1 files changed, 2557 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/24665.txt b/24665.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..15c3308
--- /dev/null
+++ b/24665.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,2557 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Soldier's Life, by Edwin G. Rundle
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: A Soldier's Life
+       Being the Personal Reminiscences of Edwin G. Rundle
+
+Author: Edwin G. Rundle
+
+Commentator: Henry Woodside
+
+Release Date: February 22, 2008 [EBook #24665]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A SOLDIER'S LIFE ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at
+https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images
+generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian
+Libraries)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+REMINISCENCES OF SERGEANT-MAJOR RUNDLE
+
+[Illustration: COLOR-SERGT. EDWIN G. RUNDLE. Age, 28 Years.]
+
+
+
+
+A Soldier's Life
+
+
+Being the Personal Reminiscences of
+
+EDWIN G. RUNDLE
+
+Late Sergeant-Major in Her Majesty's Leicestershire
+Regiment of Foot, Instructor and Lecturer to the
+Military School, Toronto, 1866-1868.
+Member of the Red River Expedition.
+
+
+With Introduction by
+MAJOR HENRY J. WOODSIDE
+
+
+
+Author's Edition
+
+TORONTO
+WILLIAM BRIGGS
+1909
+
+
+
+
+INTRODUCTION.
+
+
+Of recent years we have had many books on military history, most of
+them chiefly devoted to the wars which have marked the extension of
+the British Empire.
+
+In Sergeant-Major Rundle's narrative we have the interesting story of
+how an honest English boy became attracted to the colors; how the
+British army lives, moves and has its being in the British Isles and
+in the Dominions beyond the seas; how that boy rose by honest effort
+to the highest non-commissioned position in that army; and most
+interesting of all, his experience on foreign service when his
+regiment took part in the _Trent_ affair and Fenian raids, following
+the close of the American civil war.
+
+Later, Sergeant Rundle became instructor at the Toronto Military
+School, where he trained some men now very prominent in Canadian
+affairs. He also was a member of the Red River expedition, which
+helped very much to open up and develop that western empire whose
+golden tide of grain is now flowing into the wheat bins of the British
+Empire.
+
+Scattered through the story are many interesting reminiscences and
+incidents. The actors in these dramas of a young nation's birth are
+falling by the wayside, and few have left a record of their
+adventures. It is from such that history is written.
+
+In revising the manuscript, "by order" of my truest of Klondike
+friends, Colonel S. B. Steele, C.B., M.V.O. (the lion of the Yukon),
+I have endeavored to interfere as little as possible with Sergeant
+Rundle's pleasant and simple style of narrative, and it has been a
+pleasure to assist one whose record and character are without stain,
+and whose loyalty to sovereign and country is without blemish.
+
+HENRY J. WOODSIDE.
+
+Ottawa, Ont., August 9, 1909.
+
+
+
+
+A SOLDIER'S LIFE.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+
+I was born September 17th, 1838, in the town of Penryn, County of
+Cornwall, England, and was educated at the national and private
+schools. When my education was sufficiently advanced, I was apprenticed
+to learn the trade of carpenter and joiner. My father was a
+paper-maker, and lived all his lifetime in the town. He was a strict
+teetotaler, and brought up his family, four boys and one girl, on the
+principles of temperance, which he assured us would form the basis of
+our future prosperity and happiness.
+
+There are but two of our family living--my eldest brother, now in his
+eightieth year, and the writer. My brother is able to attend to his
+business at the factory where he has worked all his lifetime, and we
+bless our father's memory.
+
+It was at the age of fifteen that I began to learn my trade, my
+master's name being Samuel Rogers, builder and contractor. I entered
+upon my duties full of life and ambition, determined to become a good
+mechanic, and at the end of five years my progress toward that end was
+quite satisfactory.
+
+However, a change was to take place. On a beautiful summer morning I
+bought a ticket for Plymouth, and took passage on a small steamer that
+plied between Falmouth and that port. My friends were not aware of my
+intention not to return again, but understood I was visiting. It did
+not take long for me to get in touch with the military stationed in the
+garrison. The parade marching past and the bands playing filled me with
+admiration, and finally I made up my mind to enlist in one of the
+regiments.
+
+After the Crimean war the 17th Leicestershire Regiment was quartered in
+Quebec, and early in 1858 the Horse Guards ordered the raising of a
+second battalion. The nucleus was supplied by the first battalion, sent
+to England and quartered on Maker Heights, in the Plymouth district.
+Having heard of the formation of this battalion, I went to its
+headquarters and offered myself for enlistment to Sergeant-Major Monk.
+This was the beginning of a lasting friendship.
+
+The sergeant-major acted in a kind and fatherly manner toward me,
+explaining the soldier's life, and gave me sound advice, and when we
+were satisfied with this part, the following question was asked: "Are
+you free, willing, able to serve in H.M. 2nd Battalion, 17th Regiment,
+for ten years, not exceeding twelve, if Her Majesty so long requires
+your services?"
+
+I answered: "I am." Then the sergeant-major placed a shilling in my
+hand.
+
+This took place on the 15th of July, 1858. The next day I was inspected
+by the surgeon and was declared medically fit. The following day a
+Justice of the Peace swore me in, and signed my attestation, and I was
+then posted to No. 2 Company, my regimental number being 404.
+
+A new life was now before me, and I am glad to say my desires were not
+altered; that I wished to be loyal to my Queen, dutiful to my country,
+obedient and courteous to my superiors, which in after years I found to
+be an important factor in a soldier's life.
+
+With other recruits, I was marched to the quartermaster's stores to
+receive my kit and clothing. These consisted of a knapsack, two shirts,
+two towels, two pairs of socks, one pair of boots, knife, fork and
+spoon, one razor, one shaving brush, two shoe brushes, box of blacking,
+one comb, one sponge, one button brush, one button holder, one tunic,
+one shell jacket, two pairs trousers. The above were issued with
+instructions that they be kept in repair, and replaced if lost or worn
+out.
+
+I was placed in a squad with ten others for drill. The stock then used
+around the neck was made of thick heavy leather about two inches high,
+with large brass fasteners behind, and at times this was quite painful
+for want of ventilation, and it was difficult to lower the head without
+bending the body from the hips. We had to endure this four hours a day,
+but after a while we got accustomed to it and did not mind.
+
+The worst part to contend with was the food; there was not sufficient
+for the hungry recruit, and had it not been for the $15.00 bounty
+placed to our credit, we should soon have become shadows of our former
+selves. The pay after deduction was eight cents, issued daily, so we
+could not have many extras but for the bounty. The following is a bill
+of fare for a day: One and one-half pounds of bread, three-quarter
+pound of meat, one pound of potatoes, pint of coffee, pint of tea and
+pint of soup. After being dismissed from drill we had to visit the
+canteen and buy bread and cheese, or whatever else we could get, at our
+own expense, for I can assure the reader we were a hungry crowd.
+
+I became fond of the drill and exercises and soon passed into a higher
+squad, and I also made good progress towards an inspection that was
+about to be made as to fitness for the first squad. We had an
+excellent, good-natured instructor, Color-Sergeant Summers, who had
+served in the Crimea. He used to say to the squad, while at bayonet
+drill, when our thrusts did not please him, "You could not make a hole
+in a lump of butter, much less in a man."
+
+He would also insist that our heads be held up as high as was
+practicable without breaking our necks. On one occasion a recruit
+thought it was impossible for him to look down again, and therefore bid
+the sergeant good-bye, which brought a hearty laugh from the veteran.
+
+In the fall of that year we moved over to Plymouth and occupied the
+Citadel and Millbay barracks. During the Crimean war the Russian
+prisoners were sent to several parts of England. Some four hundred,
+with several officers, were confined in the Millbay barracks, and it
+was a considerable time after the war ended when they were sent back to
+Russia. While in England they were well cared for, the rations were
+excellent, and visitors were allowed to see them once a week.
+
+The prisoners would make fancy articles, such as rings, pins, slippers,
+etc., and sell them to the visitors. Of course, the officers were
+paroled; the men were allowed out twice a week. They would enjoy the
+concert given by the military bands during the summer season, and when
+the time came for them to leave, if they had their choice they would
+rather remain than return to their native country. I was present and
+saw them embark.
+
+In October, 1858, I was promoted to the rank of lance-corporal. Now my
+responsibilities began. Instead of doing sentry-go when on guard, I was
+second in command and posted the sentries. I was also relieved from
+fatigue duties and other work the private has to do. I drew the Company
+B rations and acted as orderly to the company officers. Here was a time
+for a young N.C.O. to show to all concerned his tact, consistency and
+all the business capabilities he possessed. Although my promotion
+carried no extra pay, I was proud of it, with my eyes keenly open for
+the next stripe.
+
+Although I had received invitations to return home and continue my
+trade, I did not do so, but instead commenced to study and become
+acquainted with the several departments, in view of promotion and also
+of becoming an instructor.
+
+The battalion on its formation was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Hugh
+D. Crofton, formerly of the 20th Regiment, who was with this regiment
+in the Crimea and commanded a wing at the battle of the Alma. The
+adjutant was Lieutenant A. A. Ross, who rose from the ranks and some
+years later became our paymaster. The sergeant-major was W. W. Monk
+(who subsequently became the quartermaster), and Faulkner was the
+quartermaster. The officers I have mentioned were those I had to do the
+most business with.
+
+We had now settled down for the winter. I was very fond of outdoor
+sports, and when I contested anything it would be running, especially
+long distances, and I generally won prizes. I encouraged it among the
+men, as I thought good runners would be good marchers, which in after
+years proved true.
+
+The winter was long and tedious, and those who enjoyed the game of
+cricket were deprived of any other sport to take its place. We had some
+very fine players from the Midland Counties. Our small library
+contained about two or three hundred books, and it was well patronized.
+We asked for more books and a reading room, to which I shall refer
+again. Our battalion had recruited to its full strength, viz., the full
+complement of officers and 800 rank and file. The average age in the
+regiment was twenty, physique all that could be desired, and with
+careful and progressive training, we hoped to be amongst the finest
+regiments in H.M. service. Having no gymnasium, the only means of
+training was the usual drill. The sport season opened with spring, and
+we commenced playing cricket on Good Friday on the Plymouth Hoe.
+
+By good conduct and attention to duty I was again promoted. The
+following appeared in daily orders: "The commanding officer has been
+pleased to make the following promotion: No. 404, Lance-Corporal E. G.
+Rundle, No. 2. Company, to be corporal in No. 6 Company, _vice_ Jones,
+promoted." I now became an effective N.C.O. with additional pay, the
+duties being the same as before explained. I was transferred to No. 6
+Company. Lieutenant Moss was appointed musketry instructor, and J.
+Smith, from the school of musketry, sergeant-instructor. This was a
+change, but we all knew we must be taught to shoot and understand
+everything in connection with the rifle. A lecture-room was fitted up
+and furnished, and two companies were struck off duty in order to take
+the course.
+
+We had a very funny, good-natured Irishman in my company. His name was
+John Deegan. The company was attending a lecture. Mr. Moss had just
+finished explaining the three kinds of sights that could be taken, when
+he asked the funny man, "What is a fine sight?" and Deegan answered,
+"It's a good roast of beef coming from the cookhouse, sir." The company
+was then dismissed amid roars of laughter.
+
+In July one year of my service was completed, and we received orders to
+be held in readiness to proceed to Aldershot. The men were fond of
+moving from one station to another. I soon adapted myself to it, and in
+this way I saw what an opportunity I should have in being educated in
+all the departments of military service, not thinking that some day I
+would be one of the organizers of the splendid forces in our fair
+Dominion.
+
+We received our route and entrained at the Plymouth station. It must be
+remembered that 75 per cent. of the regiment had only one year's
+service to their credit. On the morning we paraded in complete marching
+order. The three regiments in garrison sent their bands to help our
+send-off. A very striking feature of our departure was the presence of
+a large number of fair maidens. Handkerchiefs were very much in
+evidence, and by the appearance of things much weeping was going on.
