The Index to the Dispatches of Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington - Softcover

Reseña del editor

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. 1839 edition. Excerpt: ...to award the solid distinctions of money and promotion to the men who fearlessly and disinterestedly step forward to sacrifice their lives, if need be, in our cause; but it is sadly to hazard their renown if they lead us to infer that their motives partook of a selfish character from the first. We have dwelt longer on this point than many people may think reasonable, but we feel exceedingly anxious that all Officers, and especially young Officers, should be familiarized with the idea that their chief chance of success and their only solid claim to distinction spring from acting under a thoroughly disinterested sense of duty. But to the breach, --which being carried by the assault, or by the escalade, every attention must be paid by the General commanding the attack to re-form the troops, to secure the garrison, to place guards upon the magazines, and to perform every duty connected with a fortified town. Not an instant is to be lost in placing guards at the breaches, getting the troops out of the town, opening the gates which are probably blocked up, and in immediately restoring the breaches. The lawlessness of the troops must be restrained to prevent the day finishing in licentiousness and cruelty; and although the capture of the three fortresses of Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, and St. Sebastian, may have been succeeded by some acts which escaped the vigilance of the Officers, still there are few assaults on record followed by less wantonness or vengeance. The assaults by night are more subject to this relaxation of proper discipline, after success, than those of the day; and if there were no other consideration, this probably might have been to the Duke a sufficient reason, after the experience of Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz, to have fixed..