DEDICATED ΤΟ THE 52ND LIGHT INFANTRY IN WHICH GLORIOUS REGIMENT SIR GEORGE NAPIER RECEIVED HIS EDUCATION AS A SOLDIER AND PASSED THE HAPPIEST YEARS OF HIS MILITARY CAREER 324992 PREFACE. THE narrative from which the following extracts are taken was written in the year 1828 by my father, entirely for the instruction and amusement of his children, and not with any view to publication. Having lately become possessed of the manuscript, it has appeared to me and to others of my family that the publication of portions of it might be useful to young officers, and not without interest to the general reader, as it relates to stirring times, and treats of scenes and men of historic interest and fame. I therefore venture to lay these extracts before the public, premising that if the language used and the lessons of morality and conduct inculcated appear to be simple and homely, it must be recollected that the narrative was written for boys and girls of a tender age. General Sir George Thomas Napier was the second son of Colonel the Hon. George and Lady Sarah Napier. He was born in June 1784, entered the army in January 1800, at the age of fifteen and a half, served in the Coruña campaign as aide-de-camp to Sir John Moore, and in the Peninsular war with the 52nd Regiment; served afterwards in the Guards; was Governor of the Cape of Good Hope 1838-44, and died at Geneva on the 8th of September, 1855. What his character was will be gathered from the narrative itself. CONTENTS. Choice of a Profession-Sir Charles Napier-Sir William Napier-Captain Henry Napier, R.N.-24th Light Dragoons -46th Regiment-Sir James Duff-52nd Regiment-Sir John Moore-Mr. Conolly-Debt-Threatened Invasion of England-Lord Frederick Bentinck-Recruiting in Ireland -Sir Samuel Gibbs-Colonel the Honourable George Napier-Lord Cornwallis-Nelson-Collingwood-Tangier -A Levanter - Tetuan-Ceuta-Messina Charybdis-Things that an Officer should observe when Expedition to Sweden-Portugal-Convention of Cintra-Aide- de-Camp to Sir John Moore-Anecdote of Moore-March to Salamanca-Retreat on Coruña-General Lefevre Desnouettes -Lugo-Army Disorganised-Officers Grumbling-Their Duty to obey, not to criticise-Battle of Coruña-Death of Sir John Moore-Majors Napier and Stanhope of the 50th Regiment-Sir David Baird―The Duke of York-Sir David a |