+The bands were playing the familiar tunes of "Good-bye, sweetheart,"
+and "The girl I left behind me." The train moved out amid much cheering
+and bands playing, and we were on our way to the great camp at
+Aldershot, where we were to take part with 40,000 men during the drill
+season, little dreaming after many roving years to return to Plymouth
+again. The conduct of the regiment during its stay in Plymouth was
+excellent, and we received many expressions of regret from the citizens
+on our departure.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+
+Arriving at Aldershot the next morning, the regiment paraded at
+Farnboro station, Aldershot, some three miles from the camp, and
+marched to Cove Common and immediately went under canvas. We were
+attached to the reserve brigade commanded by Major-General Gordon, and
+consisting of the 12th and 21st regiments of infantry, 1st battalion of
+Coldstream Guards, a regiment of dragoons, a battery of artillery,
+together with transport and medical departments. Two days after our
+arrival we had a field day. We marched to the Long Valley, where we
+were drilled for several hours, and when we returned to camp it was
+difficult to tell who was who. It was an extremely hot day, and the
+dust stuck to our faces and made us look like negroes.
+
+During the summer I was detailed to escort a deserter to Plymouth. The
+sergeant-major gave me an opportunity to see my relatives there. The
+prisoner was a deserter from H.M.S. _Implacable_, stationed in
+Plymouth Sound. He had been a few months in the regiment and it was
+not to his liking. He surrendered, and I handed him over to the
+commanding officer of his ship. If I failed to do this I would be
+tried by court-martial and sentenced to be reduced to the rank and pay
+of a private. The court is also empowered to add imprisonment with
+hard labor not exceeding 42 days. The charge would be neglect of duty
+in allowing a prisoner to escape from custody. So it was with much
+solicitude that I took over my prisoner. Private Peter Coady of my own
+company was my escort. When we paraded with the prisoner handcuffed,
+the sergeant-major handed me my instructions and money to defray
+expenses. The prisoner was allowed 12-1/2 cents per day. We then
+loaded our rifles, fixed bayonets, and marched off to Farnboro station
+en route to Southampton.
+
+After we were comfortably seated in the coach, I did not like to see
+the prisoner handcuffed, so removed the shackles. He entered into
+conversation with a passenger, which for a while made me suspicious.
+However, that passed away, and in a few hours we arrived at
+Southampton. It was my duty to take the prisoner to the lock-up and
+provide him with refreshments, and take him over again when the steamer
+was ready to sail for Plymouth. Instead of that, I allowed him to go
+with us and have dinner at our hotel. After the meal we sat conversing,
+when, without warning, the prisoner left the room and tried to make his
+escape. Coady was too smart for him, and pulled him down off the wall
+and secured him. We found out the passenger he met on the train had
+something to do with it. After that the prisoner was kept handcuffed.
+
+We arrived at Millbay the next morning, took the prisoner to his ship,
+handed him over and got a receipt and expenses incurred during the
+trip, for which the naval authorities were responsible, and then
+reported at military headquarters, Mount Wise. We were attached to the
+10th Regiment, just returned from China. We remained in Plymouth three
+days, which gave me an opportunity to visit my friends.
+
+On embarking at Millbay wharf, it being a very dark night, my escort,
+Private Coady, missed his footing on the gang plank and fell overboard
+between the steamer and the wharf. With much difficulty he was rescued,
+having had a narrow escape from drowning. We missed the train at
+Southampton, but the chief of police billeted us at the Queen's Hotel.
+The following day we reported at Aldershot.
+
+We had very few sham fights during the summer, but field days were
+frequent. A divisional order would issue that "H.R.H. Duke of
+Cambridge, commander-in-chief, would visit the camp, and all brigades
+would parade and form in the Long Valley to-morrow at 9 a.m." We knew
+that meant a hard field day. The Duke was a great soldier and would
+have things done right, and always gave credit where it was due. On one
+occasion he was heard to say: "What regiment is that?" One of the field
+officers replied: "It's the 17th, your Highness." "It's steady, and
+their marching is excellent." When the commander-in-chief or any of the
+Royal family visited the camp the Royal Standard was hoisted at
+headquarters.
+
+Orders were issued on one occasion that we leave camp for seven days
+and become a flying column. Then the whole brigade struck tents at
+daybreak, and marched the first day to Walmer forest and remained there
+two days. This is a distance of 16 miles, and to do this in heavy
+marching order was a good test of the marching powers of our young
+battalion; but the men were equal to the occasion and did the march in
+excellent form.
+
+When the reveille sounded the next morning we were leaving camp. A
+severe thunderstorm came up and we were obliged to strike and pack
+tents during the storm. A young private did not fall in when his
+company was parading, and one of the officers asked him the reason he
+was not doing so. He replied that he did not have his breakfast and
+would not fall in till he had. He was at once made a prisoner and
+marched as such to Walmer forest, when the commanding officer applied
+for a drumhead court-martial. In consequence of the prisoner's previous
+good character, the general directed the colonel to deal with the case,
+and he was sentenced to seven days' cells.
+
+When we arrived we found our arms, accoutrements and kit in a bad
+state, so the troops were kept busy for some time spreading their
+clothing in the sun to dry and cleaning their belongings in general;
+but soon the camp began to look cheerful, the flags were hoisted on
+headquarters and other tents, the bands were playing, and everything
+forgotten except sore feet. Having enjoyed a day's rest, we marched to
+Caesar's Hill, about the same distance as the previous march.
+
+The mimic warfare commenced. We threw out an outlying picket with
+supports and reserve, and the whole camp was placed in a state of
+defence against a supposed enemy in the distance.
+
+Parties were sent out, skirmishing extended and trenches dug. This was
+quite exciting and gave us an idea of what we should have to confront
+during our later service. The commissariat department supplied all
+rations on the spot. They killed and baked on the camp grounds, and
+issued groceries and vegetables every morning.
+
+We remained two days in this camp. Our next march was to Sandhurst. We
+were to be near the great military college whose cadet corps would take
+part in the brigade drill. A regiment of hussars attached to our
+brigade formed the advance guard, preceded us several miles, and on
+their arrival accidentally set the heather on fire, so when the troops
+arrived they were put to work. After some hard fighting and exciting
+incidents we extinguished it. We remained here two days, continuing
+camp life and field work, finally returning to our camp grounds, Cove
+Common.
+
+As the fall set in camp was broken up, and my regiment was to occupy
+the west block of the permanent barracks, and my reward for the part I
+had taken during the drill season was promotion to the rank of
+lance-sergeant, and to my great delight I was occasionally called upon
+to instruct a squad of recruits.
+
+A very important factor in our training, one of the finest gymnasiums
+in the world, was near completion and would be ready to receive squads
+for instruction in a short time. Eventually we were ordered to prepare
+squads for gymnastic work, and those who had the privilege of attending
+it liked it very much. I was very fond of fencing, single stick and
+sword drill. This gymnasium was built and equipped, and the exercises,
+systematized and progressive, were the same as those at Oxford
+University. They were under the supervision of Professor McLaren, and
+in after years were introduced and used in the French and German
+armies.
+
+At Christmas I obtained a furlough to visit my people at Penryn. The
+next day after arrival, in my sergeant's uniform with silk sash and
+gold stripes, I visited my friends and my former companions. I was the
+only soldier in the town.
+
+During Christmas day two regiments--2nd battalion 25th, and Tower
+Hamlets Militia--quartered in the east block, were disputing as to
+which had the best dinner. The dispute became so hot that the men ran
+to their barrack rooms and opened fire on each other. The space between
+the barracks was covered with glass. Every man had possession of ten
+rounds of ball cartridge, which he kept in his pouch. Every reasonable
+means was used to stop the firing, but they still kept it up. At last
+it was found necessary to bring up a battery of artillery, and the
+rioters were warned that if they did not cease firing the battery would
+open fire upon them. In a short time they ceased and the rioters were
+made prisoners, later tried by court-martial and sentenced to long
+terms of imprisonment. Fortunately no one was killed, and the only
+casualty was a drummer slightly wounded. The next day both regiments
+returned their ammunition into the magazine. The Tower Hamlets were
+ordered to their headquarters, London, and disbanded. The 25th were
+sent to Spike Island, a convict settlement near Queenstown, Ireland.
+
+We had now a very nice reading-room, also a library. A regimental
+school was opened and the children attended. Any man who could not read
+or write must attend school until he obtained a fourth-class
+certificate, but that did not prevent him from advancing. If he wished
+promotion he must obtain a third-class for corporal, second-class for
+sergeant, and a first-class certificate would be an important factor if
+he were looking toward a commission.
+
+Being musical, I took a great interest in our band, which by this time
+had become a fairly good one. Our bandmaster, Mr. John Holt, was
+transferred from the Stafford Militia and was a most genial and
+courteous gentleman. Our band-sergeant was Charles Fitzpatrick, son of
+the sergeant-major of the South Devon Militia, and, like the master, he
+was a fine fellow. In 1868 he was appointed bandmaster of the 18th
+Royal Irish. There were some good voices in the band, and in rendering
+programmes there would generally be a chorus which we enjoyed. The only
+drill during the winter was route marching; we also had gymnastics and
+an occasional lecture from adjutant, sergeant-major or musketry
+instructor.
+
+The spring drill of 1860 commenced, and every man must have a month's
+setting up. This means lots of work for the instructors; every
+regimental parade ground for three hours daily is covered with squads,
+commencing with section one, doing squad drill till they reach
+battalion drill, when the companies amalgamate and drill together.
+
+During the summer Her Majesty the Queen, the Prince Consort and members
+of the Royal family visited the camp. The Queen and her escort came
+into our block, and entered one of our barrack rooms to see a soldier's
+cot. We used to make up the bed, drawing the paillasse to the front,
+but by keeping it against the back it gave a space in the front, then
+the man, folding his rug neatly and placing it in the space, made a
+comfortable seat for himself, his back resting against the paillasse.
+There are no chairs in a barrack room. Her Majesty sat on one of the
+cots and expressed her satisfaction at the new arrangement. Another
+incident occurred while the Queen and party were approaching the centre
+block, occupied by the 21st Regiment. The sentry would not allow the
+carriages to pass through the block; those were the orders. Although an
+A.D.C. drew the soldier's attention to the fact that it was the Queen,
+it did not matter. He said he would not be doing his duty by allowing
+it. The adjutant was sent for and took the responsibility. The sentry
+was commended for doing his duty and was promoted for it.
+
+About this time I had some trouble with a man in my company. His
+general conduct was such as required watching; he was constantly being
+punished. He would desert and be brought back, tried by district
+court-martial, sentenced to be flogged and imprisoned for perhaps 112
+days. One night I called the roll at tattoo and found him wanting. I
+reported that night Private James Watson absent, took an inventory of
+his effects and hoped he would not return. Some few days after I was
+called to the guard room to identify a man of my company, whom I found
+to be Watson; but such a sight I never looked upon. It appears he
+wandered into the country and saw in the middle of a field a scarecrow.
+The clothes were all in rags, but that did not matter to Watson. He
+exchanged with the scarecrow, and placing his uniform in its stead,
+dressed himself in the tattered suit and continued his journey, only to
+be arrested and brought back to the barracks. The end of poor Watson
+will be learned later.
