The Military Adventures of Charles O'Neil

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1851 Excerpt: ...skilful and noblest of the Spanish leaders; and he had scarcely expired, before bis army met with a signal defeat at Gebora. CHAPTER IV. The Author, with his Regiment, leaves Gibraltar, for Tarifa.--Dissensions between the Spanish and English Officers,--Battle of Barossa.--Retreat of the French.--Suffering of the Pursuing Army.--Guerillas.--Don Julian Sanchez.--Juan Martin Diaz.--Xavier Mina.--Continued Privations of the British Army.--Adventures of the Author in Search of Food.--Arrival of the Commissariat with Provisions.--Extravagant Joy of the Troops.--Departure of the British Army for Badajos. Having given to my readers some slight sketches of the rise and progress of this war previous to the time when I first became an active participator in its scenes, I shall now continue it, with the history of my own adventures. In looking back through the long series of years that have elapsed since those eventful days, there are few scenes that I can recall more vividly than that which occurred on the morning I left Gibraltar. It was my first experience of the kind, and, therefore, made a deeper impression than many after scenes, which might have been far more worthy of record than this. It was a beautiful morning, and everywhere the troops were in motion. Horses were brought out, our baggage prepared and sent on; the light jest and laugh and joke went freely round, serving, in many instances, to conceal the thoughts that longed for utterance. Farewells were exchanged, last words spoken; and, finally, all were prepared, the word given, and our gallant little army marched out of Gibraltar. It was truly a brilliant sight; and the lively strains of our music contributed its share to make us forget that we were marching into a country at all times perilous, and now ...