Lot Essay
INDENTGeneral Sir Robert J. Harvey C.B. (1785-1860), entered the 53rd. (Shropshire) Regiment as Ensign 1803; Lieutenant, 60th Regiment 1804; Captain, 53rd Regiment 1806; attended Military College at High Wycombe, 1807-1809, and served briefly as A.D.C. to Brigadier General Lightburne; rejoined his regiment, March 1809, being ordered on foreign service.
Commander of "Guerrillias"
The Shropshires sailed from Cork on 24 March 1809, part of the force of 6,000 men under Major-General Hill, and joined the main allied army under Sir Arthur Wellesley in Lisbon in late April. In May the allies marched against Marshal Soult and within the month the French were driven out of Portugal. Captain Harvey was present at the actions at Albeguira, Oporto, Chaves and Salamonde, and in June was appointed Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General to the British Army. At the same time and his facility for languages, made him an obvious choice for service with the growing Portuguese army under Marshal Beresford. In July Captain Harvey took leave of the Shropshires and, with a small Portuguese army, entered Spain in pursuit of the retreating French force. Harvey at first shadowed Marshal Soult along the Tagus valley, sending much valuable intelligence to both Beresford and the Spanish General, the Duke del Parque. In September he was appointed Major and Assistant-Quartermaster General in the Portuguese army with orders to raise a corps of Portuguese "Guerrillias" in the province of Bierar. For the next twelve months Harvey led this local corps to great effect, intercepting convoys and harassing foraging parties during the sieges of Cuidad Rodrigo and Almeida, as well as watching the progress of Marshal Regnier's French Corps d'Armee in the valley of Mondego.
"On one of these occasions, with the aid and assistance of the armed peasantry alone, he was fortunate enough to capture and carry off from the neighbourhood of Penamacor, a heavy convoy, which was under a guard of about 150 French regulars, cavalry and infantry. What added to the gallantry of this affair was, that the place at which it occured was within four miles of a division of French troops. The convoy consisted of lead for bullets, and tobacco for the French soldiers; and Major Harvey loaded fifty-three country cars with the spoil, and caused it to be delivered over to the Fourth Division of the Allied Army, commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir Lowry Cole, at Guarda. For this and similar exploits, thirteen of the Commandants of the Guerilla force, (who strange to say, were for the most part priests) presented Major Harvey with a testimonial sword, bearing their names, &c., engraven on the blade."
Commander of "Ordeneza"
Harvey rejoined his regiment on the 27th September, and was present with it two days later at the battle of Busaco. He subsequently accompanied the British army into the lines of Torres Vedras. In October he was in action once again, this time on the South bank of the Tagus, with orders to organise and command the "Ordeneza" or armed peasantry of the country, and prevent the passage of the river by the French.
This he succeeded in doing. The enemy made an attempt to ford the river opposite Chumusca, intending to secure sixty craft which lay there. Despite artillery support they were encountered and forced to retire by Harvey's "Ordeneza", and the boats were quickly scuttled. Soon after this however the commander was laid low by fever and was forced to retire to Lisbon. The continuous efforts of the previous two years had taken its toll and Harvey returned to England to recouperate.
At home he engaged in a spell of recruiting, but as soon as his health was restored in early June 1811, Harvey was back in the Peninsula. He was present at the second siege of Badajoz and was placed in charge of the removal of the sick and wounded, 4,000 of whom were transported to the rear. He established hospitals along the route from Spain into Portugal, and at the same time directed the march of new recruits and the bringing up of ammunition and provisions to the army in the field.
With Wellington in the Peninsula
"In the autumn of 1811 a very prominent and honourable position was assigned him. He was appointed by Marshal Beresford, as Commander-in-Chief of the Portuguese army, to attend on Lord Wellington, the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces, to act as the organ of communication between the two forces in the field, and as chief of the staff of the Portuguese army when the Marshal might be absent. In this capacity Major Harvey remained attached to the staff until the war was brought to a close, receiving daily the commands of Lord Wellington, and accompanying him on almost all occasions in the field.
From this period, therefore, the history of Major Harvey's services in the Peninsula is, in point of fact, almost the history of each campaign, In 1812, he was present during the siege and at the storm and capture of Cuidad Rodrigo; also at the siege of Badajoz, its storm and capture. In the promotion succeeding the event he was made a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Portuguese army. Later in 1812 he was present at the siege and battle of Salamanca, and at the siege of Burgos, and the retreat into Portugal. In 1813, he accompanied the Commander-in-Chief into Spain, and was present at the affair near Salamanca, and also at the battle of Vittoria (at this battle he had two horses shot under him). In consideration of his services on this occasion he was made a Lieutenant-Colonel in the British army, on the recommendation of the Commander-in-Chief.