+
+Colonel Crofton, not wishing, for private reasons, to go on foreign
+service at present, made an exchange with Colonel Franklin, who
+commanded a depot battalion quartered at Colchester, and previous to
+his departure he was pleased to promote me to the rank of sergeant. I
+was now on the effective list. Personally I was extremely sorry to
+lose Colonel Crofton. He had always taken an interest in my welfare
+and never refused me any reasonable privilege. Colonel Franklin, who
+took command, was an old soldier and an old man. He was not the
+disciplinarian his predecessor was--very quiet, and more like a father
+to the boys than the fiery warrior before him. We knew that Colonel
+Franklin's command would be short, as he would not take the battalion
+on foreign service, and that Major McKinstry would succeed him. Our
+sergeant-major was promoted to the rank of quartermaster, _vice_
+Faulkner, retired, and Color-Sergeant George Jackson promoted to
+sergeant-major, _vice_ Monk, promoted.
+
+We received orders to proceed to Shorncliffe Camp in the county of
+Kent, a few miles from Folkstone. Major-General Carey having inspected
+the battalion, we entrained at Farnboro Station. The bands of several
+regiments in camp came to play us off, and we bid good-bye to
+Aldershot. That afternoon we arrived at our new station, where we
+met the 16th Bedfordshires and 18th Royal Irish. We were royally
+entertained by our new comrades and soon became great friends.
+Shorncliffe is situated on a high hill just over the town of Sandgate
+and about two miles from the school of musketry at Hythe. We were
+quartered in huts, which were very comfortable but not to be compared
+with our last quarters.
+
+We have our reading room and school, and they are well attended, but we
+miss the gymnasium, for as yet none has been built outside Aldershot,
+nor will there be until qualified instructors are forthcoming to take
+charge of them.
+
+We have four prisoners confined in the headquarters guard room awaiting
+sentence. One of the prisoners is Private Watson, mentioned before in
+connection with the scarecrow. These four men had been tried by general
+court-martial on serious charges--two for striking officers, the other
+two for desertion and making away with their kits. As a matter of fact
+they were incorrigible. The evening orders announced that the brigade
+would parade at 9 a.m. the following day, when the proceedings of the
+court-martial would be read to the troops and the prisoners. There had
+been a slight snow-fall during the night and the morning was quite
+cold. The brigade was formed in the square, the general and his staff
+in the centre. The prisoners were marched from the guard room under a
+strong escort, and when everything was in readiness the brigade-major,
+who had charge of the proceedings, commenced to read. Calling one of
+the prisoners by name, he stepped to the front, took off his cap and
+listened to the reading of the proceedings of the court that tried him
+and which found him guilty. Then followed the sentence in this form:
+"The court, having found the prisoner guilty of all the charges
+preferred against him, and in consequence of his previous very bad
+character, do now sentence the prisoner to be shot to death by
+musketry." Here the officer paused; the prisoner was very pale and
+trembling. Continuing, the brigade-major read: "But in consideration of
+the prisoner's youth Her Majesty has been pleased to commute the
+sentence to penal servitude for life." The other prisoner for the same
+offences received the same sentence and commutation. The other two
+prisoners were sentenced to fifty lashes, which they received that cold
+morning on the spot, and to be imprisoned with hard labor for ten
+years.
+
+Our social intercourse with our comrades in the camp was all that could
+be desired. Entertainments of various kinds were given and a pleasant
+winter spent. During our stay at Shorncliffe I was sent to musketry
+school.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+
+In the spring we received orders to hold ourselves in readiness to
+embark for Dublin. This pleased us very much, for we were anxious to
+see old Ireland. We were conveyed to Bristol by train and then embarked
+for Dublin. Arriving without incident, we disembarked. Eight companies
+marched to and took up quarters at Richmond barracks. The other two
+companies, which included my own, occupied Linen Hall barracks.
+
+We found quite a difference in the general routine of a soldier's life
+in Dublin. There were 5,000 troops in garrison, including a battalion
+of Grenadier Guards, and ceremonial parades were in evidence. The
+trooping of the colors at guard mounting on the esplanade was one of
+the most spectacular. The marching past in slow time to the music of
+massed bands, together with the other beautiful movements attached to
+this grand old practice, drew thousands of citizens to witness it.
+Those grand displays were no doubt the means of establishing a
+friendship between soldiers and citizens. This was a very proud
+garrison, and the men vied with each other in dress and general
+appearance on the streets and public thoroughfares of the city. It was
+commanded by General Sir George Brown.
+
+We said good-bye to Colonel Franklin, and Major McKinstry was gazetted
+lieutenant-colonel and to command the battalion. The colonel was well
+liked by all ranks. He was with the 1st Battalion during the Crimean
+war, and was an officer who studied the individual soldier and attended
+to his welfare. He had a keen memory. We had a transfer from the 1st
+Battalion who had also been in the Crimea. He was brought up for being
+drunk. I do not know whether the colonel intended to bring his previous
+conduct against him, but in his admonition and advice reminded him that
+one night in the trenches before Sebastopol he was drunk.
+
+Next we marched to the Curragh camp to be quartered there during the
+balance of the drill season. The distance is about 25 miles. We left
+Richmond barracks about 9 a.m. It was a very hard hot day's work that
+we had before us. We carried a lunch in our haversacks, and when we got
+into the country we received humorous and good-natured replies to
+questions we asked those we met. For instance, I was in charge of a
+section of the advance guard, and I asked a native how far we were from
+Naas. He answered: "Three miles and a wee bit, sur." We would about
+cover that distance and ask another native, receiving the same answer.
+So we trudged on looking anxiously for church spires and chimney tops.
+At last we saw the long-looked-for halting place, and Naas with all the
+Irish beauties it contained was near. The band, that had been silent a
+considerable distance, struck up "Garry own to glory."
+
+After supper the men cleaned up, went into the village, and were most
+cordially greeted, especially by the fair sex, who indeed were Irish
+beauties. We marched out of the village amidst cheering and the playing
+of Irish airs by the band. In two hours the camp was in sight, and when
+about a mile from it we were met by two bands, belonging to 11th and
+86th regiments, with whom we were to brigade, and also an invitation
+from the sergeants of the 11th regiment to lunch at their mess after
+our immediate duties had been performed. We took up our quarters in "F"
+square and were again in huts, but everything for the comfort of the
+regiment was at hand. The commanding officer was pleased to appoint me
+battalion drill instructor, and about this time Ensign Mogg Rolph, a
+Canadian, was gazetted and posted to the regiment, and I had the honor
+and pleasure of being his instructor for some time. The present
+Lieutenant-Colonel Rolph will always have a place amongst my best and
+happiest thoughts. H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, was in
+camp and attached to the 39th Regiment for the drill season. He was
+doing captain's duty and attended battalion, brigade and divisional
+drills; we saw H.R.H. quite frequently. Her Majesty the Queen visited
+the camp that summer. It rained the day of review, but that did not
+matter; thousands were present to greet the Queen and shouted
+themselves hoarse.
+
+General Sir George Brown was in command. The Curragh is a beautiful
+spot, there being such a large area for sham fights, field days and
+drills in general. The rifle ranges are adjacent to the camp, each
+regiment having its own range. The routine of camp life is the same as
+in the other camps we have been quartered in. There is a small theatre
+in the camp where the troops give performances weekly. Each corps has
+its own amateurs and takes turns to furnish programmes, theatrical,
+literary, vocal and musical. There was good talent to be found in the
+camp. The Prince would occasionally attend a performance, and no doubt
+enjoyed it.
+
+We were shown a monument erected to the memory of a captain who was
+accidentally shot. It appears his company, which he was in charge of at
+the time, had completed their firing and were returning to camp by a
+circuitous route. Other corps were firing at the time, when a ricochet
+bullet struck the captain and killed him.
+
+About this time we received extremely sad news to the effect that
+Lieutenant-Colonel Crofton, who so recently left us, had been
+assassinated on the barrack-square in Colchester. It appears that a
+private had neglected his duty when on picket sentry, and the adjutant
+brought him before the colonel and reported his neglect, and he was
+sentenced to an extra duty. It being Saturday, the men of his company
+were all assembled in an upper room for medical inspection. He took
+advantage of this and went to a room on the ground floor, and procuring
+a rifle, loaded it. During this time the two officers had left the
+orderly room and were walking arm in arm up the barrack square, the
+adjutant being nearest. The assassin fired, the bullet going through
+the body of the adjutant and entering the colonel's, and both were
+killed. The man was tried and hanged. The sergeants of my regiment made
+an application to wear mourning for four successive Sundays, as a mark
+of respect toward our late commanding officer. The commander-in-chief
+granted it.
+
+The furlough season was near and I was to leave for six weeks,
+commencing at Christmas, but there was something not very pleasant
+going on between the United States and England over the _Trent_
+affair. It looked so serious that some 25,000 troops were placed under
+orders to proceed to North America, and the "Tigers," our battalion,
+was among them. We had received orders to the effect that as soon as
+the hired transport steamships _Cleopatra_ and _Mauritius_ were ready,
+we would embark for Halifax, Nova Scotia. The commanding officer
+informed me that I could not have my leave, and those already on leave
+would be recalled immediately. In this case the company owning these
+ships was responsible only for the conveyance; the military
+authorities were to make all other arrangements.
+
+The commanding officer selected me to superintend the shipping and
+stowing away of provisions and clothing, which was to be done at Haul
+Bowlin, where the regiment was to embark, and I left at once to perform
+this duty. Arriving in Cork, I reported at the quartermaster-general's
+department and was attached to the 12th Regiment. Christmas was near
+and the steamer had not arrived. On Christmas the regiment arrived at
+Cork station. I went down to meet them and returned to the barracks,
+where the right wing remained till they embarked. Not a drum was heard,
+in consequence of the death of H.R.H. the Prince Consort. The battalion
+marched to barracks in death-like silence, with colors draped and other
+signs of mourning visible. The sergeants of my regiment were invited to
+dine with their old comrades of the 12th on Christmas Day. We were
+enjoying our dinner when an orderly summoned me to the orderly room.
+When I reported I found the Q.M.G., colonel, quartermaster, adjutant
+and others assembled. I was ordered to at once prepare to accompany
+them to Haul Bowlin. That stopped my Christmas festivities, but the
+12th boys filled my haversack with good things.
+
+On arrival my duties were at once explained to me. I was to make notes
+of the disposition of all packages, barrels, bales, etc., of provision
+and clothing, so they could be found without difficulty during the
+voyage. A winter campaign was expected, and we had considerable furs
+and clothing to meet it. Not far from Haul Bowlin is Spike Island, a
+convict settlement, and the convicts were brought over to put the goods
+on board. It was difficult to have them do as I desired, but the guards
+with loaded carbines soon brought them to time, and in a few days my
+work was completed, and on the 1st of January, 1862, the wing embarked
+and sailed for Halifax.
+
+When the battalion paraded in Cork barracks the morning they were
+leaving, General Blood addressed them, giving some good advice to this
+young regiment, warning them against drinking rum, but instead to drink
+milk.
+
+The first thing we had to face was seasickness, and very few escaped
+it. The voyage was a tempestuous one. We met a heavy gale when out
+several days, but no damage was done; the ship was intact at the end of
+the passage and the men in the best of health and spirits. Arriving at
+Newfoundland we took on a pilot. The colonel asked him how the trouble
+between the two countries was progressing. He assured us that it had
+been amicably settled. That meant no fighting. The men were
+disappointed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+
+We arrived in Halifax, N.S., on January 11th, and quartered in
+Wellington barracks. We were now waiting the arrival of the left wing,
+which sailed a few days later but did not reach Halifax till the 10th
+of February. The gale we encountered spent itself on the _Mauritius_.
+She came into port with masts and bulwarks carried away. No one was
+drowned or injured in the storm. They immediately disembarked and took
+up their quarters in Wellington barracks.
+
+The left wing of the 2nd Battalion (17th) sailed from Cork on the 9th
+of January, 1862, having Major Colthurst in command, and, together
+with some batteries of the Royal Artillery, embarked on the troopship
+_Mauritius_. Every possible arrangement had been made by the War
+Office for the care of these soldiers, and, having regard to the time,
+they were well provided for. Almost the first thing furnished after
+the men got on board was a plentiful supply of tobacco; this was
+followed by kit-bags and warm underclothing, calculated to meet the
+then severity of the Canadian climate. The men were allotted each a
+hammock, and the color-sergeants were given a comfortable cabin with
+six sleeping berths in it and three blankets each; but mattresses and
+pillows were the result of artistic kit supply arrangements.
