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.
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