On the 28th June, 1813, Colonel Harvey was present at the battle of Pyrenees, and was slightly wounded in the thigh by a musket shot. This, however, did not prevent his being present in the actions resluting fron the attempt of Marshal Soult to relieve St. Sebastian. Late in the year he assisted at the passage of the Bidassoa, at the battles of the Nive, and at the battle and passage of the Nivelle. Early in the year 1814, Lieutenant-Colonel Harvey was temporarily withdrawn from the Marquis of Wellington's headquarters to act as Quartermaster-General to Marshal Beresford's corps, which formed the left wing of the allied army. In that capacity he was present at the battle of Orthes, when the left wing bore the great brunt of the battle, and Colonel Harvey was thanked by name in the public orders of the Portuguese army for his services on that occasion. At a later period of the year he was present at the battle of Toulouse and was again thanked by name in public orders for his services."
Harvey accompanied Wellington to Paris where the Duke acted as British Ambassador. His last service to his Commanding Officer was to carry despatches from Paris to Lord Beresford at Lisbon. "He performed the journey of nearly 1,400 miles, from Paris to Lisbon, on horse-back in fourteen days, a feat rarely accomplished by an equestrian, and one which may be truly considered of an extraordinary character, considering the season of the year, the nature of the country to be passed, and the danger to which he was exposed" That he should have been stopped by banditti "who robbed him of everything but his despatches, and a few pieces of silver which he managed to save from them by pleading that he had "fought for their country."", is typical of Colonel Harvey's extrordinary experiences in the Peninsular.
On his return to England Harvey married, settled near Norwich, and took a prominent part in local affairs; placed on half-pay 1816; Knighted 1817; member of the Royal Society and the Society of Antiquaries; founding fellow and member of the Council of the Botanic Society; founding member of the United Service Club; promoter of the British Gas Light Company, consequently Norwich was one of the first cities in England to be illuminated by coal gas; Director and Deputy Chairman, the Eastern Counties Railway; Director of the Norwich Fire and Norwich Life Offices; founder member and Chairman of the General Reversionary Interest Society in London; Colonel 1830; Companion of the Bath 1831; Major General 1841; Colonel of the West India Regiment 1848; Lieutenant General 1851; General 1859.
"At more than one period of his life Sir Robert Harvey was honoured with the offer of a baronetcy. He did not, however, deem it his duty to avail himself of such a distinction, preferring to remain content with the laurels he had acquired by his military achievements."
(Reference: Obituary, Norfolk News, 23 June 1860, and Norwich Mercury, 20 July 1860; a photocopy of the obituary accompanies the lot.)
Commander of "Guerrillias"
The Shropshires sailed from Cork on 24 March 1809, part of the force of 6,000 men under Major-General Hill, and joined the main allied army under Sir Arthur Wellesley in Lisbon in late April. In May the allies marched against Marshal Soult and within the month the French were driven out of Portugal. Captain Harvey was present at the actions at Albeguira, Oporto, Chaves and Salamonde, and in June was appointed Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General to the British Army. At the same time and his facility for languages, made him an obvious choice for service with the growing Portuguese army under Marshal Beresford. In July Captain Harvey took leave of the Shropshires and, with a small Portuguese army, entered Spain in pursuit of the retreating French force. Harvey at first shadowed Marshal Soult along the Tagus valley, sending much valuable intelligence to both Beresford and the Spanish General, the Duke del Parque. In September he was appointed Major and Assistant-Quartermaster General in the Portuguese army with orders to raise a corps of Portuguese "Guerrillias" in the province of Bierar. For the next twelve months Harvey led this local corps to great effect, intercepting convoys and harassing foraging parties during the sieges of Cuidad Rodrigo and Almeida, as well as watching the progress of Marshal Regnier's French Corps d'Armee in the valley of Mondego.
"On one of these occasions, with the aid and assistance of the armed peasantry alone, he was fortunate enough to capture and carry off from the neighbourhood of Penamacor, a heavy convoy, which was under a guard of about 150 French regulars, cavalry and infantry. What added to the gallantry of this affair was, that the place at which it occured was within four miles of a division of French troops. The convoy consisted of lead for bullets, and tobacco for the French soldiers; and Major Harvey loaded fifty-three country cars with the spoil, and caused it to be delivered over to the Fourth Division of the Allied Army, commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir Lowry Cole, at Guarda. For this and similar exploits, thirteen of the Commandants of the Guerilla force, (who strange to say, were for the most part priests) presented Major Harvey with a testimonial sword, bearing their names, &c., engraven on the blade."
Commander of "Ordeneza"
Harvey rejoined his regiment on the 27th September, and was present with it two days later at the battle of Busaco. He subsequently accompanied the British army into the lines of Torres Vedras. In October he was in action once again, this time on the South bank of the Tagus, with orders to organise and command the "Ordeneza" or armed peasantry of the country, and prevent the passage of the river by the French.
