Protestant Exiles from France/Book Second - Chapter 3 - Section XII
Sec. 12 — From July 1705 to Lord Galway’s March to Madrid in 1706.
The Portuguese were damped by the departure of King Charles, as they required excitement and flattery to keep them up to the fighting pitch. It was October before they would begin the siege of Badajoz.
The Earl of Galway sent the following despatch to Lord Godolphin, dated from Lisbon, July 13, 1705:—
“My Lord, — I ought to apprise you, that in the last conference they warmly maintained that it was not possible to take the field in this country, either this summer or autumn. This was openly the advice of the Duke of Cadaval; the Count of Alvar spoke in the same manner. Put, in general, Monsieur Fagel supported the opinion by finding difficulties in all the projects which could be proposed. The Marquis of Alagrete himself appeared uncertain. They have deferred examining any proposition till the Marquis das Minas and the Count Atalaya are here. They have been ordered to come. I see very well that they expressly delay entering on business in order that when it shall be time to take the field nothing shall be ready, and that the rains may serve as an excuse to prevent the troops from marching. However, I will lose no time; I will press so much that I will force them to do something, or to declare that they will not do it. I send you a copy of the memorial, which I am resolved to send tomorrow to the king, if I cannot deliver it to him myself. The departure of the King of Spain disturbs them. The illness of the King of Portugal augments, and gives occasion to many intrigues. If this misfortune [that king’s death] arrives, there is great appearance that the Duke of Cadaval will be master; then nothing will keep the Portuguese in our interests but fear, and nothing terrifies them so much as our fleet. Besides the other reasons which 1 have taken the liberty to allege to you to have it winter here, at least the greater part, the last is not to be despised. — I am, &c,
The command now devolved on Baron Fagel, under whom the expected success was so much retarded, that there was time for a French force, marching from Talavera, under the command of Marshal Tesse, to accomplish the relief of the town.
The shattered arm had to be amputated a little below the elbow, and Lord Galway suffered much after the operation. One unfavourable circumstance was, that he was subject to attacks of gout. Another is mentioned by Burnet, who, after saying that “his life was in great danger,” adds, “the miscarriage of the design [against Badajoz] heightened the fever that followed his wound, by the vexation that it gave him.”
King Pedro wrote to him as follows:—
“My Lord Galway. — I the King, &c. The Marquis das Minas of our Council of State, and Governor of Arms of the province where you are, giving us an account in his letter of the 12th instant, that as you were advancing with great zeal for our service and the common cause, it happened that you were wounded with a cannon-ball of the enemies', which struck off your right hand. We think fit to let you know the great concern we had upon the notice of that accident, as well by reason of the particular esteem we have of your person, as of the great want there will be of you in the army during the time of your cure — assuring you that we shall ever have your great valour and conduct in our memory. And we order our envoy at the court at London, to represent to the Queen of Great Britain, our dear sister and cousin, the great satisfaction we have in your person.
“Given at Alcantares, the 14th of October 1705.”
His own sovereign gave instructions that Lord Galway should be informed of her sympathy, and of her entire satisfaction with his services. She also sent him what the Annalist calls “a donative towards his cure.” Oldmixon assures us, that “it was said and believed that the Queen sent a letter to my Lord Galway, all of her own handwriting.”
Lord Peterborough’s successes in Catalonia and Valencia having been announced to the court at Lisbon, “all possible assurances (says Burnet) were given the Earl of Galway that things should be conducted hereafter fully to his content. So that by two of his despatches, which the Lord-Treasurer showed me, it appeared that he was then fully convinced of the sincerity of their intentions, of which he was in great doubt (or rather despairing) formerly.” News came of the taking of Barcelona, and the concentration of the French forces towards it, with a view to taking it back again.
