot " make me fully sensible of the fact that, in comparison with the thrilling scenes and incidents with which that book of contemporary history abounds, this volume may appear tame, if not dull. The good horse "Bob" at Girijo cannot claim to emulate the deeds of "Lisette" at Eylau, although, like her, he saved his helpless rider from death or captivity ; nor had her master the opportunities, even if he had the will, to perform such deeds of desperate daring as the French General describes. Something, possibly, should be allowed for the difference of nationality and temperament of the two writers ; and, in any case, the writing of the English Cavalry Officer carries with it, I venture to think, by its direct- ness and simplicity, a conviction of accuracy and absence of exaggeration. The original volume was written near the scene of the events described in it, and bears at its commencement the superscription, " Copied from some memoranda made at the time." Both ink and writing have stood the test of age well, and are still for the most part clear and legible ; though fortunately for the Editor, a fair copy was also made some thirty-five years later. It has been thought best to publish it almost exactly as it was written, suppressing no names, and to let it tell its own story. Con- sequently, little is needed by way of introduction or explanation. The Author, Lieutenant-Colonel William Tomkinson, was the ' youngest son of Henry Tomkinson, Esq., of Dorfold Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire. Born in 1790, he was gazetted to a cornetcy in the i6th Light PREFACE. Vll Dragoons in December, 1807 ; joined his regiment in April, 1808; and in 1809 entered on that period of mihtary adventure de- scribed in this volume. He was thanked in the general orders of the day of January 22nd, 1811, and recommended for promotion in the Duke of Wellington's despatch to the Horse Guards of May 14th of the same year. In 1812 he was gazetted a Captain in the 60th Regiment, from which he exchanged back into his old regiment without leaving it. It is somewhat remarkable that, while severely wounded in four places in almost his first skirmish, he passed practically unscathed through four years' service in the Peninsula and the Waterloo campaign, although under fire, to the best of his recollection, on nearly one hundred occasions. He received the Peninsular and Waterloo medals, with clasps for the actions of Busaco, Fuentes, Salamanca, and Vittoria. Of his character it may be said that, simple in tastes and habits, quiet and unassuming in demeanour, yet prompt and decisive in action, of iron constitution, and an excellent rider, he was in all respects a worthy follower of the great leader under whom he served. He retired on half pay in 1821, and settling at Wellington in his native county, engaged actively in the duties and pursuits of a country gentleman, as a magistrate, landlord, and sportsman. In the hunting field he became as distinguished as in the field of battle, and with his two brothers formed one of the trio sung by the Cheshire poet as "The brothers three from Dorfold sprung whom none of us could beat." He married, in 1836, Susan, daughter of Thomas Tarleton, Esq., of Bolesworth Castle, Cheshire (by Frances, daughter of Philip Egerton, Esq., of Oulton Park), and sister of the late Admiral Sir Walter Tarleton, K.C.B., and died in 1872, in his 83rd year, leaving surviving issue four sons and two daughters. One of the former is Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Tomkinson, now in command of the ist Royal Dragoons; and upon me, as his heir and successor, devolves the duty of editing his diary. JAMES TOMKINSON. WiLLiNGTON Hall, Tarporley. PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. The favourable reception accorded to " The Diary " encourages its publication in a Second Edition identical with the first, with the exception of the correction of certain obvious errors or misprints. In all other respects the principle has been adhered to of altering the original as little as possible, and it is gratifying to note that this course has been generally commended by the reviewers of the work. I have thought it due to the credit of General Sir Hussey Vivian and his Brigade, to correct in a footnote, the substance of which appeared in a letter to the Morning Post in June last, the Author's mistaken impression as to the time and spot in which the Brigade charged and overthrew the enemy in the fiei^ stage of the Battle of Waterloo. The Editor. 42 To face page i. DIARY OF A CAVALRY OFFICER. April 1st, 1809. One squadron of the i6th Light Dragoons arrived at Falmouth and embarked yesterday, and the one to which I belonged this day marched in from Truro and im- mediately embarked.
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