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Updated: August 5, 2024
Lady Harrington was in her coach just behind us, and took me into it, Mr. Craufurd got into Mr. Henry Stanhope's phaeton, and so we went to Richmond, leaving the chaise, as we thought, all shattered to pieces in the road.
"I am very glad you did. Come into my cabin; you can spare time to take some lunch, I hope." While they were at lunch General Craufurd remarked, "So you have just lost one of your officers, I see; promoted to another ship, eh?" "Lost an officer!" Captain Merivale said in surprise. "No, not that I have heard of. What makes you think so?"
Craufurd acts so much like a guardian to her, that I am in hopes by degrees to be the means of placing her where my mind will for the present be easy about her, and that she may be brought up with that education that, with the help of other advantages, may in some measure recompense her for the ill fortune of the first part of her life.
He told me that he would make me a Baronet, for my vote to-morrow night. The Duke of Devonshire said gravely, "A vast price for one vote only!" Charles Turner has seriously insisted upon it. Lord North replied, archly enough, "What! still, Mr. Craufurd, may I dine with you?"
In January, 1812, he struck a sudden blow against the former, and captured it by an assault, attended with great carnage, on the 19th of that month. In this furious conflict, lasting but half an hour, Craufurd, the renowned leader of the light division, fell mortally wounded. Shameful excesses sullied the glory of a splendid exploit.
There were a few at Brooks's, and Hare in the chair to keep up the appearance of a pharo bank, but nobody to punt but the Duke of Rutland and Fish Craufurd. The whole manoeuvre, added to their patriotism, their politics, &c., &c., are incredible. I am going to dine to-day at Delme's; he has promised me some plum porridge. His son is to dine here with George.
He dined with us yesterday, and we talked over the pleasant days spent in the Vigna Palatina, his beautiful villa. Breakfasted to-day in the Rue d'Anjou, a take-leave repast given to the Duc and Duchesse de Guiche by Madame Craufurd. Lady Barbara and Colonel Craufurd were of the party, which was the only triste one I have seen in that house.
Still holding myself strictly to what I saw, I can tell you even less of the assault itself. I can tell, indeed, how, on the evening of the 19th, when we were looking forward to another turn at the trenches with the Third Division, General Craufurd unexpectedly paraded us; and how, at a nod from him, Major Napier addressed us. "Men of the Light Division," he said, "we assault to-night.
The British were now, however, safe in the position which they ought to have taken up before the advance of the French, and had General Craufurd obeyed his orders not to fight beyond the Coa, the lives of 306 of his gallant troops, including the officers, would have been saved. The battle, however, was not yet over.
The morning was clearing fast, the clouds lifted, and the daylight seemed to break with unusual suddenness. The dark masses of the French became visible forming up before the Turones, and Craufurd hurried forward his cavalry and guns to check their advance. "Hurry the infantry up, hurry them up," the general said urgently to the officers by him.
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