+
+The officers had fairly good staterooms, but necessarily were a good
+deal crowded together. The men's food was hard tack, salt pork (with
+salt beef on two days of each week), good tea and sugar (no milk, bread
+or butter), and potatoes and cabbage. A lot of good rum was served out
+to all twice a day. As both the artillery and infantry had been over
+six months together in three-piece shelters or bivouacs at Aldershot,
+with only one blanket each, this ship-board treatment was thought a
+great luxury. It was at the period just after the Opposition to the
+English Government had said that the British navy could not sail and
+the British soldier could not march.
+
+General Pennefather undertook to qualify the army in marching by
+keeping about fifty thousand of them on their legs to the extent of at
+least twenty miles per day, often thirty, and as there was no end piece
+to the shelter tents, most of us were seldom dry, and rarely took off
+our boots. This resulted in about one-fourth of the command being
+weeded out, but those left were men such as the Duke of Wellington
+praised when he said, "He could take his Peninsular Army anywhere and
+do anything with it." It is true that when Wellington's veterans did
+get back to barracks their bodies had to have insect lotion and their
+clothing had to be burnt, but they were all men the Empire could be
+proud of.
+
+The voyage lasted thirty-one days and was a very rough one. The
+beautiful horses of the artillery suffered greatly, although they were
+all strung up in slings. After the first few days five or six were
+found to be dead each morning, and it was pitiful to see their carcases
+being thrown overboard. Owing to the length of the voyage, the nice
+food provided for the officers ran out, and they cheerfully put up with
+the hard tack and salted meats served to the men. We seldom got on
+deck, but were a most happy family, excepting those who were seasick,
+and with few exceptions these were all out of their hammocks after the
+second week. One poor chap, Sergeant Regan, never got over his
+sea-sickness, and swore he would never go to sea again. Strange to say,
+he was the very first man to be ordered home to England again as drill
+instructor for the Depot, so that he was scarcely on land three months
+before he had to take his medicine again.
+
+Owing to the very bad weather, the waves got into the habit of breaking
+over the funnel of the steamer and thereby causing a steam explosion
+down below. This so worked on the nerves of the stokers that they got
+up a mutiny, in which the other sailors joined, the object being to
+force the captain to return the steamer to England. They thought that
+if this was not done they would share the fate of the horses, and the
+daily sight of the dead animals was certainly not very encouraging.
+However, the mutiny was the most absurd undertaking ever attempted by
+sailors, as we soldiers were nearly all qualified and willing to take
+their places, which was quite unnecessary, as one or two quick military
+court-martials took all thoughts of mutiny out of their minds.
+
+When we got to St. John's, Nfld., where we put in for coal, we were all
+astounded at the amount of snow and ice, and what struck us as funny
+were the shingled roofs on the houses. But a very short time in Canada
+taught us that the Canadians knew more about how to live and do in
+their country than we did.
+
+What we wondered at most when we reached Halifax was, who were those
+swell-looking soldiers on the wharf with white facings on their
+overcoats and long swagger leather boots with queer-looking spurs on
+them. To our surprise and delight, on nearing the dock, we found they
+were the right wing of our own regiment, newly clothed, and the
+supposed spurs were only military ice-creepers.
+
+We settled down and anticipated a long stay in this garrison. The 62nd
+and 63rd were in quarters here when we arrived, but left for St. John,
+N.B., thus making room for the 16th Bedfordshire. We were quite pleased
+to meet with our old friends and comrades again, and our social
+intercourse was extremely pleasant. The city was crowded with all arms
+of the service which happened to be on the water when the United States
+yielded to Britain's demands. They were waiting orders to proceed to
+their destination, which they received, and moved to points in Quebec
+and Ontario, leaving a sufficient force necessary to garrison and
+defend Halifax.
+
+We were glad to find a splendid gymnasium, with library, reading and
+refreshment rooms, which were thoroughly appreciated and patronized.
+The weather was extremely cold, or we thought so. The "Bluenoses" would
+only smile when we complained of it, so we thought it advisable to
+become acclimatized as soon as possible. We formed skating clubs, and
+on the little lakes and any frozen space outside the city could be seen
+soldiers trying their best to keep their equilibrium, but they became
+fairly good acrobats before this was accomplished. Later we took to the
+North West Arm, where cricket and other games were played. We found
+this most invigorating and splendid pastime. During the winter we
+formed a society for the purpose of improving ourselves in literature.
+We had in the regiment John Smith, musketry instructor, and Sergeant
+George Smith. These were two educated and capable men, and offered to
+do all in their power for the advancement of this class. These brothers
+were also good actors, and trained us in theatricals, which became part
+of our lives.
+
+The married women and children were now on passage to join the
+battalion. In view of the reception for them the writer was appointed
+chairman of a committee to make arrangements and provide refreshments
+for their reception. Those who are interested are watching the signal
+station at the Citadel. The ship will be signaled at least two hours
+before she comes up the harbor. At last we are notified that the
+steamer with her precious cargo is in sight, the banqueting room is
+prepared and everything they could wish for is ready. All the cabs,
+hacks, etc., have been hired to convey the loved ones to their new
+home. They arrive in good health and spirits. The reception, which was
+a great success, was soon over, and the families repaired to their
+respective quarters. I received the thanks and best wishes of the
+ladies, who hoped I would have one of the best wives when I married.
+
+In the spring we prepared for our course of musketry, when the
+following paragraph appeared in regimental orders: "The commanding
+officer has been pleased to make the following promotions and
+appointments: Color-Sergeant Robert Gilbert to be quarter-master-sergeant,
+_vice_ Draycott, discharged. Sergeant E. G. Rundle to be color-sergeant,
+_vice_ Gilbert, promoted." I did not expect this promotion, for there
+were several sergeants my senior, and I would rather one of them were
+promoted, but I had no say in the matter. The commanding officer had
+made his choice and that ended it. The ordeal of meeting my comrades
+in the mess-room that night put me to the blush, and I will with all
+modesty repeat what was said on my meeting them: "Hurrah for Teddy!
+Here is our new color-sergeant. We are glad you got it, Teddy; you
+deserve it. For he's a jolly good fellow," etc.
+
+The rifle ranges are fourteen miles east of Dartmouth, a town opposite
+Halifax. We marched to Chobham camp, where the ranges are located, and
+spent two weeks to complete our course. We found the eastern passage a
+very pleasant part of Nova Scotia. After our duties were ended each
+day, we went boating, fishing, lobster catching and swimming.
+
+Our course was a decided success, and we returned to Halifax and
+resumed our usual duties. The American civil war was still in progress,
+and the city was generally in a state of excitement. There was much
+anxiety as to the battles being fought and the news that would be
+received for the next bulletin. Of course, both sides had their
+friends, and there were a great many Americans sojourning in the city.
+
+For many years outposts were established at points easily reached and
+accessible to the United States, to prevent deserters entering that
+country. The troops in garrison furnished the men to occupy these
+posts, and many a would-be deserter had been captured and returned to
+their respective corps. Our band, now among the best in H. M. service,
+gave concerts in the Horticultural Gardens, which were highly
+appreciated. We had an occasional field day, our strength being
+augmented by the addition of the two militia battalions and the naval
+brigade from the warships in the harbor. These parades were always
+enjoyed by the citizens.
+
+With extreme regret I had to part with my captain; he had received an
+appointment as staff officer of pensioners in Australia. I must inform
+the reader that the captain and color-sergeant are closely allied. The
+sergeant is the captain's secretary, and they confer when necessary on
+matters pertaining to the company's standing, etc. Captain John Hunter
+was succeeded by Captain William Robinson, who came to us from the 1st
+Battalion; he was a very young captain and also a handsome soldier. He
+served with his battalion in the Crimea. At the age of seventeen he was
+gazetted ensign and went to the front almost immediately. I said
+good-bye to Captain Hunter, and Lieutenant Gamble (who, I believe, was
+born and educated in the city of Toronto) took command of the company
+until the arrival of the new captain.
+
+As the winter approaches, drill ceases and we become active in the
+theatrical line. There has been added to the gymnasium a small theatre,
+where we shall hold our entertainments. The garrison is commanded by
+Major-General Sir Charles Hastings Doyle. He is a great friend of the
+soldier, and is always ready to do anything in his power for the
+enjoyment and pleasure of the troops. Captain Robinson arrives, and I
+meet one of the handsomest soldiers I have yet seen. He is young and
+fair, tall and commanding, and his unassumed dignity is in keeping with
+his handsome physique. He extends his hand and gives me a cordial
+greeting, saying he is pleased to meet me, and from what he has heard
+of me is glad that I am his color-sergeant.
+
+There were many entertainments given during the winter, which were
+often patronized by the general and his staff. Quadrille parties were
+held weekly by the regiments and corps in garrison. Invitations for
+these parties were general. These were delightful gatherings. We always
+had the best music, and the ladies of the city who attended were
+pleased at all times to be in the whirl with the gay young warriors.
+Our drills outside the gymnasium were bayonet, sword and route
+marching. The bandmaster during the winter organized an orchestra which
+was a great help to our entertainments.
+
+The summer of 1863 arrived and the usual set up drill, musketry course
+and other exercises were engaged in. George Island is situated in
+Halifax Harbor, and the fortifications were not in good shape if it
+were attacked. In order to place them in an absolute state of defence,
+the Royal Engineers were repairing and rebuilding the forts. To
+expedite the work, two companies of "G" and "H" were detailed to move
+to the island, the men to be employed on its work with extra pay. Being
+the senior sergeant, I acted as sergeant-major.
+
+The Fenians, it was said, were raising a fleet to bombard Halifax. The
+other ports received the same attention and were ready to receive these
+men and their fleet, but they did not come. In the summer of 1864 the
+two regiments exchanged quarters, the 16th moving from the Citadel to
+Wellington Barracks, and the 17th from Wellington to the Citadel. The
+anniversary of the tercentenary of Shakespeare was to be celebrated in
+this city on St. George's day. The St. George's Society prepared a
+public meeting in the afternoon, when an oration was given in honor of
+the great writer. A committee prepared a programme to be rendered by
+our society on the evening of the 23rd. We obtained permission from the
+general, and we did our best to head the list of the military
+contributions towards the monumental fund in London, England. The
+theatre being too small for this undertaking, we leased the Temperance
+Hall, largest in the city, and built our own stage. The programme was
+soon ready and contained the following, which was purely Shakespearean.
+An orchestra of thirty pieces played the overture and accompanied the
+several numbers. The Rialto, Bargain, and Trial scenes from the
+Merchant of Venice, four glees, a reading, and Locke's music to
+Macbeth's witches in character. Sergeant-Instructor Smith and his
+brother conducted the programme. No ladies took part. The characters
+were all male, John Smith taking the part of Portia, and his brother
+that of Shylock. Schoolmaster Ward made a good Antonio, Color-Sergeant
+Pix made a splendid Duke, while the writer took the part of Salarino.
+All the parts were well taken, being thoroughly rehearsed. A dancing
+master in the city loaned us all the costumes necessary. The oration of
+the St. George's Society was given at noon. Our entertainment was under
+the patronage of the lieutenant-governor and the general, who, with
+their respective staffs, were all present the night of the performance.
+The hall, which was a very large one, was filled to the doors. The
+performance commenced and continued to the end without a hitch. So well
+did it turn out we were obliged, by special request, to repeat it the
+following night, which was again a decided success. It was most
+gratifying to us that we headed the list of the military subscriptions.
+We found, after all expenses had been paid, five hundred dollars ($500)
+was available for the fund, which was immediately remitted to the
+secretary, and acknowledged by him through the London _Times_.
