Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub
[blocks in formation]

NOTE.-The Phantom Ship, bearing an exact resemblance to the doomed vessel whose destruction its appearance foretells, is an ancient superstition among ma. riners.

ANECDOTES OF MILITARY SERVICE.*

THE OFFICER'S LADY.

WE received intelligence of the death of a fine gallant old veteran, Lieutenant John B- -t, a lieutenant of 1796. He had been for some time on the half-pay of the 3d Veteran Battalion, but had formerly belonged to the Slashers.† He was for many years Sergeantmajor of our regiment, but in consequence of good conduct, and being an excellent soldier, was promoted to the rank of Ensign and Adjutant. The circumstances attending this promotion are somewhat ludicrous.

The moment honest John had received his commission, and stood forth in all the dignity of a new uniform with corresponding epaulette, -his arm unprofaned by crown and stripes, and his sobriquet of "Honest John" exchanged for the style and title of John B-t, Esq. of His Majesty's 28th Regiment, the young officers, by whom he was very much respected, immediately went to his new quarters to congratulate him. Mr. Bt, received them with all that embarrassment peculiar to one who finds himself suddenly upon an equality with his superiors of the day before. But the Ensign's lady, Mrs. B- -t, was missing.

Now Mrs. B- -t, had been for many years in the regiment. She was, in fact, a "child" of the corps, though now grown old in its service, and during her whole life had made herself generally useful, by washing for the officers and attending upon their wives. By her good-humour and smart repartee she was a general favourite with all ranks, and few had wit enough to crack a joke with her. Her original name of Elizabeth had been, in the course of time, curtailed of its fair proportions, and she was then known by the less dignified but perhaps more endearing diminutive of Bet. Thus Bet had become a privileged person; she was on familiar terms with all, and addressed every one from the colonel to the drummer-boy, by his Christian name. Colonel B, who lately commanded the 28th, was then lieutenant, and on paying his respects to the new officer, was the first to notice the strange absence of Mrs. B- -t on so important an epoch in her husband's

career.

66

Well, but Mr. B--t how is this?" asked the "where is Bet?-I beg pardon. Mrs. B-t, I mean."

[blocks in formation]

This slip of the lieutenant, by the way, was not meant impertinently -it was the result of long habit.

"Really, sir," replied the newly-made officer, stammering, "really I don't know: I asked her to clean herself, and come and pay her respects to the officers, and she laughed in my face!"

"I see Mrs. Bt just now, sir," said a soldier who had just been servant to Ensign B-t, and who was then busy in the barrack-room, "and I axed her why she did not do as Mr. B- -t told her, and clean herself to pay her respects to the officers, and what does she do, sir, but burst out in a laugh, and says, Me pay my respects to the like o' them!-don't you wish you may get it?'

By Lieutenant-colonel Cadell, late of the 28th regiment.
+ The name by which the 28th is familiarly known in the army.

Them was the words, sir, of the officer's lady," added the fellow with a grin. A general laugh followed this piece of intelligence, in which the ensign heartily joined, for John B-t was one of the best-natured of men, and could laugh at a joke even at his own expense. The officers, however, were not to be foiled; away they went to seek the "officer's lady," for they were determined to make her do the honours; and at last, after a strict search, they found her in the kitchen, seated on a three-legged stool by the fire-side, and smoking a short black pipe, quite unconscious of the sensation she was creating. She had a soldier's jacket thrown across her shoulders, and her tattered straw bonnet was put on the "wrong side be. fore."

"Why Bet!-Mrs. B- -t, I mean," said Lieutenant B'we have been seeking for you every where: how is it on such a day as this that you are not receiving your husband's brother officers in the parlour ?"

"And is that all you're troubling yourself about, Johnny ?" asked Mrs. Bt of the lieutenant, taking the short pipe from her mouth; then closing one eye, and peeping forth at him most intelligently with the other.

"Why, of course it is," rejoined the officer: "I was anxious to see you do your duty on such an occasion."

66

I knows my duty, Johnny, as well as ere a soldier in the rigimint," returned Mrs. B-t, "but no duty o' the like as you say will cheat me out o' my pipe and chimbley corner, and I'll tell you what it is, old cock!" she added with the easy familiarity of friendship; "the King may make my Jack a gentleman if he likes, but I'm blessed if neither he, nor the Sultan of the Ingees, can make Bet a lady! So now, Johnny, you may trot; you've got your answer."

THE TWO MITCHELLS.

Our commanding officer was a little puzzled one day by the appearance of two young men from England, both calling themselves Robert Mitchell, and both claiming the same commission in our regiment. Of course the first claimant had possession, and Co. lonel Belson reported the circumstance to the Horse-Guards, when the second was immediately appointed to the regiment; one was a very handsome young man, and the other was directly the reverse, so that they were soon distinguished in the regiment by the sobriquets of Ugly Mitchell and Handsome Mitchell. The first time these two fine lads went into action was at the battle of Barrosa, where they carried the colours of the regiment, and vied with each other who should display the banners of the Slashers with the most gallantry. "Handsome Mitchell" was afterwards mortally wounded at the battle of Vittoria, and his namesake was severely hurt in the same conflict.

A NIGHT RIDE.