Accordingly, Lord Galway tells us,“I took a journey to Lisbon, even while my wound, upon the cutting off of my arm, was still open.” His plan was to march to Madrid, and get the submission of the capital to King Charles. Philip V., being without French succour, had left that city; but his Queen was there, and the grandees, and the tiibunals. He was unpopular; as yet he had no heir. And if the allied army had come up, the courts of law, and the leaders of fashionable society might have submitted to King Charles, and allowed everyday life to proceed under his sceptre, without any interregnum or confusion. A rapid march was possible, owing to the above-mentioned concentration of the enemy’s forces in the maritime province of Catalonia.
After the month of August 1707, when the Prince of the Asturias was born and welcomed by the Spaniards, an advance to Madrid was a chimerical plan; but at the date of Lord Galway’s suggestion, the plan was feasible, and it was received at home with great approval. The Duke of Marlborough wrote to Secretary Sir Charles Hedges, from the Hague, 5th January 1706:—
“I think nothing can tend more to defeat the designs of the French against King Charles, nor be of greater advantage to the public service in those parts, than the march my Lord Galway proposes and if it be put in execution, we may soon expect to hear the good effects of it.”
And to Lord Galway, from St. James 6th February 1706, the great Duke wrote:—
“My Lord, though I gave your lordship the trouble of a letter very lately, I could not let Mr. Stanhope go away without repeating by him the assurance of my constant friendship and respect. He is so fully instructed of all matters that I need not give you any relation of what passes here, and shall only tell you the whole success of the war depends upon what shall be done this campaign in Spain, and that we rely more particularly on the operations under your lordship’s directions, which must give life to those in Catalonia and the neighbourhood. We are sure all that is possible will be attempted, and are in good hopes that before he arrives your army will be in motion. — I am, with the greatest truth, &c,
With the utmost cordiality, King Pedro consented to the march to Madrid. On the 26th of March the allied army set out for Alcantara, under the command of the Portuguese General, the Marquis das Minas. The enemy, under the Duke of Berwick, having thrown ten regiments of foot into Badajoz, marched with 4000 cavalry and seven regiments of infantry, and with the latter reinforced the garrison of Alcantara. The allies met Berwick on his way back, beat his rear-guard, pursued him a considerable way, and took possession of the castle of Brocas. Alcantara surrendered to them in a very few days, with ten good battalions, who were made prisoners, sixty pieces of cannon, and great store of small arms and ammunition. Alcantara was besieged on the 10th, and it capitulated on the 14th, of April. From this town Lord Galway issued a manifesto, of which the following is a translation:—
“Henry, Earl and Viscount of Gallway, Baron of Portarlington, General of the Forces of the most serene lady, the Queen of Great Britain.
“It being undeniably true that in the whole progress of this war the most serene Queen of Great Britain my mistress and her allies are so far from being enemies to Spain that they have sent their troops and fleets for no other purpose than to assist the good Spaniards to shake off the yoke and domination of France, and to place on the throne of Spain his most excellent majesty King Charles III. To the end, therefore, that the Spaniards themselves may have the glory to co-operate in so honourable an undertaking as is the establishing of the liberty and felicity of their native country, the said most serene Queen has been pleased to command me to declare anew her royal pleasure that I should in her name succour and support them. Accordingly, by these presents, I declare and publish that all the generals, commanders, officers, and soldiers of the Spaniards, of whatsoever degree they may be, that will leave the service of the Duke of Anjou, and give all due obedience to his Catholic Majesty King Charles the Third, on their repairing to me (the aforesaid Earl of Galway) shall be maintained in the service of his Catholic Majesty in the same posts, honours, and degrees which they had before, without exception of persons; and that from the same hour they shall be paid and maintained punctually, according to the pay they before enjoyed, out of the treasury which for these glorious ends the said most serene Queen has caused to be remitted to my order. It is to be hoped there will be no Spaniards of reputation that will not make use of so favourable an occasion of having the honour to free their country from a slavery truly ignominious, and of gaining the peculiar esteem of their lawful monarch, King Charles III.
“Dated at Alcantara, April 20, 1706.”