+
+It goes without saying that after our grand success in playing before
+the public such a programme that required the talent of old actors, we
+felt that we were a regiment of intelligence and culture, and we also
+considered that we had acquired a high state of proficiency in every
+department, that we were an important unit in H.M. vast army.
+
+I cannot proceed further without telling the reader that Colonel
+McKinstry and officers appreciated all we did and helped us in every
+possible way. The general was so much interested that he presented the
+sergeants with his likeness, with the inscription, "From your friend
+and general," and it was hung in a conspicuous place in the mess-room.
+I hope it is still to be seen in the sergeants' mess of the dear old
+regiment. It now fell to the lot of Sergeant-Instructor Smith to be
+honored. He was clever and took great pains, and was always delighted
+to have our social gatherings of the highest standard, and no doubt he
+took notice of the beauties of nature in this, to us, new country, and
+watched the coming forth and maturing of Nova Scotia's idol, the
+mayflower. He wrote a poem on this pretty little flower, and it was set
+to music by Drum-Major Gurney, and a quartette sang it before a large
+audience, who expressed themselves delighted with it. I can only
+remember two verses, which are as follows:
+
+    "Ere rude winter's crust of rime
+      Milder spring can soften;
+    Ere to greet the blither time
+      Robins warble often;
+    O'er the undulating wild,
+      Rising like a hardy child,
+    There the Mayflower sweet, unseen,
+    Spreads its leaves of glossy green.
+
+    "'Neath the lee of rubbly rocks
+      Snowy fragments linger,
+    Shedding tears that Phoebus mocks
+      With his fiery finger.
+    Tears that act as cheering showers,
+      Tears that cherish sweet mayflowers,
+    Till each little lilac bell
+    Breaks in beauty o'er the dell."
+
+This was another triumph for us. The Premier, Hon. Jos. Howe,
+complimented the writer, and added some graceful remarks. The general,
+too, and all friends of the regiment complimented Sergeant Smith on his
+beautiful poem.
+
+One of our best and most genial color-sergeants deserted. It was a
+great surprise to us to learn of Sergeant Josh. Topham's departure. It
+was said that he was disappointed in not having to fight the Yankees,
+for which purpose he was sent out, and thought he would step over and
+help the Confederates. He left the barracks, went into the city,
+changed his clothing, wearing a clergyman's suit and carrying a
+suitcase. He had to exercise great care to hide his identity. If
+detected, it would have been ten years' penal servitude. He took
+passage in a schooner which carried him to Boston, and when he wrote
+and told us all about it, he said his anxiety was relieved when the
+harbor was cleared. We often heard from our old comrade; he got along
+splendidly and was soon promoted to the rank of quartermaster.
+
+The battalion at this time was in a state of much anxiety; Captain
+Robinson was dangerously ill, and suffering from internal troubles. His
+death, which soon followed, was a great blow to me, as our relations
+were of the most pleasant character. His remains were interred in Point
+Pleasant Cemetery with full military honors, and the regiment mourned
+the loss of a good officer and soldier's friend. I was appointed
+assistant clerk in the brigade office. Sergeant-Major Forbes, late of
+the 62nd Regiment, was the senior clerk, but before I entered upon my
+duties I acted as secretary to a committee of officers who had charge
+of the late Captain Robinson's effects. Some of these were sent to his
+friends in England, the balance were sold.
+
+I found my work brought me in touch with the Horse Guards and War
+Office, which proved to be of much service to me in after years.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+
+A negro rebellion had broken out in Jamaica; many had been killed and
+much property destroyed. The 6th Regiment was quartered at Newcastle,
+and one of the West India regiments at Port Royal, but these were
+unable to restore order. General Doyle received a telegram asking for
+a regiment to be dispatched at once to assist in quelling the
+rebellion. The 17th was immediately placed under orders to proceed to
+Port Royal. It was arranged that we go in two ships, the right to
+embark on H.M.S. _Duncan_, under the command of Colonel McKinstry; the
+left wing in H.M.S. _Sphinx_, a gun-boat.
+
+The morning for the embarking of the right wing had arrived and the
+scene on the wharf at the dockyard was painful. The wives and children
+of the departing troops were present, as was the general and staff.
+The brigade-major (Captain Stokes, 16th Bedfordshires) read aloud the
+latest dispatches from Jamaica, which caused much anxiety as to
+whether all would return again. The embarking of the troops completed
+and good-byes exchanged, the _Duncan_ left for her destination. The
+left wing of the regiment, under command of Major Colthurst, embarked
+on the _Sphinx_.
+
+A fatal accident occurred as our ship was clearing the harbor. Peter
+Jackson, "B" Company, venturing too far out on the bulkhead, was washed
+overboard. There was a heavy sea running at the time, and poor Jackson
+was soon lost sight of; there was no chance of saving him.
+
+Lieutenant Rolph was appointed adjutant, and the writer orderly room
+clerk. It was October and the weather was beautiful. We found we were
+handicapped regarding quarters. The ship was so small we could not find
+sufficient room in which to swing our hammocks. When we arrived in a
+warmer climate we took our blankets on deck and slept there, but the
+men were not allowed on the quarter-deck.
+
+Captain Hamilton was commanding the ship, and I asked his permission
+for the men to occupy the quarter-deck. He referred me to Major
+Colthurst. I saw him and promised that for the privilege we would sing
+glees, part songs, etc., while the officers were at mess each evening.
+We had the use of the deck during the remainder of the voyage. We had a
+very pleasant run for three days, when we reached Bermuda.
+
+The steamer went to her dock at Boaz Island for the purpose of coaling,
+and remained three days. We enjoyed the opportunity of visiting the
+several islands and places of interest. On resuming our voyage we
+arrived at Port Royal about midnight--four days later. It was a
+magnificent night as we steamed in under the lofty Blue Mountains. We
+anchored, and were soon visited by a lieutenant and boat's crew from
+the guard ship, who reported that quiet had been restored and in all
+probability our fighting services would not be required. Our men were
+quite disappointed in not having an opportunity of chastising the
+negroes for their insolence.
+
+There was no barrack accommodation at Port Royal and we were
+transferred to the receiving ship _Aboukir_, and awaited a transport
+to take us back to Halifax. The weather was very hot, but we had
+plenty of room under the great awning that covered the upper deck. We
+were taken to the bathing grounds twice a week at 5 a.m. They supplied
+us with coffee and light lunch. We enjoyed the gentle breeze that came
+up generally in the afternoon. When the ripple on the water was
+observed the men shouted, "The doctor is coming!" and the boatswain's
+whistle was heard calling the hands to the capstan to swing the ship
+broadside to get the zephyr as much as possible to enter the
+port-holes of the monster. Commodore Smyth read the prayers on Sunday.
+The services were held on the quarter-deck with good singing.
+
+The crew of H.M.S. _Bulldog_ had been added to the already large
+family of the _Aboukir_, but there was plenty of accommodation for
+them.
+
+I must inform the reader of the experience of this crew. It appears
+that while a mail steamer carrying the British flag was passing a
+Haytian fort she was fired upon. On arriving at Port Royal the captain
+reported the circumstance to Commodore Smyth, who immediately ordered
+the _Bulldog_ to go down and investigate. The captain informed the
+authorities of his business, but they would not confer with him or any
+of his officers, and instead fired on the ship. The _Bulldog_ at once
+opened fire on the forts, but it was soon discovered that the
+navigating lieutenant had run the ship on a sand bar, at once becoming
+a target for the Haytians. Captain Wake took in the situation and
+concluded that his charge was lost, and in order to save his crew
+summoned them to the quarter-deck, where he proposed that they abandon
+the ship and blow her up. This was agreed to. Boats were lowered and
+supplied with provisions, etc., and a train laid and connected with
+the magazine. When all was ready the train was ignited; the boats
+moved away and were out of danger when the explosion took place. The
+men saw their ship sink, and all they had to remind them of the
+circumstances was a bulldog's head, the same being the figurehead of
+the ship. The boatswain and several seamen were killed by the Haytian
+fire. The lost vessel was a gunboat, and her crew would not be more
+than 150. These were not long in their boats, but were rescued by
+passing ships and brought to Port Royal and placed on board the
+_Aboukir_. The captain, navigating lieutenant and paymaster were
+placed under arrest.
+
+The frigate _Galatea_, Captain McGuire, arrived at the port. This was
+the ship that H.R.H. Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh went around the
+world in. She was to take us back to Halifax. Previous to that she
+went to Hayti to see what could be done with these people for
+insulting the British flag. She soon destroyed the batteries,
+returning to Port Royal, and after coaling embarked us for Halifax.
+
+After the arrival of the crew of the _Bulldog_, Major Colthurst
+permitted me to assist the paymaster in preparing the evidence,
+statements, and other documents in connection with the loss of the
+_Bulldog_ for transmission to England.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+
+After this we were transferred to the _Galatea_ and sailed for
+Halifax. The right wing left a few days before us on H.M.S. _Aurora_.
+
+We had on board as prisoners the captain and two officers of the
+_Bulldog_ en route for England, where they were to be tried by
+court-martial for the loss of their ship. After a seven days' voyage
+we arrived in Halifax a few days before Christmas and found the
+temperature below zero, after leaving one 95 degrees above. However,
+we had smiling faces to meet us, and the band was down to welcome us
+back to our old quarters again. No casualties occurred while we were
+absent except poor Jackson's drowning.
+
+After handing over the books and papers in connection with the orderly
+room, I resumed my duties at the brigade office. We intended to present
+Dickens' Christmas Carol, Scrooge and Marley, but in consequence of our
+trip to the West Indies it was postponed until the coming Easter. The
+play was dramatized by Sergeant Smith; the characters had been cast and
+rehearsed before we left. The general inspected the regiment and found
+it in the very best condition; the drill was excellent, and the
+interior economy all that could be desired. Sir Charles complimented
+the battalion on their conduct and the manner in which the expedition
+was carried out.
+
+About this time Sergeant Roe, of "K" Company, a most intelligent
+N.C.O., was calling the roll at tattoo. Pte. E. Welsh had answered his
+name, and being under the influence of liquor, was creating a
+disturbance. The sergeant ordered him to bed, but he did not obey.
+Again he was ordered to do so. Instead he drew his bayonet and made a
+dash for the sergeant, who escaped to the corridor, followed by Welsh.
+He overtook the sergeant at the end of the passage and thrust the
+bayonet into his side. Welsh was immediately overpowered and taken to
+the cells. Sergeant Roe was taken to his room, and a surgeon was soon
+on the spot, dressed the wound and had the patient removed to hospital.
+The wound was not a serious one. The next day the prisoner Welsh was
+arraigned before the commanding officer for wounding with intent to
+kill. The colonel could not deal with the case, only to make
+application for a general court-martial, which was immediately done.
+
+I will describe in detail the court that tried this case. The
+application, which was sent direct to the general, contained the
+charge, evidence, and the prisoner's previous character, with any
+remarks the commanding officer thought fit to make. A general
+court-martial is the highest tribunal. The president and members of the
+court are drawn from the several corps in garrison. The adjutant of the
+prisoner's corps was the prosecuting officer, but for this, the highest
+court, a judge advocate was appointed, who conducted the case for the
+Crown. This was Colonel Ansell, of the general's staff. When the
+general approved of the application the following orders issued from
+the brigade office:
+
+    "A general court-martial will assemble for the trial of Pte. E.
+    Welsh, 2nd Battalion, 17th Regiment, and such other prisoners as
+    may be brought before it.
+
+                     President, Colonel Gordon, R.A.
+
+                              Members:
+
+             Royal Artillery      1 Captain, 2 Subalterns.
+             Royal Engineers      1 Captain, 2 Subalterns.
+             2-16 Regiment        2 Capt'ns, 2 Subalterns.