This he succeeded in doing. The enemy made an attempt to ford the river opposite Chumusca, intending to secure sixty craft which lay there. Despite artillery support they were encountered and forced to retire by Harvey's "Ordeneza", and the boats were quickly scuttled. Soon after this however the commander was laid low by fever and was forced to retire to Lisbon. The continuous efforts of the previous two years had taken its toll and Harvey returned to England to recouperate.
At home he engaged in a spell of recruiting, but as soon as his health was restored in early June 1811, Harvey was back in the Peninsula. He was present at the second siege of Badajoz and was placed in charge of the removal of the sick and wounded, 4,000 of whom were transported to the rear. He established hospitals along the route from Spain into Portugal, and at the same time directed the march of new recruits and the bringing up of ammunition and provisions to the army in the field.
With Wellington in the Peninsula
"In the autumn of 1811 a very prominent and honourable position was assigned him. He was appointed by Marshal Beresford, as Commander-in-Chief of the Portuguese army, to attend on Lord Wellington, the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces, to act as the organ of communication between the two forces in the field, and as chief of the staff of the Portuguese army when the Marshal might be absent. In this capacity Major Harvey remained attached to the staff until the war was brought to a close, receiving daily the commands of Lord Wellington, and accompanying him on almost all occasions in the field.
From this period, therefore, the history of Major Harvey's services in the Peninsula is, in point of fact, almost the history of each campaign, In 1812, he was present during the siege and at the storm and capture of Cuidad Rodrigo; also at the siege of Badajoz, its storm and capture. In the promotion succeeding the event he was made a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Portuguese army. Later in 1812 he was present at the siege and battle of Salamanca, and at the siege of Burgos, and the retreat into Portugal. In 1813, he accompanied the Commander-in-Chief into Spain, and was present at the affair near Salamanca, and also at the battle of Vittoria (at this battle he had two horses shot under him). In consideration of his services on this occasion he was made a Lieutenant-Colonel in the British army, on the recommendation of the Commander-in-Chief.
On the 28th June, 1813, Colonel Harvey was present at the battle of Pyrenees, and was slightly wounded in the thigh by a musket shot. This, however, did not prevent his being present in the actions resluting fron the attempt of Marshal Soult to relieve St. Sebastian. Late in the year he assisted at the passage of the Bidassoa, at the battles of the Nive, and at the battle and passage of the Nivelle. Early in the year 1814, Lieutenant-Colonel Harvey was temporarily withdrawn from the Marquis of Wellington's headquarters to act as Quartermaster-General to Marshal Beresford's corps, which formed the left wing of the allied army. In that capacity he was present at the battle of Orthes, when the left wing bore the great brunt of the battle, and Colonel Harvey was thanked by name in the public orders of the Portuguese army for his services on that occasion. At a later period of the year he was present at the battle of Toulouse and was again thanked by name in public orders for his services."
Harvey accompanied Wellington to Paris where the Duke acted as British Ambassador. His last service to his Commanding Officer was to carry despatches from Paris to Lord Beresford at Lisbon. "He performed the journey of nearly 1,400 miles, from Paris to Lisbon, on horse-back in fourteen days, a feat rarely accomplished by an equestrian, and one which may be truly considered of an extraordinary character, considering the season of the year, the nature of the country to be passed, and the danger to which he was exposed" That he should have been stopped by banditti "who robbed him of everything but his despatches, and a few pieces of silver which he managed to save from them by pleading that he had "fought for their country."", is typical of Colonel Harvey's extrordinary experiences in the Peninsular.
On his return to England Harvey married, settled near Norwich, and took a prominent part in local affairs; placed on half-pay 1816; Knighted 1817; member of the Royal Society and the Society of Antiquaries; founding fellow and member of the Council of the Botanic Society; founding member of the United Service Club; promoter of the British Gas Light Company, consequently Norwich was one of the first cities in England to be illuminated by coal gas; Director and Deputy Chairman, the Eastern Counties Railway; Director of the Norwich Fire and Norwich Life Offices; founder member and Chairman of the General Reversionary Interest Society in London; Colonel 1830; Companion of the Bath 1831; Major General 1841; Colonel of the West India Regiment 1848; Lieutenant General 1851; General 1859.
"At more than one period of his life Sir Robert Harvey was honoured with the offer of a baronetcy. He did not, however, deem it his duty to avail himself of such a distinction, preferring to remain content with the laurels he had acquired by his military achievements."
(Reference: Obituary, Norfolk News, 23 June 1860, and Norwich Mercury, 20 July 1860; a photocopy of the obituary accompanies the lot.)