https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumbarton_Castle and https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/dumbarton-castle/history/
General Simon: We are indebted to Dr John Taylor, again, for coming to our rescue by providing several references to this French Officer, who was confined in a small state prison set in part of the fortifications. “The general Lucy is most likely referring to is Brigadier General Édouard François Simon, a Napoleonic officer captured at the Battle of Bussaco during the Peninsular War. He was imprisoned in Dumbarton Castle for 2-3 years. His name is variously spelled Symeon, Simeon”.
On reading these references I was struck by the fact that Gentlemen were expected to honour the terms of their parole and in consequence any attempt to flee back to France was considered exceptionally bad manners. General Simon must therefore have been notorious for his attempts to send paroled French troops back home, so much so that the Coplands were shown the room in which he was held in the castle. A colourful character, having once been convicted of trying to remove Bonaparte he then became a loyal officer, a notably brave soldier and apparently hot-headed in character. I have quoted extensively from Dr Taylor’s References to illustrate my impression of him:
MEMORIALS OF CLUTHA – Pencillings on the Clyde – Elvira Anna Phipps (1842) https://archive.org/details/memorialsclutha00phipgoog/page/n138/mode/2up?q=simon “He had broken his parole of honor to the English, and made his escape to France, but, being recaptured, he was again sent over to England and confined in Dumbarton Castle till the peace”. This reference states the confinement as two years as opposed to Lucy’s three. HISTORY OF THE TOWN AND CASTLE OF DUMBARTON, from the remotest period. By John Glen (1847) https://archive.org/details/historytownandc00glengoog/page/n106/mode/2up?q=symeon "Adjoining the barracks there is a strong building of two stories, in which there is a suit of rooms, with iron-stanchioned windows. In these apartments General Symeon was confined, an intrepid French officer under Bonaparte, taken prisoner by the British, under Wellington, at Waterloo. He was kept a close prisoner in the castle for a considerable period. He was vigilantly guarded by two soldiers with loaded arms and fixed bayonets, from the place of his confinement daily to the summit of the eastern rock, and his patrol was circumscribed it to the circuit of the magazine. The British government allowed him this recreation twice a day – from 10 to 12 A.M. and from 4 to 6 P.M. The regular undeviating track of the general’s meridian and evening walks, being at first covered with soft and verdant grass, became at length a beaten pathway, a yard beyond which he dared not venture, by reason of the strict military orders given his accompanying guards. During the period of his long confinement, and his circumscribed march on the eastern rock, the “Scottish Maiden", an ancient instrument for beheading traitors, and somewhat similar to the French guillotine, lay dismantled at his feet." PRISONERS OF WAR IN GREAT BRITAIN 1756-1815 – a record of their lives, their romance and their sufferings – Francis Abell (1914) - https://archive.org/details/prisonersofwarin00abel/page/372/mode/2up?q=simon “An ugly feature about the practice of parole-breaking is that the most distinguished French officers did not seem to regard it seriously. In 1812 general Simon escaped from Odiham and corresponded with France; he was recaptured, and sent to Tothill Fields prison in London, and thence to Dumbarton Castle, where two rooms were furnished for him exactly on the scale of a British field officer’s barrack apartment; he was placed on the usual parole allowance, eighteen pence per day for himself, and one shilling and threepence per day for a servant, and he resented very much having to give up a poniard in his possession. From Dumbarton he appears to have carried on a regular business as an agent for the escape of paroled prisoners, for, at his request, the Transport Office had given permission for two of his subalterns, also prisoners on parole, Raymond and Boutony by name, to take positions in London banks as French correspondents, and it was discovered that these men were actually acting as Simon's London agents for the escape of prisoners on parole. It was no doubt in consequence of this discovery that in 1813 orders were sent to Dumbarton that not only was Simon to be deprived of newspapers, but he was not to be allowed pens and ink, ‘as he makes such a scandalous and unbecoming use of them.’ In May 1814 Simon, although he was still in close confinement, was exchanged for Major General Coke, it being evidently considered by the government that he could do less harm fighting against Britain than he did as a prisoner.” This same reference, on page 436, describes their capture: “Information led them to Pratt Street, Camden Town. The female servant appeared in the area of No. 4 in reply to their knocks, denied that there was anyone in the house, and refused them admittance. The officers, now reinforced, surrounded the house, and some men were seen sitting in a back-parlour by candlelight. Suddenly the candles were put out. Lavender, the senior officer, went again to the front door and knocked. The servant resisted his pretext of having a letter from a lady in the house, and he threatened to shoot her if she still refused admission. She defied him. Other officers had in the meanwhile climbed over the back garden wall and found Simon and another officer, Surgeon Boiron, in the kitchen in darkness. The mistress and servant of the house were both French women, and they were carried off with Simon and Boiron: altogether a capital haul, as the women were found upon examination to be ‘deep in the business’ of aiding and abetting in the escape of prisoners.” WELLINGTON'S BATTLEFIELDS ILLUSTRATED - Bussaco – Lt. Col. G L Chambers, ( 1910) https://archive.org/details/bussaco00cham/page/n5/mode/2up?q=simon This book contains details of General Simon's career, his battles, his imprisonment, and anecdotes: “There were some curious incidents in connection with Gen. Simon, who was wounded and taken prisoner along with his aide-de-camp in the attack on the Light Division. In spite of three wounds, Gen. Simon was excited and furious, and after his capture insisted on being allowed to meet Gen. Craufurd in single combat. It was, however, pointed out to him that he was already a prisoner, and that an acceptance of his proposals would therefore not show much wit. Wellington treated him with great courtesy. He was taken to the Convent, an English officer gave up his room, and the General's wounds were attended to. Word was also sent to Masséna, asking for his baggage to be sent. In the meantime his valet was endeavouring to penetrate the Allied lines but, his object being misunderstood, he was fired on. Thereupon, a French account says, the cantinière of the 26 Regiment of the line in Simon's brigade, a young and pretty woman, hearing the complaint of the valet, insisted on loading a donkey with the General’s kit, and proceeded towards the front, saying, "Let us see whether the English will kill a woman." She was allowed to pass without molestation, was taken to the Convent, where she remained until Gen. Simon and his aide-de-camp left for Coimbra next day, when she returned to her Regiment. An English officer, writing from the front under date 30th September, 1810, says that a short time after Simon was captured a young Spanish lady in male attire, whom the General had carried off from Madrid, and his baggage, was sent to the British head-quarters under a flag of truce. The Friar in his diary says the French general, his wife and secretary left for Coimbra on the 28th. Col. Leech says, “Towards evening a flag of truce came in, bringing Gen. Simon's baggage, and with it a pretty little Spanish woman, part of his establishment. The fair one was in tears, and appeared much agitated." Lt. Col. Chambers includes another account: “We took some prisoners, and among them General Simon, a gallant officer, but a bad and dishonourable man, who afterwards broke his parole of honour. He was horribly wounded in the face, his jaw being broken and almost hanging down on his chest. Just as myself and another officer came to him a soldier was going to put his bayonet into him, which we prevented and sent him a prisoner to the General." Another account relates: “As I could not see the fight I returned to the house. When I arrived, a soldier of the General's guard told me that there was a prisoner, a French General named Simon. I went at once to see him. He was wounded with three balls, all in the face.” His capture is later described by another: “Simon surrendered to Private James Hopkins, of Robert Campbell's company, who received a pension of twenty pounds per annum as a reward for his bravery on this occasion. Private Harris, of 52nd, also shared in his capture and got a pension.” BORIS WILNITSKY FINE ARTS: https://www.wilnitsky.com/scripts/redgallery1.dll/details?No=40698 In the Boris Wilnitsky Fine Arts collection are fine portraits of General Baron Eduard François Simon and his wife, “painted by well-known presumed miniaturist Jean Cossard in December 1814” together with details of his life and career.
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