Note 186 — Chapter I

There is a good account of the combat of Casal Novo in William Napier’s History, iii. 119-20, and a still more striking one in his biography, pp. 55-7, containing some distressing anecdotes. He was severely wounded, as was also his brother George Napier of the 52nd, whose narrative is quite as interesting as William’s. It is he who describes Erskine’s reckless action best—informed by Colonel Ross that the French were still in Casal Novo ‘he kept blustering and swearing it was all nonsense—that the captains of the pickets knew nothing about the matter, and that there was not a man in the village. Just as he spoke the dense fog began to clear, and bang came a shot from a twelve-pounder, which struck the head of our column and made a lane through it, killing and wounding many. Then came a regular cannonade, but the wise Sir William was sure it was but a single gun and a picket supporting it, and desired Colonel Ross to send my company against its flank,’ &c. Costello of the 95th has also left a very good and lively narrative of the day’s work.