Lord Galway, supported by the King of Portugal, determined to march to Madrid immediately. In this determination he had expected the Portuguese generals loyally to persevere. Their disastrous hesitation he had now to record, in a letter to Lord Godolphin, dated Camp of Nuestra Senora de Oega, April 23, 1726:—
“The King of Portugal has sent his positive orders to Monsieur das Minas to march directly towards Madrid, so we have now a fair game to play, except those people will openly betray their king and the common cause. But at the same time Monsieur das Minas has so set his mind on the siege of Badajoz that he does not show the satisfaction one might expect upon such great successes as we’ve had in a few days. He daily makes new difficulties and doubts, and expresses much unwillingness to go on. I give my lord ambassador notice of it, that he may get the king’s positive orders repeated to him, which I hope he may receive at Placentia, to which place I reckon I may persuade him to march, though not without difficulty.”
The confederate army halted at Placentia on April 28th, a fortnight before the relief of Barcelona, and about a month before the intelligence arrived. Lord Galway still insisted on marching to Madrid. The next halting-place was the Bridge of Almaras. Lord Galway was in high spirits with the series of successes gained in so short a time. But the Marquis das Minas grew colder and colder; and at the Bridge of Almaras the Portuguese generals resolved unanimously to go home.
If Lord Galway had thought only of his own fame, he would have withdrawn from his command. Delay spoilt his plan. The Portuguese were afraid that Barcelona would be recaptured by the French, and allow the enemy to oppose them at Madrid. Lord Galway replied that at the worst there would be time for a safe retreat, after having won both glory and booty. The Portuguese having indicated that they might advance if good news came from Barcelona, Lord Galway remained with them. A party, who were for laying aside all thoughts of occupying Madrid, proposed to besiege Badajoz. A majority were willing to attack Ciudad-Rodrigo. That town being on the route to the capital, Lord Galway sided with the majority.
Great hopes had been excited in England. The Duke of Marlborough wrote to Lieutenant-General Erie, 17th May 1706 —
“We have had a very ill beginning of the campaign in Italy and the Upper Rhine; but if Lord Galway gets to Madrid, and our fleet relieves Barcelona, as we have reason to believe it has, it will make amends.”
And to Lord Galway from the Camp at Helchin, 16th July 1706 —
“All the world is sensible of the difficulties you have undergone, and own that the Portuguese consenting to advance at last is purely the effect of your unwearied instances and good offices. I heartily congratulate your lordship on the good effect they have had, so much for the common good and your own glory, and persuade myself your endeavours will be no less effectual in accomplishing his Majesty’s happy settlement on the throne, and the entire reduction of his kingdoms. This being almost the chief end of the present war, will, I hope, soon make way for a happy and lasting peace, which may give us the opportunity of enjoying in quiet some fruits of the toil and labours it has been our lot to undergo for the public. One of the greatest satisfactions I then propose to myself is that of your friendship and conversation.
At Barcelona his progress had been watched with interest. There the intelligence of the fall of Alcantara caused great joy. Prince Lichtenstein wrote to the Count de Goes: “We may conjecture from the enemies’ motions that they look upon Spain as lost, especially as my Lord Galway has taken Alcantara, and obtained a great victory over them.”
Ciudad-Rodrigo having been taken, and news having come that the British fleet had relieved Barcelona, the allied army advanced and halted before Madrid on June 29. Even in this march the Marquis das Minas and the Portuguese advanced unwillingly; and such had been their delays from first to last, that they found the capital deserted. For the time, Madrid had ceased to be a capital. Philip had withdrawn the tribunals and the nobility, so that there was necessarily an interregnum. All that Lord Galway could do was to proclaim Charles III. at what might be his future capital, and to cause the formal proclamation to be made through the continent and islands of Spain. The population was passive, although Castile and Arragon professed adherence to Charles III. The next imperative step was to fight the French, but it was quite essential to be reinforced by the troops under the Earl of Peterborough. It was also most desirable to have the prestige of the personal presence of his Majesty. Lord Galway sent Colonel Dubourgay with despatches to the titular king, and another officer with a letter to Lord Peterborough, inviting the king and the earl to unite in striking the final blow.
