The Diary Of A Cavalry Officer

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

Excerpt from The Diary of a Cavalry Officer: In the Peninsular and Waterloo Campaigns, 1809-1815 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 campaigns, 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 Willington 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 1st Royal Dragoons, and upon me, as his heir and successor, devolves the duty of editing his diary. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Experience the excitement of the Peninsular and Waterloo campaigns of the early 19th century through the eyes of William Tomkinson, a cavalry officer. Tomkinson's diary provides a detailed account of his time serving in Europe under the Duke of Wellington. This historical account is a must-read for anyone interested in military history. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1894 edition. Excerpt: ... Castel Mando. On the 4th our squadron moved up to a small village near Misquitella, and the following day were obliged to march back to Richioso, the village being so small it would not hold us. Sept. Jth. The brigade, this day, moved up to the villages in Spain, situated on the Agueda, to the left of Gallegos, viz.: Villa de Yegua: Headquarters brigade and regiment. Three squadrons 16th. Sismeira: Headquarters cavalry, Major Cocks' squadron, 16th. The 14th Light Dragoons occupied Matillianand adjacents. Major Pelly had been in a bad state of health for some time, and here left the regiment for England. Captain Hay succeeded him. Headquarters of the army were at Fuente Guinaldo DEGREES with the whole army closed up between the Coa and Agueda . The Light Division is on the right of Rodrigo, and a squadron of the 16th was sent to San Felices el Chico to look out towards Ladesma. We have parties of cavalry from Major-General Alten's brigade on the road from Rodrigo to Salamanca. The enemy have a considerable force at Salamanca, and likewise one near Palentia. In the former place they have a large convoy ready, which, the peasants say, consists of 300 cars and as many mules. During our whole march we thought and heard Lord Wellington was about to besiege the place, and that our battering train had moved up the Douro, and so to Almeida, for the purpose. On the 22nd September, our patrols met the enemy's advance on the road to Salamanca, and that night they were within five leagues of Ciudad Rodrigo. They advanced by three roads, each party the same distance from the town. Their troops in the neighbourhood of Palentia made a similar movement on Rodrigo. The infantry to our left all marched this night towards Guinaldo and Espeja. The whole