CHAPTER II.

RETURNS TO ENGLAND-ATTEMPT TO JOIN SIR THOMAS GRAHAM IN HOLLAND-PROCEEDS TO NOVA SCOTIA-INVALIDED GIBRALTAR -TRANSFERRED TO 21ST FUSILIERS WEST INDIES APPOINTMENT SIR B. D'URBAN PROMOTION AND RETURN IRELAND PURCHASE OF UNATTACHED LIEU

TO ENGLAND

TENANT-COLONELCY

ANTWERP

STAFF

OPERATIONS AGAINST THAT PLACE-ENDEAVOURS TO RETURN TO FULL PAY-APPOINTED TO 98TH REGIMENT-SYSTEM OF COMMAND—CHARACTER AS COMMANDING OFFICER.

IN December 1813, Colin Campbell returned to England, bringing with him a letter to the Horse Guards from Major-General Hay, "under whose immediate eye he had been during the last campaign," recommending him "as a most gallant and meritorious young officer."

Obtaining leave of absence, he found a home with his uncle, Colonel Campbell, during which period he appeared before a medical board in support of his claim to a pension for the wounds he had received at San Sebastian and the Bidasoa,—the result being that he was granted a temporary pension of £100 per annum-a substantial addition to the slender pay of a regimental officer, upon which alone he had hitherto had to depend.

Whilst he was on leave, Colonel Campbell had applied to Sir Thomas Graham for an appointment for his nephew on the staff of the expeditionary corps which had been sent under the command of his former chief to Holland, for the purpose of cooperating with the Allies in their attempt to liberate that country from the French. This application elicited from Sir Thomas Graham the following reply, proving the continued interest he took in young Campbell, to whose services, as has been seen, he had already accorded his public acknowledgments:

"HEADQUARTERS, GROOT HUNDORST,1 25th February 1814.

"DEAR COLONEL,-In the hurry of business I forgot to answer your letter at first, and as the staff of the army was entirely filled up before I got the command, I wished to have had something to offer your nephew before I wrote. However, as I have no doubt of being able to provide for him soon, I have written to General Calvert to ask his Royal Highness's leave for him to join this corps immediately; and you had better send him up to town, that he may himself apply at the Horse Guards to know the Duke's determination. Should it not be favourable, it would then be of consequence to get his exchange into the Royals effected without loss of time, as I expect the 4th battalion to arrive im

1 Sir Thomas Graham was at this moment engaged in his preparations for the assault on the fortress of Bergen-op-Zoom, which was delivered on the 8th March 1814, and resulted in a disastrous failure.

1814.] LETTER FROM SIR THOMAS GRAHAM.

37

mediately, and he would then join it as a matter of

course.

"You may assure his Royal Highness the Duke of Kent that in my opinion no better officer could be brought into the Royal Scots.-I remain very faithfully and obediently yours,

"THOMAS GRAHAM."

The authorities did not accede to this request, and Sir Thomas Graham conveyed their decision to Captain Campbell in terms which must have mitigated in some degree the young officer's natural disappointment. Writing from Calmhaut on the 16th March 1814, he says:—

"I am sorry to tell you that my application to the Commander-in-chief for your having leave from the 7th battalion 60th, in order to hold a staff situation, has failed of success. The Adjutant-General writes to me that the service for which this battalion is destined will not admit of your being employed with me.

"The only chance there is now, therefore, would be your being able to effect an exchange into the Royals, or any other regiment. His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent is so desirous of bringing officers of distinguished merit into the Royal Scots, that I should hope your exchange would meet with his approbation; and you may confidently refer to my warmest testimony in your favour, should you think

that such a recommendation would be useful to you on this occasion."

That Colin Campbell did think so, and that he took advantage of his old chief's kind offer, is apparent from the following certificate, found with his

papers:

"HEADQUARTERS, BRUSSELS, 25th July 1814.

"I hereby certify that Captain Colin Campbell, then Lieutenant of the 9th Foot, under my command, behaved with the utmost gallantry and intrepidity at the storming of the convent redoubt in advance of San Sebastian, and afterwards at the assault of that fortress, on both which occasions he was severely wounded; in the action near Irun, at the forcing of the enemy from their strong and intrenched position on the Bidasoa, on the 7th October 1813, not three months from the date of the attack of the convent redoubt above mentioned.

"LYNEDOCH, Commander of the Forces."

"To all concerned."

This certificate was accompanied by the following letter:

66 BRUSSELS, 25th July 1814.

"DEAR CAMPBELL,-I received yours of the 9th inst. and the 27th June only by the last mail.

As

no one can deserve better to be rewarded for his

exertions, I have great satisfaction in sending you

1815.]

PROCEEDS TO NOVA SCOTIA.

39

annexed a certificate which I hope may be useful to you. I remain faithfully yours,

"LYNEDOCH."

Seeing no longer any hope of serving under Lord Lynedoch's command, Colin Campbell applied, with his uncle's sanction, for permission to join his regiment. The 7th battalion 60th Regiment, to which he was posted, had been raised in the previous autumn from the German prisoners of war in England, and was already serving in Nova Scotia, where a considerable force had been collected under the command of Lieutenant-General Sir J. C. Sherbrooke, in consequence of the hostilities that had broken out between Great Britain and the United States. Captain Campbell joined his battalion in October 1814, by which time the operations conducted against the Americans on the Penobscot, in the State of Maine, had been concluded. He did not remain many months in Nova Scotia, his health having suffered from his wounds to such an extent as to incapacitate him for the performance of his duties. He left Halifax at the end of July 1815, and in the following January appeared before a medical board in London for the purpose of obtaining a renewal of his pension. This was granted; and having been recommended to make use of natural warm baths in a southern climate, Colin Campbell proceeded to the south of France. As this treatment produced some improvement in his condition,