Orders, Decorations and Medals

Military General Service 1793-1814, 2 clasps, Badajoz, Salamanca (L. M. Bennett, Capt. 4th Foot) light edge bruising, otherwise good very fine £1200-1500

Lewis Moore Bennett joined the 4th Foot as Ensign on 25 February 1808, and was promoted to Lieutenant in May 1809. He served with the regiment in the Peninsula and was present at the battle of Salamanca and siege of Badajoz, returning to England at the end of 1812. He subsequently served with the 1st Battalion in North America where he witnessed the destruction of Washington. Writing to his brother in Dublin, Bennett describes what took place:

‘I am just returned with the Army after destroying Washington. We disembarked on the 19th August and advanced on the Mons Road to Marlborough, without meeting any opposition from that place to Bladensburg, where we found the enemy had taken up their position, which was situated at the other side of the village. As soon as our Advanced Guard, which consisted of half of our Light Company and a company of the 85th Regt., made their appearance they opened a heavy fire of artillery and musquetry which completely raked the road. We advanced with about 200 men to feel our way with Col. Thornton of the 85th, one of the bravest soldiers I ever met, he was severely wounded.

In a few minutes, however, we had got on their flanks and kept up a heavy fire of musquetry from our Light Company which formed the Brigade and which Major Jones, a Captain of our regiment had got the command. In a short time the 85th Regiment, which is a Light Regiment, came into action with our Regiment. The Americans lay on top of a hill until the two Regiments advanced and then opened one of the most tremendous volleys of musquetry and artillery that can possibly be imagined. In a few minutes they gave way and ran in every direction never firing a single shot until they got beyond Washington.

After our men rested themselves and interred the brave officers which fell, they advanced to Washington, and just as it got dark, the advance which I was with entered the city; there was a house standing just on the left as you entered the city which was full of men, and on our approach they fired on us, but fortunately did not do any damage, but killed the General’s horse under him. We soon put them to flight and instantly set fire to the house; the advance went on with the General and set fire to all the public buildings.

We remained there all the next day, as the Main Body of our Army made a movement out of the town and took up a position. We (the Light Brigade) advanced up towards St George’s and the inhabitants of Washington were sure we were going to proceed to George’s Town, the inhabitants of which sent in a deputation offering to give up the town if we would spare their houses, which the General made them believe until it got almost dark, and then we were to follow the Main Body which went off long before from the position outside the town of Bladensburg.

The enemy had nine pieces of artillery and ten thousand men. Our loss has been trifling, eight officers wounded and one killed out of the regiment, with seventy-nine men killed and wounded.’