turn round, that he might see the field of battle, and listen to the
firing; and he was well pleased when the sound grew fainter. A
spring-wagon came up, bearing Colonel Wynch, who was wounded: the
Colonel asked who was in the blanket, and being told it was Sir John
Moore, wished him to be placed in the wagon. Sir John asked one of the
Highlanders whether he thought the wagon or the blanket was best? and
the man said the blanket would not shake him so much, as he and the
other soldiers would keep the step, and carry him easy. So they
proceeded with him to his quarters at Corunna, weeping as they went....

The General lived to hear that the battle was won. "Are the French
beaten?" was the question which he repeated to every one who came into
his apartment; and he expressed how great a satisfaction it was to him
to know that they were defeated. "I hope," he said, "the people of
England will be satisfied! I hope my country will do me justice," Then,
addressing Colonel Anderson, who had been his friend and companion in
arms for one-and-twenty years, he said to him, "Anderson, you know that
I have always wished to die this way--You will see my friends as soon as
you can:--tell them everything--Say to my mother"--But here his voice
failed, he became excessively agitated, and did not again venture to
name her. Sometimes he asked to be placed in an easier posture. "I feel
myself so strong," he said, "I fear I shall be long dying. It is great
uneasiness--it is great pain." But, after a while, he pressed Anderson's
hand close to his body, and, in a few minutes, died without a struggle.
He fell, as it had ever been his wish to do, in battle and in victory.
No man was more beloved in private life, nor was there any general in
the British army so universally respected. All men had thought him
worthy of the chief command. Had he been less circumspect,--had he
looked more ardently forward, and less anxiously around him, and on all
sides, and behind,--had he been more confident in himself and in his