It was a brilliant honour, and yet a practical embarrassment, that to Lord Galway belonged all the credit of being at Madrid. A letter, a copy of which I found among the manuscripts in the British Museum, graphically represents the position of affairs:—[1] “Sir, — After the fatigue of forty-one days’ march, we are arrived at our desired port, and I think on this side it may more properly be called a conquest than a revolution, since in the whole campaign there has not been above three Spaniards joined us (and these of no note), unless the towns and villages by which we passed, who rendered themselves to the obedience of K. Charles rather out of fear than inclination. The grandees have all left Madrid, some to their country houses and others to follow the Duke D’Anjou, who has taken with him all the plate, jewels, and rich furniture belonging to the palace. The magistracy of the town seem very well pleased with this change, and the people are generally passive and wish that either one or other of the kings had power enough to protect them and put an end to the war. The D. of Berwick is on his march, with the few forces he has left, towards Navarre; though some of his parties are so near us that they have this day killed and taken three or four of the foragers of my regiment. But as soon as the king joins us, either with or without the assistance of the Portuguese, we hope to clear Spain of the French. Our Noble Allies [the Portuguese] have been very humoursome ever since the taking of Rodrigo, and have been for going back several times. The last time they proposed it was two days ago, when we were within three leagues of Madrid; and their only quarrel was that K. Charles had writ a letter to my Lord Galway, and none to the Marquis das Minas, and in the superscription called him The General Commanding the Army, which (they urged) was not only a slight but a reflection on the Portuguese generals. However, my Lord has at last brought them hither, which nobody believed he would be able to effect.
“The town is much finer, and the inhabitants more numerous, than I expected; and I believe that we have had twice the number to see our camp than the army consists of, with four or five hundred coaches filled with ladies as well as dons. And the news they tell us this evening is, that Seville has certainly declared for us, and the garrison of Pampelona has murdered a great many of the French and turned the rest out of the gates. We hope to have the king with us in eight or ten days.”
Lord Galway sent his aide-de-camp, Captain Montague, nephew of Lord Halifax, to England with despatches. His fame had now reached the highest point which the discordant elements of a confederate army would allow. Bishop Burnet’s summary of his career up to this date is as follows:—
“He heartily engaged in King William’s service, and has been ever since employed in many eminent posts, in all which he has acquitted himself with that great reputation both for capacity, integrity, courage, and application, as well as success in most of his undertakings, that he is justly reckoned among the great men of the age; and to crown all, he is a man of eminent virtues, great piety, and zeal for religion.”
A large number of thanksgiving sermons were preached and printed in England; the longest and the best was by the Rev. Robert Fleming, a distinguished man, celebrated as an author, and as a private friend and councillor of King William III. His discourse on this occasion was printed with the title, “Saeculum Davidicum Redivivum," David’s “first three” among his generals being represented by Marlborough, Peterborough, and “the noble and brave Earl of Galway.” As to the latter he adds:—
“But that great general and statesman, the Earl of Galway, deserves a peculiar representation by himself, whilst contending with difficulties on all hands, and yet turning them about with such address and prudence as still to force his way forward to the heart of Spain, whilst the Duke of Berwick is glad to retire before him, and the Spanish cities are as glad to have so fair an opportunity of being under his protection.”
- ↑ Stepney Papers, vol. xx. MS. copy, docqueted, “Extract of Letter from Madrid, probably from General Stanhope to his father in the Hague.” Brigadier Stanhope (afterwards first Earl Stanhope) was with Charles III. as ambassador, and therefore at this date not at Madrid. The writer perhaps was Colonel William Stanhope, afterwards Karl of Harrington. It is remarkable that at a later date (1719) this colonel was married in the French Church in the Savoy, London.