+             2-17 Regiment        2 Capt'ns, 2 Subalterns.
+
+    The prisoner to be warned and all evidence ordered to attend."
+
+Pte. Welsh was tried before this court for stabbing Sergeant Roe, was
+found guilty and sentenced to penal servitude for life. It was a long
+time before Sergeant Roe recovered from the effects of the wound.
+
+At Easter we presented to the public Dickens' Christmas Carol, Scrooge
+and Marley, which had been postponed. Sergeant Smith had written a
+musical libretto, of which I remember the following:
+
+    "When we were for this preparing
+      Late last fall,
+    Neither time nor trouble sparing
+      To please you all,
+    Zounds! these niggers raised the shindies,
+    Cracking crowns and court-house windies,
+    Sent us sharp to the West Indies,
+      Late last fall."
+
+It was a decided success, and several hundreds of dollars were handed
+over to the charitable institutions of the city.
+
+The memorable year, 1866, dawned over Canada, and much trouble and
+excitement was predicted. The Fenians were preparing for an invasion of
+St. Andrews, N.B., and the general, for the better protection of the
+citizens, had issued orders that a battery of artillery, a company of
+engineers, with the 2nd Battalion, 17th Regiment, be held in readiness
+to proceed to St. Andrews as soon as transport was available. We did
+not expect anything but a fizzle. However, it was a change, and, I may
+say, a picnic.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+
+We embarked on H.M.S. _Duncan_. On reaching St. Andrews we disembarked
+and marched to a large warehouse, where we made our home for a few weeks.
+The general and staff accompanied the expedition. I was a brigade clerk,
+and Sergeant Woffenden clerk in the quartermaster-general's department.
+
+The troops' duties were light. The Charlotte militia were embodied and
+did outpost duty. I was kept busy making out orders and instructions
+for the establishing of new posts to watch the movements of the
+Fenians, who assembled in large numbers on the opposite side of the
+River St. Croix. There was a strong military police force established
+to prevent strangers coming to town. Rooms in the Hackett Hotel were
+leased for headquarters officers, and so things sailed along quietly
+until Sergeant Cashin, in charge of the police force, caught a Fenian
+in the act of enticing one of our men to desert and join his army. The
+general could not deal with this case, it being a civil one. He was
+brought before the police magistrate, who fined him $100 and costs. But
+with all the watching we lost several men.
+
+The last excitement and the expectancy of fighting arrived. The 17th
+had posted a line of sentries along the river's bank for a considerable
+distance. In the middle of the night the sentries on the extreme flank
+of the outpost saw lights of varied colors which they thought were
+ships signaling to each other and approaching the shore. They came to
+the conclusion it was a Fenian fleet, and sent the alarm along to the
+reserve of the picket. The officer in command ordered the bugler to
+sound the alarm, which was repeated by the bugler on guard at the
+regimental headquarters.
+
+This was the first time since the battalion was formed such excitement
+occurred. The men certainly put into practice what they had been taught
+for the supposed battle that awaited them, for in fifteen minutes the
+regiment was on parade, equipped, and having forty rounds of
+ammunition, were ready for the fray. The other corps in garrison were
+on parade and ready to move. The whole town was aroused. The Charlotte
+militia was under arms and anxious to give battle to the Fenians. The
+general and his staff were on parade (mounted). Brigade-Major Stokes
+and Captain Clarke, A.D.C., made good use of their horses. They
+galloped hither and thither, giving orders to the commanding officers
+as to positions they were to occupy. The general addressed the troops
+and bid them be steady and courageous. Daylight was near and the fog on
+the river was lifting, when the artillery was ordered to move and take
+up their position. The 17th extended a line of skirmishers to cover
+their advance as they moved to the points of defence. There was now
+sufficient light for us to see the ships, which to our great
+disappointment proved to be fishing craft. We were dismissed, and felt
+sorry not to win a battle to add to the many on our regimental colors.
+
+After five weeks on the frontier and the Fenians giving no trouble,
+orders were issued to furnish a guard of honor to General Meade, of
+Gettysburg fame, who commanded in Maine and was making a visit to Sir
+Charles Doyle at the headquarters of the garrison. It was a gala day in
+St. Andrews. General Meade and staff arrived and were met at the wharf
+by General Doyle. The guard of honor presented arms, the band playing
+the salute. General Meade inspected the guard and then repaired to
+headquarters. They held a conference and came to a decision as to the
+movements of the Fenians. A general parade was ordered for the next
+day. The troops paraded in the morning, all the citizens that could
+possibly be present being there.
+
+The general addressed the soldiers and also the citizens, and assured
+them that the conference was satisfactory; the United States Government
+would prevent any unlawful conduct or annoyance to the town of St.
+Andrews by the Fenians, and General Doyle could withdraw his troops at
+any time he desired. The people were pleased that the United States had
+taken such a stand, and would look to General Meade for the fulfilment
+of this promise.
+
+Orders had been dispatched to Major Heigham, commanding a detachment
+of two companies at St. Stephens, and of which Lieutenant Dywer was
+acting adjutant, to return to headquarters and embark for Halifax. The
+troopship had arrived and we were to embark on the morrow. Two men of
+the 17th had arranged to desert that night. They answered their names
+at tattoo, afterwards breaking out of barracks and getting into a
+rowboat at the wharf for the purpose of crossing the river. They must
+have forgotten that H.M.S. _Wolverine_ was anchored in the river. The
+boatman, however, rowed out and all looked safe. Presently the
+sentry--for they were near the ship--called, "Who goes there?" The
+officer in command of the guard ordered a boat lowered and captured
+the would-be deserters. Their names were Lavin and Cass. They were
+immediately returned to the regiment and placed in the guard room. The
+conduct of the regiment had been excellent during its stay in St.
+Andrews, and we regretted this incident on our departure. The general
+was determined to have these two men tried and sentenced before we
+embarked at 10 a.m. the following day. This meant a busy time for me.
+I had to prepare all the documents, issue orders as to the convening
+of the court, etc. The court assembled, the prisoners were tried,
+found guilty, and the proceedings made known to them and the garrison
+when the troops paraded for embarkation. The sentence was five years'
+penal servitude.
+
+We now sailed for Halifax, arriving the next day. We disembarked from
+the _Tamer_, and took up our quarters in Wellington barracks, the time
+being near June. Sergeant-Major Jackson retired on a well-earned
+pension, and my youth was the only objection to my being his
+successor. Color-Sergeant Green, who was transferred to the battalion
+on its formation from the 36th Regiment, a very smart soldier, was
+promoted sergeant-major.
+
+We received orders to be in readiness to proceed to Toronto, relieving
+the 47th Regiment, and were to have another trip on the _Duncan_. We
+embarked for Quebec, and on arriving there were transferred to the
+lake steamers which conveyed us to Toronto, where we took up quarters
+in the old fort vacated by the 47th. The latter proceeded to Halifax,
+taking the place of the 17th in that garrison. We had been quartered
+in Halifax for nearly five years. Quite a number of our men married
+there, and it was with profound regret that we had to move. Our social
+intercourse and friendly feelings toward the citizens and garrison at
+large were all that could be desired.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+
+On arriving in Toronto the battalion was divided. Headquarters and four
+companies were quartered in the old Parliament buildings, four
+companies in King Street barracks. The Fenian prisoners were confined
+in the old jail, and the regiment mounted a guard there every day, and
+when the trial commenced furnished an escort to conduct the prisoners
+to and from the jail to the court-house until the trial was over. We
+received the medal and land grant.
+
+With the two corps forming the Toronto garrison, viz., the Royal
+Artillery, stationed in the new fort, and the 13th Hussars in the
+Exhibition buildings, we soon became acquainted, and fraternized with
+our new comrades.
+
+Lieutenant Rolph was appointed adjutant, _vice_ Ross, appointed
+paymaster; Color-Sergeant Coe was appointed sergeant-major, _vice_
+Green, reverted to sergeant. The commanding officer was pleased to
+appoint me instructor and lecturer in the Military School, which
+position I held during the two years the battalion was quartered in
+the city. About two hundred cadets were under instruction when I
+entered upon my duties. A good many were Toronto gentlemen who had
+just returned from the front, and it was quite interesting to hear
+them relate their experiences while fighting the Fenians.
+
+I soon found I had some good material to work with; they were full of
+military enthusiasm and were anxious to graduate and get away in order
+to educate the recruit and fit him to defend his home and country.
+
+Generally the cadets gave a good account of their training. I was
+always interested in reading the despatches from South Africa, or
+reports from the Militia Department, when the names of any would appear
+relating to their duties, etc.; for instance, Colonel S. B. Steele, who
+obtained a first-class certificate. How proud we are of his valuable
+services to his country and empire. Mr. J. L. Hughes, Chief Inspector
+of Public Schools, Toronto, has made good use of his military education
+in having the very best drilled school cadets on the continent. His
+brothers, Colonel John and Colonel Sam Hughes, also qualified at the
+school.
+
+Senator Kirchhoffer while qualifying took great interest in the school
+field sports, being a splendid cricketer; the Senator's football team
+would often meet the law students and any of the city teams that would
+put up a game. The writer was also fond of cricket.
+
+Through the kindness of Colonel Steele, who applied to the department
+at Ottawa for a list of the names of the cadets who graduated during
+my two years' instruction, Major Winters, D.A.G., ordered a list to be
+prepared, and subsequently I received a roll containing 850 names. I
+was extremely pleased to look over the names of these gentlemen, whom,
+with few exceptions, I had not seen or heard of for forty years. I saw
+an account of the death of Professor Cherriman, who died in London,
+England; he was a cadet and was captain of the University company at
+the time. I also met Mr. F. Yokome, editor of the Peterboro' _Examiner_,
+and it was a pleasant meeting. I remember the present Judge Ermatinger
+and Chief Justice Strong, recently deceased, who were among the boys;
+also Colonel Ward, Port Hope; Colonel Farewell, Whitby, and Colonel
+Walker, who was Colonel Steele's school chum, and now commands the
+15th Light Horse, with headquarters at Calgary, and others now very
+prominent in Canadian affairs.
+
+In May, 1868, we received orders to embark for the Old Country, and on
+the 15th we sailed from the Queen's Wharf, touching at Kingston to
+take on two companies which were on detachment, and continued our
+passage to Quebec, where we were transferred to the Allan liner
+_Moravian_. This was the best trip we had yet made. We had plenty of
+room, good food, and the men were allowed to smoke any time they
+wished.
+
+We disembarked at Kingston, Ireland, and left at once for Dublin to
+occupy the Royal barracks. I again resumed my duties as drill
+instructor. We were considerably under the strength, having left a
+large number of men in Ontario. The recruiting sergeants were at their
+respective stations, busy sending us all the men they could enlist, and
+we got some fine big fellows. A general election was about to take
+place and the regiment was under orders to move to any town or district
+where polling was to take place, to assist the constabulary in keeping
+order and such duties.
+
+We received reports of rioting and bloodshed. As voters were going to
+and from the polling places the troops lined the streets all day long.
+In one case a civilian threw a brick at a 6th Lancer, who made a thrust
+with his lance at the thrower and killed him. The soldier was arrested
+but subsequently released. The election over, the regiment returned to
+quarters none the worse for its experience, especially when they had to
+tackle the wild Irishmen. It was deemed expedient that four companies,
+including the recruits, be sent to Mullingar. It was a day's journey
+from Dublin, and we enjoyed the lovely country we passed through en
+route. We found the barracks beautifully situated, lots of room, a
+well-kept drill ground which always interested the writer, and a
+garrison church within the precincts.
+
+We had quite a number of the members of our literary society with us,
+and we were able during the winter to give our usual entertainments,
+to which we invited the citizens whenever they felt disposed. A
+friendship between the soldiers and citizens was soon established,
+which made our stay in Mullingar extremely pleasant and not easily
+forgotten. In May we were placed under orders to move, but the section
+was not mentioned. We embarked at Kingston and proceeded to Jersey
+Island. It was a beautiful morning when we embarked on H.M.S.