After our brigade had been a short time in Albuquerque under Colonel Wilson, 39th regiment, a large force of the enemy came out of Badajoz and manoeuvred in our neighbourhood. The only place of defence that we possessed was an old ruined castle, with out gates or parapets to the walls; but our gallant brigadier was determined to defend it until a report of our situation could be made to Sir Rowland Hill at Portalègre. As I happened to be extremely

well mounted at that period, I was entrusted with this important mission. The old campaigner in those parts will well remember the wide and dreary space which lies between Albuquerque and the Portuguese frontier, and can imagine my feelings as I sat out on my dreary journey on the evening of a November day. I soon lost the road-indeed road there was none, for what, at the commencement, appeared to be the semblance of a road, soon dwindled by rapid de. grees into a muddy, or rather a swampy track; on each side of which, for a great distance, extended a thick cover of the shrub called the gum-cistus. My good black Andalusian horse was obliged to pick his way slowly, and sometimes with great difficulty; but when a more favourable turn arrived, he seemed as anxious to gallop on as his master. I observed once or twice in the dusk the animal snorted and started; an unusual circumstance, as he was a remarkably bold horse. But as the night drew in I soon found what my good steed's superior sight and sagacity had already detected, that we were in a most perilous situation-a situation which, when I set out, none of us had the wit to foresee. The night was clear and starlight, so that I could plainly distinguish our road, and I could likewise see that which pleased me less, the glaring eyes of famished wolves! They peeped from the thick cover on each side of my path, and crossed in my front and in my rear.

This was a climax to my adventures for which I was totally unprepared. To be torn to pieces by hungry wolves had never entered my speculation on the chances of war. If I was a little thrown off my equilibrium by my near contact with this new and unexpected enemy, it must not be wondered at. I knew well that in the event of a regular attack I could make but a feeble resistance. I had no weapons of defence but my holster-pistols; for my sword would be but of little service against such tough-jacketed foes. I thought, how. ever, it would be as well to treat my attendants with an occasional discharge of fire-arms; for, luckily, I had some spare cartridges in my holsters, and, being a good shot, I was determined not to throw away a ball. Accordingly, the first fellow I saw deliberately cross my path within a convenient range, I levelled my pistol, took a steady aim, and fired. An appalling and prolonged howl followed my discharge. I had evidently marked my man, and his dreadful cry was taken up and echoed on all sides of me. The effect was really panic. striking. My gallant black horse dashed forward like a mad creature, and for miles, through thick and through thin, he sped like the wind, until I reined him up by force. Never did I experience greater relief than on reaching the station of a sergeant and party of the 34th regi. ment, placed there as a sort of half-way halt to Portalègre.

It was scarcely dawn when I alighted from my reeking steed, and, rapping at the door, announced myself. The sergeant received me, and was perfectly astounded when I told him that I had crossed the valley. The only reason he could give for my passing it safely at that hour was, that in the afternoon a flock of sheep had been scattered by these voracious foragers, and many of them devoured. This feast had doubtless, taken off the edge of their appetites, or, doubtless, they would have made a supper of me and my black horse. I stayed with the sergeant no longer than was necessary to feed my horse, and then proceeded to Portalègre, where I found Sir Rowland at breakfast; of

which, after delivering my despatches, I was not a little pleased to partake.

The 71st were immediately ordered to the support of Colonel Wil. son, when the French, on the arrival of the reinforcement, retired to Badajoz.

ANOTHER Wolf adventure.

I remember another slight affair with wolves, though without the risk of my former adventure. It was at the time when our division was encamped at Talavera after our assault on Badajoz, about four miles distant, when Colonel Cadogan, Colonel Abercromby, and my. self, took our dogs to seek some sport in coursing on the field of Albuera. We had ascended a rising ground, the better to survey our plan of operations, when what should we see but a troop of wolves boldly advancing from the forest-side at midday, evidently watching the movements of some asses, which had been driven from a small neighbouring village to depasture in the plain. They were fine plump animals for the Spanish peasant is very fond of his ass or mule; and their grisly assailants, from their hungry and eager looks, appeared to entertain an equal partiality for the sleek-coated dapples. We let our dogs loose, which espying this novel game, most gallantly charged them; but, on a nearer approach, as though aware of the customers they had to deal with, they very prudently hung upon their flanks at a respectful distance, and merely intimated their hostility by barking and yelping. The wolves, in no way discomposed by this skirmishing sort of attack, merely cast sidelong glances at their feeble assailants, and steadily advanced under cover of the bushes towards their prey. We now thought it time to interfere; and, galloping down the declivity, by loud shouts succeeded in checking their forward movement, but not in utterly routing them, for they faced about, and showing their formidable teeth, snarled a sort of defiance, and then leisurely retreated: looking back, however, alternately at the dogs and ourselves, as though it went sorely against them to leave such a field with empty stomachs. One fellow, of very large size, and superior daring to the others, brought up the rear. He loitered behind his companions considerably, and frequently faced about suddenly upon the dogs if they followed him up too closely. I was rather afraid that my terrier, a venturesome little rogue, would come within reach of his fangs; therefore, by way of securing him from risk, I looked to the priming of my pistol, levelled, and fired. The ball went clean through the brute's shoulder, and he fell, howling and tearing the grass with his teeth and fangs. The report of the pistol quickened the speed of his companions, who soon hid themselves in the forest. By this time some peas. ants from the village made their appearance, who were profuse in their thanks to us for having saved their asses. They were not at all aware of the vicinity of such formidable neighbours; for, though the wood contained stragglers, they did not remember to have seen so many to. gether, nor did they ever recollect an attack being made so near the habitations of man in open day. The poor people would gladly have feasted us to the best of their means; but we merely begged their assistance to beat up our game, which they readily did, and we returned to our quarters with three brace of hares.

MUTTON SERVING TWO PURPOSES.-To give some idea of the quality of the meat with which we poor fellows were occasional'v

« AnteriorContinuar »