The small fort of Matagorda was part of the outlying defences of Cadiz, the capital of free Spain. It was occupied on the 22nd February 1810 by a detachment of British Artillery and the 94th (Scotch Brigade) Regiment of Foot, aided by a small flotilla of Spanish Gunboats. Agnes Harkness and her four year old son, like many women and their families at this time, accompanied her husband Sergeant James Reston on campaign. It was in this campaign on the Spanish Peninsular while under siege from superior French forces that Agnes Harkness would distinguish herself. While under bombardment from 30 pieces of French cannon, Agnes took her son to the shelters and returned to aid the surgeon in the dressing of the wounded and made use of her own and her husband’s linen as the number of injured increased. The surgeon seeing that the supply of water was low ordered a drummer boy to brave the battery and fetch water from the well. On seeing the boy hesitate, Agnes grabbed the water bucket and ventured out into the battery while under heavy bombardment.
As she was about to lower the bucket into the well a piece of shot severed the rope but with the help of a sailor she managed to retrieve the situation and return with a fresh supply of water. The surgeon seeing that the supply of water was low ordered a drummer boy to brave the battery and fetch water from the well. On seeing the boy hesitate, Agnes grabbed the water bucket and ventured out into the battery while under heavy bombardment. As she was about to lower the bucket into the well a piece of shot severed the rope but with the help of a sailor she managed to retrieve the situation and return with a fresh supply of water. (NEXT)
Image from www.mcgonnagall-online.org.uk/