Cited from Historical Record of the Fourth, or the King's Own, Regiment of Foot

Transcription

Meanwhile important events had transpired in the Peninsula. Bonaparte, after reducing to submission to his inexorable will all Germany, and forcing Russia to accede to his decrees, was prompted by his restless ambition to attempt the subjugation of Spain and Portugal. Having resolved to commence with the latter, he compelled Spain to join in the enterprise; and when Portugal was subdued, he seized on the Spanish monarchy. The inhabitants revolted against his authority. A British force, commanded by Lieut.-General Sir Arthur Wellesley, proceeded to their aid: and on the return of the King's Own from Gottenburg, they were immediately ordered to proceed to the Peninsula. Having landed in Maceira Bay, in Portugal, on the 25th of August, they advanced on Lisbon, and after the French army capitulated and vacated Portugal, they encamped within two leagues of Lisbon. When Lieut.-General Sir John Moore was appointed to the command of the British troops in Portugal, and directed to advance to the assistance of the Spaniards, the King's Own, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Wynch, were formed in brigade with the twenty-eighth and forty-second regiments, under the orders of Major-General Lord William Bentinck; the Fourth led the right column in the march through Portugal into Spain, and arrived at Salamanca on the 14th of November. Although the Spanish forces, which were to have co-operated with Sir John Moore, were defeated and dispersed, and Bonaparte had three hundred thousand men in Spain, yet the British general, with that intrepidity which marked his character, advanced with his army into the heart of Spain, braved the numerous legions of the enemy, and produced a diversion favourable to the Spanish cause. When Napoleon directed eighty thousand men and two hundred cannon against Sir John Moore, he marched towards the coast; and by superior skill escaped from the overwhelming numbers by which he was menaced. Great privation and suffering were endured by the troops during this retreat of two hundred and fifty miles, in the depth of winter, over mountains and rivers, exposed to snow-storms and heavy rains, and pursued by an enemy of superior numbers. During the retreat the King's Own preserved their efficiency, and their grenadier company, commanded by Captain Faunce, did not lose a man. 1809 At length the army arrived at Corunna, and the war-worn British soldiers obtained shelter, warm food, and a short repose, at the town and neighbouring villages, where their wasted strength was recruited, and their damaged arms were exchanged for new, while they awaited the arrival of shipping to transport them to England. The shipping arrived, and while arrangements were making for the embarkation, the British troops, amounting to fourteen thousand five hundred men, were in position on an inferior range of heights in front of Corunna; and the Fourth were on the right of Lieut.-General Sir David Baird's division, behind the village of Elvina. On the 16th of January, 1809, twenty thousand French troops assembled on the opposite hills; about two in the afternoon a heavy battery opened its fire; and three columns of the enemy, covered by clouds of skirmishers, descended the mountains, and drove in the British piquets. The first column carried the village of Elvina; then dividing, attempted to turn the right of Lieut.-General Sir David Baird's division by the valley, and to break its front; at the same time the second column advanced against the British centre; and the third attacked the left at the village of Palavia Abaxo. The brunt of the battle on the right was sustained by the Fourth, forty-second, and fiftieth regiments, commanded by Major-General Lord William Bentinck, and this brigade resisted the furious onset of the enemy with a firmness which proved the unconquerable spirit and excellent discipline of the troops. The enemy's attempt to turn the right flank by the valley occasioned the right wing of the Fourth to be thrown back, and the regiment opening a heavy flanking fire with terrible effect, it forced its opponents back in confusion; while the forty-second and fiftieth attacked those breaking through the village of Elvina. Sir John Moore watching this manœuvre with care, saw the noble exhibition of valour made by the King's Own, and the repulse of the enemy by the flanking fire, with feelings of exultation, and called out, "That is exactly what I wanted to be done. I am glad to see a regiment there in which I have so much confidence:" but in a short time afterwards this distinguished commander was mortally wounded by a cannon-ball, and died regretted by the army. Eventually the French were defeated on all sides, and they sought refuge on the high ridge of hills from which they had descended. Thus ended a conflict which was glorious to the British arms; the army having repulsed its adversaries, embarked during the night and succeeding day, and returned to England. The King's Own had their commanding officer, Lieut.-Colonel Wynch, with Captain John Williamson, Lieutenant Vere Hunt, Ensigns J. P. Jameson and Reardon, wounded; Ensign Reardon died of his wounds. Lieut.-Colonel Wynch was rewarded with a medal; and the distinguished conduct of the regiment procured for it the honourable privilege of bearing the word Corunna on its colours.

Other Information #

Three events have been derived from this evidence.

• William Hinksman★ participated in the Battle of Corunna on 16 Jan, 1809 in Corunna, Galicia

Full Citation

Historical Record of the Fourth, or the King's Own, Regiment of Foot; Page 92, 1808.

Source

Historical Record of the Fourth, or the King's Own, Regiment of Foot available at:

• Project Gutenberg. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/55391