Skye3.htm

**************************************************************
Part 3- Continued from "THE BRAVE SONS OF SKYE," by Lieut. Col. John MacInnes
******
   On the retreat of the enemy from Santarem, Lieutenant-Colonel Elder, always in advance, had repeatedly the honour of being opposed to the heroic Ney (the great master of rear-guard actions, who succeeded in outwitting even Wellington himself at the Redinha), and, while thus employed, took and kept possession of the Castle of Pombal until the arrival of the allied army. Here he maintained his position for upwards of ten hours against the rear-guard of the enemy, consisting of at least 10,000 men, and the loss sustained by the 3rd Cacadores was very considerable; but Lieutenant-Colonel Elder and his corps received the thanks of the Commander-in-Chief and the praise of the whole army. On the day following he was engaged with the right of the enemy's advanced posts, and Lord Wellington was pleased to state, in General Orders, "that he had never witnessed a more brilliant attack than that made by the 52nd Regiment and Lieutenant-Colonel Elder's Cacadores in driving the enemy from the heights of Redinha." [Short Memoir"]
   On the 13th of March his battalion was ordered to turn the enemy's right flank on the position of the Sierra d'Estrella; and, falling in with them at Choa da Lama (whilst they were attacked in front by the Light Divison), he participated in the glory of driving them from the heights. On the following evening the Cacadores composed a part of the troops which attacked the enemy with such rapidity at Foz d'Aronse that they were thrown into confusion; and in crossing the river they lost an eagle and a number of men and officers were drowned.
   The Cacadores were again engaged in the skirmish at Guarda, and in the attack at Sabugal they forded the river in two places in front of the Light Division, driving in the enemy's advanced piquets. Lieutenant-Colonel Elder received the thanks of Lord Wellington on the field, and afterwards in orders, for his conduct on this occasion.
["Short Memoirs"]
   The allied army having gone into quarters on the frontiers of Portugal, the Cacadores were sent in advance to the village of Espeja, in Spain, and they distinguished themselves by replusing, in square, an attack of seven squadrons of the enemy's cavalry, who suffered severely in killed and wounded. The corps was publicly thanked by General Robert Crawford for their steady and determined conduct on that day.
    In the battle of Fuentes d'Onor, on the morning of the 5th May, Lieutenant-Colonel Elder was engaged in covering the Light Division in the wood on the right of the line, from whence they were obliged to retired in square, being attacked by nearly the whole of the enemy's cavalry. After the battle Lieutenant-Colonel Elder was appointed, in May, 1811, to a British Lieutenant-Colonelcy as a remuneration for his services.
["Short memoir"]

   From this period until the investment of Ciudad Rodrigo, the corps was constantly in the advance, and had many opportunities of attracting the notice of the commander of the forces. The 3rd Cacadores was the first corps that broke ground before that fortress, and, in the storming and capture, it had the honour of leading the Light Division to the assault, under a tremendous fire, carrying, besides their arms, 300 sacks of hay, which they placed in the ditch and immediately mounted the breach. On their gaining the square they were publicly thanked by General Picton (who cammanded the attack) for their gallant conduct, which, besides being praised by Marshal Beresford in orders, was also particularly mentioned in Lord Wellington's despatch of the 28th of January, 1812, wherein, after recording the merits of various officers, his Lordship says:--"Lieutenant-Colonel Elder and the 3rd Cacadores were likewise distinguished on this occasion." At the storming of Badajoz, Lieutenant-Colonel Elder, with his usual daring, led a brigade composed of the 1st and 3rd Cacadores, and five companies of his old and favourite regiment, the 95th, to the great breach, where he fell desperately wounded. He was left on the spot for dead, the troops passing over his body. Returning animation, and the blaze of fire around him, enabled Colonel Elder to distinguish his old beloved regiment, the 95th, and he had just strength to
exclaim, "Elder! Elder!" when two men of his former company lifted him up and carried him into Badajoz, where he was for a considerable time confined by his wounds, which brought on lockjaw. In his despatch of the 7th April, 1812, Lord Wellington again records his opinion of Colonel Elder's gallant conduct.
   Being in a precarious state of health, owing to the severe nature of his wounds, he was obliged to return to England; but previously to his departure from the Peninsula he was made Knight Commander of the Order of the Tower and Sword by the Regency of Portugal; and His Royal Highness the Regent of England was pleased to confer the honour of Knighthood on him soon after his arrival.
   In July, 1813, while yet in a state of convalescence, Sir George Elder rejoined the army. On his arrival in France he was promoted to the rank of Colonel and appointed to the command of the 7th Regiment of Portuguese Infantry. He was engaged after this in several skirmishes and affairs of outposts. At the head of a body of troops, upwards of 3,000, he captured the Castle of Blois. ["Short Memoir"]
   At the peace of 1814 Sir George Elder accompanied the Portuguese army on their return to their own country, where he was, in 1816, promoted to the rank of Brigadier in that service, with the command of the 5th Brigade in the Alemtejo.
   At the distribution of honours by His Royal Highness the Prince Regent of England, Sir George Elder was decorated with the much-coveted Gold Cross for the general actions and assaults of Busaco, Fuentes d'Onor, Ciudad Rodrigo, and Badajoz. He had received nine wounds in battle, eight of which were considered dangerous; and his Sovereign, in consideration of his sufferings, conferred on him the appointment of Lieutenant-Governor of St. John's, Newfoundland. In 1830 he was promoted to the rank of Major-General, and at the same time was nominated a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath; received the star of a Spanish Order from Ferdinand VII.; and, finally, was appointed Commander-in-Chief in Madras in August, 1836, and appointment which was as highly gratifying to his many friends among the bravest and most distinguished in the British and Portuguese armies as it was to his relatives and to himself.
["Short Memoir"]

Sir George Elder was accidentally killed at Madras on the 3rd of December, 1836.
His indomitable courage, tempered with prudence, his unswerving adherence to his duty when under command, and his quick perception and determined exertions when command devolved upon himself, characterised his career as a soldier; and his strict honour, his kindly feelings, forgiving temper, quiet manners, and propriety of conduct under all circumstances,--his life as a man. He was consequently beloved by his men, into whom he infused courage. Thus honoured and distinguished by the favour of his Sovereign, the praise of a Wellington, the approbation of his superiors, and the kind wishes, respect, and friendship of all who had served under him or who had known him intimately, he terminated his career.
["Short Memoir"]

Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander MacDonald Elder, of the Bombay Fusiliers, who had the honour of being described by the leading military men in India as "a most reliable officer," was born in the parish of Sleat, as was also his brother, Commander Benjamin John Elder, a highly capable officer in the East India Company's naval service. Both were nephews of Sir George Elder, K.C.B.
*************************************