ABSTRACT
There are other sources for this period, too, besides the sometimes exaggerated William – such as a set of letters in the National Army Museum. From these we know that Charles Napier’s life as a schoolboy in Celbridge came to an end not long after the rebellion of the United Irishmen. His military career commenced in earnest in the latter part of 1799, when, as a favour to the family, their friend Sir James Duff accepted the seventeen-year-old sight unseen as his aide-de-camp at Limerick. Off Napier went on his own for the first time. By June 1800, he was the senior lieutenant and aide-de-camp in his unit, the 60th Regiment 2nd Battalion, which was scheduled to go to the West Indies for seven years. It was not expected to see combat against the French, so Napier transferred to the Rifles so that he might see fighting. He then broke his leg, but he was able to rejoin the unit at the end of the year, reporting to Blatchington Barracks in Sussex. There Napier came under the command of Sir John Moore for the first time. 1
