The Author of the following Narrative entered theArmy in early life. He commenced his military careerin 1795, as a private soldier in the NorthumberlandMilitia; and in the following year he volunteered intothe Pompadours. In this regiment he first faced theenemy, during the expedition to Holland under theDuke of York. On getting his discharge from thePompadours, in 1802, he again entered the serviceas a private in the Rifle Brigade, to which he was attachedfor a period of twenty-five years. From hissteady conduct, and ardent love for his profession, hewas soon advanced from the ranks, and, after variousintermediate steps, was appointed Quartermaster; asituation which he held as long as he continued in thecorps, enjoying the respect and esteem of his brotherofficers of all ranks, as is amply testified by the letterswhich form the Appendix to this volume.
Though, as Quartermaster, the Author was notcalled by duty to join in battle, yet he lost no opportunityof entering the scene of action, or of placinghimself in a favourable situation for observing whatwas passing. It is unnecessary to enumerate the arduousservices of the Rifle Brigade from 1802 to 1815.[vi]During the whole of that period the Author was activelyengaged with his corps.
The Narrative is faithfully—indeed literally—printedfrom the Author's MS. as he left it at hisdeath. The critical reader may therefore detect variousinaccuracies which, had life been spared to theAuthor, would probably have been corrected; but hewill find much to approve, and, hackneyed as Narrativesof the Peninsular War have become, he will alsofind much that is new. There is no embellishmentin the style of the Author's composition, but there isa quiet Defoe-like sincerity and simplicity characteristicof his pages, and a strain of unaffected piety, thatis very pleasing; and the scenes and descriptions whichhe gives, though sometimes singularly chosen, and reportedquite with a manner of his own, are on the wholeportrayed with strong graphic effect. One word,however, before closing,—our Author is never vulgar.
A severe pulmonary affection compelled him to quithis corps in 1826. He retired to Corbridge, his nativevillage, where he arrived on the 24th of October inthat year, and continued there, respected and beloved,and constantly engaged in acts of benevolence, tillthe period of his death, 28th May, 1830.