Adventures of a Soldier; or Memoirs of Edward Costello, K.S.F. Formerly a Non-Commission Officer in The Rifle Brigade...

by Edward Costello

Edward Costello enlisted into his local militia regiment in Ireland in 1806, and transferred, not without having a few adventures in his native Ireland, to the 95th Rifles. Not quite well drilled enough to join in Sir John Moore’s 1808-1809 campaign, he narrates some stories of his comrades who did including Tom Plunket, famous for shooting the French General Colbert.

His service in the Peninsular campaign, started almost immediately with the epic forced march to Talavera under General “Black Bob” Crauford, a fierce discipliarian, but liked by his men as Costello points out. Numerous skirmishes, affairs of outposts and combats punctuate Costello’s narrative, along with amusing asides of his comrades and their japes, drinking and occasionally their punishment by the lash. Present at the battles of Fuentes d’Oñoro, El Bodon, Salamanca, Vittoria, Nivelle and the storming of Cuidad Roderigo and bloody Badajoz, he captures the mood of the men and the hellish atmosphere of a battle, and the sorrow of lost friends.

After a brief break in his active service Costello once more engages during the Waterloo campaign, and is heavily engaged at Waterloo and Quatre Bras. After the fall of Napoleon Costello’s career turns to the British Legion , which is no sinecure despite his elevation to Lieutenant as he is posted to join the expedition to Spain and sees the vicious civil war at first hand, with scenes that remind him of the savagery of his experiences between the Guerillas and the French many years before.

A gem in the sparkling vein of memoirs written by the men and officers of the famed Rifle brigade during their adventures in the Peninsular war. Costello writes with a verve and wit, and some idiosyncratic spelling, often only found in the works of the officers of his regiment such as Kincaid.

A justly acclaimed classic.

Author – Edward Costello – (26th October 1788 - ????)
Text taken, whole and complete, from the edition published in 1841, London, by Henry Colbourn Original – 410 pages.
Linked TOC

Genres: History, Military History, Biography, Nonfiction

291 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1968

Reviews

[Lucy Cummin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The four stars are a huzzah for Ned Costello for surviving his arduous soldierly career then taking the time and effort to write up his memoirs (which he admits at the end was hard work!). Really he ought to get a five star huzzah. Of course, you must be interested in the topic and not expect a four or five star writing style for what you have here is a lively and unvarnished account of what it was like to be an ordinary soldier, albeit in an unusual regiment--the 95th Rifles in the early 1800's. This is one of the first times soldiers were encouraged to exercise some autonomy and independent thinking (when out in battle). I say some, as discipline was still # 1. The 95th mostly backpedaled corporal punishment, and even in some cases encouraged the spread of literacy as well. Unusual for the time -- and inspired, in part, by what the 'redcoats' had experienced in America. This is the second memoir I've read -- the first, by Jonathan Leach, is more considered. Costello is from that class of families doing well enough to educate sons to some degree, then release them into the wild to fend for themselves. That Costello survived the full seven years of the wars in Portugal and Spain AND Waterloo AND was clearly a well-liked and well-regarded man on the whole -- rising slowly through the ranks and retiring as a Captain in the mid 1830's after a disastrously disappointing sojourn in a British Legion regiment, hired to fight (on which side, what faction) is still a bit obscure to me in internal Spanish war. (He did have a score of injuries, none terribly serious). He comments after his return there 20 years later, that anyone contemplating civil war should take a look at Spain -- ravaged by then by nearly thirty years of war and more on the way. The toughness of these soldiers is mind-boggling, as does the fact that so many young men were willing to sign up for this life (ahem, death) reveal how few choices there were -- both he and Leach remark on occasion that they count themselves lucky to be out into the world able to see so many unexpected sights, beautiful or awful and to experience the camaraderie of their companions. Worth dying for, better than staying at home and shearing sheep or working as a footman or servant or in some 'dark, satanic mill'. These are comments, mind you, not a review. I am reading a great deal from this period as I am writing an historical novel, a romance, and am immersed in the period and loving the experience. At moments, especially when reading these open-hearted and ingenuous memoirs, I am transported. Not always comfortable either but always enlightening. ****

[Marina · Rating 3 out of 5]

An excellent first-hand recounting of a regular soldier's experiences during the Peninsular War and Waterloo campaign. The author is a great storyteller, though the language is a bit antiquated (perfectly readable). A must-read for those who are interested in Napoleonic wars in general and 95th Rifles in particular.

[Lyle Lawson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story

[Jesse Zupanic · Rating 5 out of 5]

He was denied compensation as he couldn't prove his injuries were service-related.
Horse Guards 1815 🤝 Veteran's Affairs 2025

[Piers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sharpe for real