My adventures during the late war — Background and Themes

ute to Verdun, under the escort of two _gendarmes_.

Our arrival at Verdun--A joyful reception--General Wirion--His indulgence towards the prisoners--The meetings of old shipmates and friends--Mental employment the best antidote against _ennui_ and dissipation--Restiveness at confinement--Anxiety to be again in the active service of Old England--Meditations upon an escape--Contrivances to avoid a breach of parole or any breach of honour--Three comrades, or _compagnons de voyage_--Scaling ramparts--A descent of seventy-two feet--The open country--The march commences--Flying by night, and hiding in woods by day--Heavy rains, dismal roads, and swampy beds, with bad fare and good hearts--Leaping a moat--A dislocated knee--The march resumed, and pursued lamely--The town of Neuville--Extreme sufferings from thirst--Water at length procured, anguish allayed, and the escape proceeded upon with renewed spirits.

On the 16th of July 1804 we arrived early at Fumez. Here an old woman doing the duty of crier attracted my notice. At a corner of one of the streets she began her preamble. She had a small bar of iron in one hand and a large key in the other, as a substitute for a bell. We were allowed to do as we pleased on our arrival, and to go to any inn we liked. Our guard informed us that the commandant of Givet had inserted in our _feuille de route_ that we should be considered as officers on parole and be treated accordingly.

From Fumez we were marched to Mezières, and put up at a tavern, being now officers of rank, which our landlady appeared to have been informed of. This old lady was, if possible, more extortionate than any we had yet met with. We found that, unless we previously made an agreement, particularly specifying what we wished, and regulating the price of every article, we should be liable to the greatest imposition; and this, indeed, is pretty generally the case throughout France. From Mezières we passed through Sedan, Stenay, and a small village, Sivry; and on the 23rd arrived at Verdun, the long-wished-for place of our ultimate destination.

We were received by Captain Brenton, our officers, and countrymen in the most joyful and cordial manner. For two nights, until we could procure lodgings, we were billeted at the inn Les Trois Maures, at which the Emperor Napoleon put up on his return after his splendid campaign in Germany and the Treaty of Tilsit. Two or three days after our arrival, Mr. Pridham introduced us to General Wirion, who gave us permission to walk in the suburbs, provided our commanding officer became responsible for our conduct, _corps pour corps_; which Lieutenant Pridham had done. In the course of a few days I procured lodgings, recently vacated by a _détenu_, Sir James de Bathe, with Mr. Ashworth, a midshipman, who had been one of my messmates in our late ship, the _Hussar_. He afterwards died at Minorca, in consequence of wounds he had received off Tarragona, when a lieutenant of H.M.S. _Centaur_, while in the act of snatching from destruction the unfortunate Spaniards who were being sabred by the French cavalry when rushing into the sea to our boats for protection.[9]

As soon as I found myself a little settled, in conjunction with my much-esteemed friend Ashworth I employed a French master, and pursued my studies with the utmost assiduity. I never left the town, except occasionally on race-days or days of other public amusements. It should be remarked that races, and all species of amusements that can deprive an Englishman of his property, or divert his attention for a moment, were allowed by the general who commanded the prisoners. I have been informed that there were fixed prices for all these indulgences. The hazard-table and _rouge et noir_ have been the destruction of many of our countrymen. Every kind of debauchery and libertinism, I am sorry to add, was permitted and practised in this town. Latterly, from the principal people of fashion and men of property being dispersed, horse-racing ceased, and gambling also, in a great degree.