The Campaigns of the British Army at Washington and New Orleans 1814-1815 | Page 5

said of it will apply more or less exactly to every village, hamlet,
or cluster of cottages, within the compass of what were called the lines.
It is true that neither here nor elsewhere, excepting at one particular
point, and that on the opposite side of the river, were any serious
intentions entertained of broaching or storming the place; and that the
sole object of these preparations was to keep the enemy within his
works, and to cut him off from all communication with the surrounding
country. But to effect even this end, the utmost vigilance and
precaution were necessary, not only because the number of troops
employed on the service was hardly adequate to discharge it, but
because the garrison hemmed in was well known to be at once
numerous and enterprising. The reader may accordingly judge what
appearance a country presented which, to the extent of fifteen or twenty
miles round, was thus treated; where every house was fortified, every
road blocked up, every eminence mined with fieldworks, and every
place swarming with armed men. Nor was its aspect less striking by
night than by day. Gaze where he might, the eye of the spectator then
rested upon some portion of one huge circle of fires, by the glare of
which the white tents or rudely constructed huts of the besiegers were
from time to time made visible.
While things continued thus, the condition of the peaceful inhabitant of
this district could hardly fail to be one of extreme discomfort. Of these
the greater number had indeed fled on the advance of the British army,
leaving their houses and effects a prey to the conquerors; but there were
some who, having probably no place of refuge to retire to, remained in

their homes, and threw themselves upon our mercy for protection. It is
not requisite that I should now inform the reader of the strict discipline
which Lord Wellington preserved in every division of his army; his
first step, on entering France, had been to inform the people that against
them no violence was intended; and the assurance thus given, was in no
instance, at least wantonly, violated. But, however orderly the conduct
of an invading force may be, their very presence must occasion a
thousand inconveniences to those upon whom they are quartered; not
the least distressing of which is, perhaps, the feeling of degradation
which the consciousness of being in the power of armed foreigners can
hardly fail to produce. Then there is the total destruction of all domestic
comfort, which the occupation of a man's house by large bodies of
soldiers produces; the liability to which the females, in particular, are
exposed to insult from the common troopers; and the dread of
vengeance from any delinquent on whom their complaints may have
brought down chastisement, all these things must and do create a
degree of misery, of which the inhabitants of Great Britain may thank
God that they know nothing except by name. In the vicinity of Bayonne,
moreover, the country people lived in daily and nightly expectation of
finding themselves involved in all the horrors and dangers of a battle.
Sorties were continually looked for, and however these might terminate,
the non-combatants felt that they must be equally the sufferers. Nay, it
was no uncommon ground of complaint among them, that even the
total defeat of our forces would bring with it no relief, because, by
remaining to receive us, they had disobeyed the proclamations of
Marshal Soult, and were consequently liable to punishment as traitors.
CHAPTER II.
A soon as the bustle of encamping was over, and my time absolutely at
my own disposal, I took advantage of an offered passport, and
proceeded into Bayonne. It will be readily believed that I entered this
city with feelings very different from those of a common traveller.
Having lain before it as a besieger for upwards of two months, its shops,
its trade, its public buildings and places of amusement were to me
objects of, comparatively speaking, little interest or curiosity. Its
fortifications and means of defence were, in truth, what I was

principally anxious to examine. Hitherto I could judge of them only
from outward appearances and vague reports; and now that an
opportunity offered of so doing with greater accuracy, I confess that my
inclination prompted me to embrace that opportunity, rather than to
hunt for pictures which I could not value, or fatigue my imagination by
endeavouring to discover fine specimens of architecture amidst heavy
and ill-built churches.
It is not my intention to attempt any scientific or technical review of the
works which a very natural curiosity tempted me to examine; partly
because I confess myself little competent to the task and partly because,
were the contrary the case, I am inclined to