At the Point of the Bayonet: The Peninsular War Battles of Arroyomolinos and Almaraz 1811-1812 (From Reason to Revolution) Robert Griffith (Author)
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Helion and Company (February 19, 2021)
ISBN-13: 978-1913336523
Rowland Hill was one of the Duke of Wellington’s most trusted subordinates, known for caring deeply for the welfare of his men, but the battles of Arroyomolinos (1811) and Almaraz (1812) show that he was far more than just ‘Daddy Hill’ and a safe pair of hands. He was also a general of considerable skill and daring. At Arroyomolinos he led his troops for days through appalling weather to outmaneuver and then decimate an entire French division in a perfectly conceived surprise attack. At Almaraz he advanced far from allied lines to capture and then destroy a vital French bridge, overcoming considerable logistical challenges and substantial defenses, and paving the way for Wellington’s victory at Salamanca.
For both actions, Hill used the same two British infantry brigades as well as Portuguese and Spanish units. The relatively small numbers of units involved has enabled the author to give greater focus on the individual regiments and the men who served in them than is often the case with larger battles. He uses memoirs, previously unpublished letters, and official returns and reports to paint a very detailed picture of two small but important battles of the Peninsular War and the men that fought them.
Author
Ever since he picked up the first of Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe books as a teenager, Robert Griffith has been passionately interested in the Napoleonic period. As the author of several historical fiction novels set during the long wars against the French, and an ardent Napoleonic re-enactor, he has long strived to bring alive the stories of the men who fought for Britain against the armies of Napoleon. Having now turned to writing history he exhaustively researches his subjects to draw out previously overlooked details of both the campaigns and the everyday life of Napoleonic soldiers.
Rob, Cannon's Historical Record is fairly terse on the subject of the 'red and white tuft' and being published in 1844, was just too early to mention the award of the honorary distinction sanctioned by Wellington in 1845 "Her Majesty Queen Victoria upon the recommendation of the Duke of Wellington, approves of the 34th Regiment bearing upon its regimental colour the words "Arroyo dos Molinos," as a compensation for the loss of the distinctive tuft." (Cited in Noakes, Historical Account 1875)
Thanks Jack, if it wasn't for the pandemic I'd look up the letters at the National Archives on my next visit. They weren't listed in the catalogue separately, unlike the Gordon's letters, or I would have come across them and I didn't have a date range to look at before now. I skimmed the the Historical Record of the 34th and as it didn't have much of use on the actual battle I didn't get a copy.
Robert- greetings, Sir Rowland Hill being C-in-C at the time, the communications regarding the 34th's request to 'resume' the red-and-white tuft had passed across his desk. In his 1811 despatch the General had "laid no especial stress on the conduct of the 34th." However, he can hardly have been indifferent to a subject of which he had such particular knowledge, and in which he doubtless retained great interest. Meanwhile King William IV's enthusiasic meddling in matters of army uniform was notorious.
Horse Guards, 23rd May, 1836.
"Sir I have the honor, by direction of the General Commanding in Chief, to acquaint you, in reply to your letter, of the 4th of March last, that the King has been graciously pleased to approve of the battalion companies of the Thirty-fourth Regiment resuming the tuft worn by those companies, in commemoration of the action at Arroyo de los Molinos, on the 28th of October, 1811.
I have &c, " (Signed) John Macdonald, A. G.
Hi Jack, yes I do mention that. Wasn't aware that Hill authorised the red/white pompom - do you have a source? I know they did wear it and that was the reason for the battle honour when the rest of the army changed to the same. I did find the correspondence from the Colonel of the Gordon Highlanders when they applied for the battle honour. The 13th Hussars also had the battle honour refused.
I’ll be interested to see if the author touches on the curious coda to 'Arroyomolinos' whereby, twenty five years after the battle, the 34th (Cumberland) Regiment, on a wholly spurious basis, persuaded Sir Roland Hill as C-in-C to authorise a headress distinction on their shakos (there was a flurry of that sort of thing in the 1820s and '30s). In 1845 the Duke of Wellington subsequently agreed to upgrade this to the honorary distinction 'Arroyomolinos' to be borne on colours and appointments- while the 92nd Highlanders and 71st Highland Light Infantry, who were more heavily engaged, were denied a similar honour. This rendered 'Arroyomolinos' one of the handful of unique battle honors borne by single regiments. All of which seems to have been based on the passing coincidence of the 34th capturing elements of the French 34e Régiment including their Drum Major and some drums, which were taken as trophies. The Gordon Highlanders and the HLI remained unimpressed and over the years the 34e Régiment, with less justification perhaps, continued to ask for their drums back without success. The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, successors to the 34th Cumberland, still celebrate 'Arroyomolinos Day' when the drums and drum major's mace held, in the museum at Carlisle, are paraded as trophies. The old regimental nickname, 'The Reivers,' can be translated as 'shameless bandits.'