+_Crocodile_. We arrived after a pleasant run across the channel at St.
+Heliers, which was to be our headquarters. Four companies were to stay
+here, two at Guernsey, two at Alderney, and two at St. Peter's, which
+was ten miles from St. Heliers.
+
+In consequence of the hard and constant work on the drill ground, the
+commanding officer, noticing that I had failed and was not looking as
+well as he would like to see me, ordered me to proceed with two
+companies to St. Peter's to recuperate, and also appointed me
+schoolmaster of the detachment and my wife schoolmistress. I was not to
+do any other duties till further orders. I soon had my school organized
+and in working order. The schoolroom was large and well ventilated. It
+stood on five acres of playground. My pupils consisted of about seventy
+children of various ages belonging to our own men. There were some
+thirty men who could not read or write. We had volunteer classes. I had
+an assistant, while my wife attended to the industrial department.
+School hours were from nine to twelve, and from one-thirty to four.
+This was quite a change for the better. I remained in this office till
+the regiment moved.
+
+One death occurred at our detachment. Our bathing grounds were about
+one and a half miles from the barracks and we always bathed in the
+early morning. Four strong and good swimmers were detailed as a picket,
+remaining on the beach ready to rescue anyone in danger. When the tide
+is receding the current is very strong. We therefore knew it was
+dangerous to swim too far out. The officer in charge always directed
+the bugler to sound the retire when he considered there was danger for
+the swimmer to proceed farther. One morning Drum-Major Fielding, in
+company with Private Charles Dunkley, started to swim out. They kept
+together for some time. The bugler sounded the retire and Fielding
+obeyed the call, but Dunkley continued. When the drum-major arrived at
+the beach he was almost exhausted, and said he did not think that
+Dunkley, who was now trying to get back, would ever reach the beach
+unless there was help sent to him. The picket was at once sent to his
+assistance. While the men were reaching him he was drifting farther
+out. When they got to him he was helpless and sinking, and at last poor
+Dunkley sank to rise no more, and it was with difficulty the men
+returned to the beach.
+
+Near by stands Elizabeth Castle, on a little island which can be
+reached on dry land when the tide is out. The body drifted on the rocks
+around the castle and was discovered by the men within half an hour
+after he sank. In the meantime I had gone to barracks and informed the
+doctor of the sad affair, who immediately went to the beach and did all
+in his power to resuscitate the lifeless form, but to no avail. The
+body was taken to the morgue at the barracks and finally interred with
+military honors in the little churchyard at St. Peter's. We erected a
+beautiful stone over the grave in memory of our departed comrade.
+
+There was a small barracks about three miles from St. Peter's and a
+rifle range where we went to do our musketry course. The companies at
+St. Heliers also used this place.
+
+In 1870 we received the news that France had declared war against
+Germany and was fighting already. The people of the island were much
+concerned over the matter. They were mostly French, and were, of
+course, anxious that their countrymen be victorious in the battles they
+were about to fight.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+
+We now received orders to prepare to embark on the troopship
+_Euphrates_ for Portsmouth en route for Aldershot. At Portsmouth we
+entrained for Aldershot, and on arrival marched to the same grounds we
+occupied eleven years ago. We were again attached to the reserve
+brigade. After the season closed we removed to the barracks. About
+this time the purchase system was abolished, and officers could get a
+commission without paying for it, and those who had paid for it got
+their money back.
+
+We were sorry to lose Colonel McKinstry, who had commanded us for the
+last ten years. He always took a deep interest in the regiment, and did
+all in his power to make us comfortable and happy, and kept the corps
+in a high state of excellence. Lieutenant-Colonel Brice assumed
+command. He served with the 1st Battalion in the Crimea, and was a
+strict disciplinarian but a popular officer. The first act of the
+colonel's disposition toward criminals was to recommend the pardon of
+Private Welsh, who was mentioned in this book as having stabbed
+Sergeant Roe in the barracks at Halifax, and as being sentenced to
+penal servitude for life.
+
+The autumn manoeuvres lasted sixteen days. Forty thousand men were to
+engage in a sham fight. Our brigade consisted of 2nd Battalion of 17th
+Regiment, Tower Hamlets militia and a London volunteer battalion known
+as the "Devil's Own"--they were lawyers. This regiment came swinging up
+the road, the band, which was a splendid one, playing a familiar tune.
+They marched in quarter column, halted, piled arms, and immediately
+proceeded to pitch tents and prepare the camp for a two days' stay. The
+whole brigade looked on and were astonished at the smartness of the
+volunteers in this part of their drills and exercises, and indeed,
+afterwards we found nothing wanting in their field work.
+
+Several sham battles were fought and many long and tedious marches
+endured. Her Majesty the Queen and members of the Royal family came
+down to witness the march past of the two armies who had been engaged
+in the sham fights. The strength was 45,000 all ranks.
+
+We returned to barracks to spend the winter, which passed away without
+incident. The regiment moved to Salisbury Plains, took part in the
+autumn manoeuvres, and at their close proceeded to Plymouth to occupy
+the Citadel. We met the 100th Regiment in Aldershot. It occupied the
+centre block with the 94th, and, if I remember rightly, Colonel
+Grasett, chief of police, Toronto, was then adjutant of the corps.
+
+And now, after many roving years, we were back again at the old spot
+where our kindergarten days were spent. Twelve years had passed since
+we left and many changes had occurred. True, we earned no honors for
+the colors, but we were always ready when the alarm sounded, and
+returned with an excellent record. We found Colonel Brice a splendid
+commanding officer, always ready to help the regiment in any way toward
+their comfort and happiness. The colonel was pleased to appoint me
+librarian. We had a splendid regimental library, also a garrison
+library, where we could draw and exchange books quarterly.
+
+The next three years were spent in this garrison. We were doing duty
+with an occasional field day or route march.
+
+In the fall of 1873, my wife, who was a trained nurse and a native of
+Halifax, was taken ill with phthisis, and the following summer I was
+informed that she could not live. It was her ardent wish to be taken to
+her home to die, and although there was promotion before me, I
+forfeited the balance of my service toward pension and took my
+discharge. In June, 1874, she finished her last earthly journey when we
+arrived at her home in Halifax. She died nine days after our arrival.
+In the presence of her mother and sister she passed away, loved by all,
+and in the hope of a blessed resurrection.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+
+I was awarded one shilling twopence per day pension. Being a civilian
+again and relying on my military experience and knowledge of physical
+culture, I went to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and spent the
+winter with ex-Sergeant Campbell, who was a dear old comrade and is now
+a merchant. The following summer I returned to Halifax, and during the
+early part of July General Laurie was enlisting recruits for the
+provisional battalion at Winnipeg, and deputed me to conduct them to
+that city.
+
+Accordingly, on the 3rd of August, 1875, with forty men in charge, we
+left en route for Fredericton, N.B., where we added several men to our
+contingent and continued our journey. We stayed overnight at the
+Franklin House, Bangor, Me. We stopped four hours at Montreal, and next
+arrived at Sarnia. We camped a week at Point Edward waiting the lake
+steamer. One morning while at drill a stranger approached me, who
+turned out to be ex-Private Patrick Sharket, employed as a signal-man
+on the G.T.R. He heard my voice in the distance, and he knew it was
+"Teddy's," so he told me after. Sharket was a smart and good soldier.
+He served in the Crimea, and while the regiment was quartered in
+Toronto, 1867, obtained his discharge and took employment with the
+Grand Trunk Railway, but had not been working long when he met with an
+accident which caused the loss of his left hand. The company kept him
+in their service. It was eight years since we met.
+
+We had a beautiful trip, reaching Thunder Bay on Friday afternoon. We
+had to stay there overnight, and occupied the emigrant sheds. That
+night I had to look up a doctor, as some of our men were sick, but by
+Sunday morning they were much better. We met a R.C. missionary who was
+on his way to the Height of Land to take charge of an Indian reserve.
+He was excellent company and kept the contingent alive by his funny
+stories. After breakfast the following morning we proceeded to Lake
+Shebandowan by wagons over the Dawson route, a road made by the troops
+under the command of Sir Garnet Wolseley on their way to the
+North-West, 1870. We halted about half way and had our dinner. It
+consisted of ham and beans, bread and tea; it was splendidly cooked and
+well served by half-breeds.
+
+We arrived at the lake and found a woman and a man in charge of the
+post. It had been headquarters for the surveyors in that section and
+used also for emigrants who chose to go that way. We were on the banks
+of a charming little lake. The opposite shores are picturesque with
+their tall poplars and oaks frequented by thousands of wild pigeons.
+The lake abounded with fish. The men took out the Government boats and
+caught a quantity of pike sufficient for breakfast the following day.
+The R.C. priest had sufficient paraphernalia with him to erect an
+altar, and invited the contingent to mass Sunday morning. Nearly all
+the men attended, and there were also quite a number of outsiders at
+the pleasant service. In the morning, after another breakfast of pike,
+a small steamer conveyed us to the Height of Land. The mosquitoes now
+got in their work and deprived us of some of the fluid which gives us
+life. Although we got a lotion to rub on our hands and faces it did not
+prevent them from biting. The chief and many Indians were there to meet
+the reverend father.
+
+After nearly a month's travel over lakes, rivers and portages we
+arrived at St. Boniface. On a Sunday morning we crossed the Red River
+on the ferry and at once paraded and marched to Fort Osborne. I
+reported to the officer on duty, and the men were quartered
+temporarily. Next day the contingent paraded and was inspected by
+Colonel Osborne Smith, D.A.G., and posted to their respective
+companies, and during the day received their kits and clothing. Shortly
+after our arrival I was appointed garrison sergeant-major, which
+position I held till the battalion was disbanded two years later.
+Lieutenant Hayter Reed was the adjutant. I now had to work with Mr.
+Reed in putting the battalion in the best possible order. Quite a
+change in the drill had taken place but had not been put into practice.
+This had to be done and other reforms were necessary, and with the
+permission of the commanding officer, I commenced to put the corps in a
+better state of discipline and drill. After a few months the regiment
+was a credit to the Dominion forces.
+
+I found, however, they had never been instructed in musketry, and a
+soldier is useless if he can't shoot. I asked the colonel's permission
+to put them through a course of musketry, which he was pleased to
+grant, and selected a site for the ranges a few miles outside of St.
+Boniface. I put the battalion through up to 600 yards; the course was
+carried out according to the school of musketry regulations, and I
+rendered all the returns in manuscript, the report showing fair average
+shooting. There was a band of twenty under Bandmaster Harry Walker,
+late of the Imperial 7th Fusiliers. It was in good shape and kept busy,
+for bands were scarce in the city at that time. We gave entertainments
+at the fort occasionally. There was excellent talent among the men and
+it was always put to good use. The bandmaster was always ready to help
+us in every way possible. A most pleasing incident took place during
+the winter. Sergeant-Major Steele, N.W.M.P., returning from leave of
+absence, and passing through Winnipeg, called on his friend Adjutant
+Reed, and during their conversation asked Mr. Reed who his
+sergeant-major was. Mr. Reed replied that it was ex-Color-Sergeant
+Rundle.
+
+"Why," said Sergeant-Major Steele, "that's my old drill instructor;
+please send for him."
+
+An orderly came to my room and said that Mr. Reed would like to see me.
+I went to the adjutant's quarters, where I met an old pupil of the
+Military School, Toronto, 1867. We were both pleased to meet and had a
+good old chat about the times past and future. The sergeant-major
+obtained a first class certificate at this time, and we all know what
+brilliant services Colonel Steele has rendered to the Empire,
+especially in South Africa.
+
+Some months later I received an offer to become musketry instructor to
+the Mounted Police. I declined because I could not ride a horse.
+
+I had many friends in Winnipeg. Amongst them was Rev. Mr. Fortin, All
+Saints, now a bishop; Rev. Mr. Matheson, Manitoba College, now bishop
+and Primate of Canada, who married Miss Fortin, the bishop's sister (I
+sang at the wedding); Rev. Mr. German, Grace Methodist Church, of whose
+choir I was a member; the late Colonel William N. Kennedy, of
+distinguished Nile memory, who was also a member of the choir. The late
+Mrs. Chambers, formerly of Peterboro', was the organist. I can say with
+much delight that my acquaintances and associations during the two
+years were fraught with much pleasantness and reciprocated kindness.
+
+The N.W.M. Police, having been thoroughly established, was sufficient
+protection against attacks from Indians or half-breeds; therefore, on
+the 3rd of August, 1877, the battalion was disbanded, each man
+receiving a grant of 160 acres of land for his services. A good many
+remained in the country. Others went to their homes in the East.
+
+I was now engaged in organizing single companies, making my
+headquarters at Emerson. A company was raised in Winnipeg under the
+command of Captain C. W. Allen and Lieutenant Killer. I spent another
+two years in perfect enjoyment with the good people of Emerson, and
+assisted in every way to build up this young town. I made my home with
+Mr. and Mrs. Hooper and family, who resided on the west side of the
+river, opposite Emerson.
+
+One lovely evening in August Mr. Thos. Hooper, Jr., with his young
+bride, came over to spend the evening. It was near midnight, the ferry
+had stopped running, and I offered to row Mrs. Hooper over in my skiff
+and return for her husband and a gentleman friend. We were passing
+where the ferry was moored, and Mrs. Hooper, reaching to seize the end
+of the ferry, lost her balance and fell into the river and sank. I
+immediately sprang to the rescue and succeeded in bringing her to
+shore.
+
+The fall was approaching and I made up my mind to visit my friends in
+the East. My Emerson friends having learned of my intentions, Mr.
+Carney, who was to be first mayor of the town, offered me the office of
+clerk if I remained, but my arrangements had been made and I could not
+cancel them. I was invited by the citizens to meet them in Library Hall
+the night previous to my departure. A programme had been prepared, the
+band was present and played my old favorites. During the evening Mr.
+Fairbank, J.P., read an address regretting my departure from the town,
+and also presented me with a handsome purse.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+
+The following morning, November 9th, 1879, I left Emerson for London,
+Ontario. Arriving in London I repaired to the home of Mr. and Mrs.
+Johnson, the parents of Mrs. Thomas Hooper, whom I rescued from
+drowning in the Red River, and was invited to make my home with them
+while in London. I was also invited to visit the Sunday School, Pall
+Mall Church, in which Mrs. Hooper had been a teacher, and tell them how
+Mrs. Hooper fell into the river and how I saved her from drowning. I
+received a hearty vote of thanks, and all were delighted that their
+dear teacher was well and happy.
+
+The following spring I went East, visiting my friends and relatives in
+the township of Reach and Durham County. While visiting Port Hope I met
+the late Colonel Williams, who subsequently became a sincere friend of
+mine, and in 1882 I was appointed drill instructor at Trinity College
+school. Having no gymnasium, my work was confined to military drill.
+There was a well-equipped cadet corps officered by the teachers. A very
+sad accident occurred during the summer holidays. Mr. Selby Allen, son
+of Chancellor Allen, Toronto, a student at the school, was drowned near
+Brockville. Mr. Allen was a splendid athlete and a fine cricketer.
+
+In 1887 I was appointed gymnastic and drill instructor to the
+Collegiate Institute, Peterboro'. I held this office for eleven years.
+
+Nothing gives me greater pleasure in writing this book than to relate
+the pleasant and profitable eleven years I spent in the physical
+education of the students of the Collegiate Institute and Central
+Public School, and also the convent. I say _profitably_ because the
+majority of those who obtained the several courses of instruction are
+to-day pursuing their professions and vocations able to meet the
+physical endurance of their calling, and all I have met since my
+retirement nine years ago I found to be specimens of the highest type
+of physical maturity and invariably athletes. There are at present
+three doctors practising in this city (Toronto), three teachers in the
+public schools, and one in Trinity University, and all are of the same
+type.
+
+I am pleased to say that the physique of the ladies also whom I have
+met is all that could be desired. Neither have they forgotten the
+graceful bearing they were taught. I also had large private classes,
+both ladies and gentlemen, who were thoroughly trained by the system I
+introduced.
+
+When my appointment was made in the fall, 1887, there was no gymnasium,
+and the Board of Education the following summer built a very fine one.
+It was equipped the same as the Oxford University gymnasium, and the
+system was that used by Professor McLaren. The High School Inspectors,
+Messrs. Seath and Hodgson, agreed with me that it was the best. Their
+reports were always satisfactory, and often special mention was made of
+the progress and development of the pupils.
+
+I was always an enthusiastic lover of physical training, and it was
+good to me to meet or see my pupils on the street, in the parks or
+public places of the city, not forgetting their dignity, graceful
+bearing, elastic and uniform step and perfect carriage, which was
+always noticeable then. I don't think they will ever forget it. The
+Board was always willing to do anything in its power for this
+department. At the age of sixty, through ill health, I was obliged to
+resign.
+
+In the same year (1887), I was appointed sergeant-major of the 57th
+Peterboro' Rangers, and for several years performed the duties of
+instructor; but in consequence of increasing classes at the school
+and private engagements, was obliged to resign. There are some of
+my old pupils holding commissions in the regiment at present.
+Lieutenant-Colonel Miller, the present commanding officer, is very
+popular among all ranks. The reputation of this fine corps is of the
+very best; in fact, it is a model regiment, and I was delighted in
+reading the last report to see the Rangers leading the so-called crack
+regiments of the Dominion. It cannot be otherwise, because the
+energetic and painstaking Adjutant-Captain Duncan Walker, and the
+whole of the officers and N.C.O. are splendid workers, and they never
+fail in keeping that military enthusiasm and _esprit de corps_ among
+the men, whose physique is second to none, and which, I may add, is a
+very important factor in the Dominion army. I hope some day to see the
+battalion on parade again.
+
+In 1902, with my family, I moved to Toronto, and Mr. James L. Hughes,
+Inspector of Public Schools, who was my pupil in the Military School
+forty years ago, introduced me to the general manager of the T. Eaton
+Co., and I was given employment in the stock room of the whitewear
+department in the factory. Following this my three sons were taken into
+the factory and learned their trades; the two eldest are machinists and
+the third a cutter. The latter in his twentieth year was stricken with
+tuberculosis and died, April 19th, 1907, and I take this opportunity of
+again thanking and expressing my gratitude to the Company and the
+department for the solicitous interest taken in my dear boy while he
+was sick, and at his funeral.
+
+During my lifetime I have been in touch and associated with ladies and
+gentlemen, boys and girls, where refinement and culture was an
+important factor in their present and future lives. In the Imperial
+Army, where I spent so many years as an instructor, the first thing we
+would look for from the incoming recruit was his deportment. If he
+lacked courtesy, willingness, obedience and other graces that go to
+make a good soldier and also a gentleman, he would be placed in a
+position to be taught this character building. Again, in my physical
+culture work I always impressed upon my pupils the necessity of being
+courteous and polite at all times and under all difficulties and
+circumstances.
+
+When I entered upon my duties in the stock room I began to feel my way
+through this great department and to learn whom I had to meet in my
+daily business, but it was not long before I found myself amongst the
+ideal of my life, from the manager and his assistants, Messrs. Allward
+and Kirby, and from the employees, numbering 350--300 of whom were
+ladies. The beautiful, capacious and well-ventilated work rooms,
+together with their cheerful environment, made it one of the most
+desirable places to work in I have ever seen or heard of. Among the
+best friends I made in this great establishment were Messrs. W. Hall,
+Johnston, F. Howard, McWaters, Durno and William Day. Of the latter I
+learned the following characteristic incident which he would be too
+modest to mention: One night during the winter of 1905-1906, which was
+extremely cold, Mr. Day, on his way home, was overtaken by a stranger,
+a young man, who told him he had not had anything to eat for
+twenty-four hours. He had walked from Belleville to Toronto looking for
+work; he was poorly clad, not sufficiently to keep the cold from his
+shivering body. My friend did not ask who he was or anything regarding
+his antecedents. He saw before him a poor destitute young man,
+suffering with cold and hunger; he took him to a store and bought him
+comfortable underwear, boots and other warm garments, and then to a
+restaurant and ordered the best meal they could give, handed the
+stranger a dollar and continued his journey home.
+
+I remained in the factory four years, but in consequence of my age and
+ill health was obliged to resign in May, 1906.
+
+[Illustration: SERGT.-MAJOR EDWIN G. RUNDLE. Age, 71 Years.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+INCIDENTS IN THE AFGHAN WAR.
+
+[I would like to follow this brief and unpretentious narrative of my
+life with a sketch of the operations of a British force, in which my
+old regiment was brigaded, in the Afghan war.]
+
+
+Just before sunset on the twentieth of November, 1878, the 2nd Brigade
+of the Peshawur Valley Field Force, consisting of the Guides Infantry,
+the 1st Sikhs, and the 17th Foot under Brigadier-General J. A.
+Tytler--the strength being forty British officers, 1,700 men, of whom
+600 were Europeans--left its camp at Jamrud to begin the flank march
+which was to ensure the completeness of Sir Sam. Browne's victory over
+the garrison of Masjid. The 17th Regiment had spent the summer in the
+Murree Hills, where it had been carefully trained for the work that lay
+before it. Evatt, in his Recollections, says: "It was about the last of
+the long service battalions of that army which was just then
+disappearing before the short system, and better specimens of that old
+regime could not be seen than the men of the 17th, who for weight and
+space occupied per man were probably thirty per cent. heavier and much
+broader than the younger soldiers of to-day." Speed being essential to
+success and the difficulties presented by the country to be traversed
+very great, tents, bedding and baggage were left behind, to be sent up
+later through the Pass; and the troops took with them only a small
+hospital establishment, a reserve of ammunition, two days' cooked
+rations, and a supply of water stored in big leather bags, known as
+pukkals. In addition to their great coats, seventy rounds of ammunition
+and one day's cooked rations was carried by each man.
+
+Unfortunately the greater part of the transport allotted to the brigade
+consisted of bullocks instead of mules--a mistake which was to leave
+the men without food for over twenty-four hours. Darkness soon closed
+in upon the column, and when the comparatively easy road across the Jam
+plain gave place to an ill-defined track running up a deep ravine,
+sometimes on one side of a mountain stream, sometimes on the other,
+sometimes in its very bed, even the native guides, men of the district,
+familiar with its every rock and stone, were often at fault. The
+transport animals blundered into the midst of the troops. One corps
+lost touch with another. A large part of the 17th Regiment wandered
+away from the path, and was with difficulty brought back to it by the
+shouting and whistling of its commander. There was so much confusion
+and so many delays that it was ten o'clock before the force, tired and
+cold, the men's boots and putties soaked through and through from
+frequent crossing and recrossing of the Lashora River, arrived at the
+little hamlet of the same name. Here it settled down to such rest as
+could be obtained under these uncomfortable conditions, for fires were
+out of the question where there was no certainty that hidden foes might
+not be lurking close at hand.
+
+The 1st Brigade, consisting of the 4th Battalion Rifle Brigade, the 4th
+Gurkhas, the 20th Punjab Infantry, and the Hazars Mountain Battery,
+fared even worse than the 2nd, for it had to begin the day with
+marching from Hari Singhka-Burg to Jamrud, where it arrived to find, to
+the disgust of its commander, Brigadier-General Macpherson, that the
+supplies and transports which ought to have been awaiting it were not
+ready, and to be kept hanging about till 11 p.m. before it could get a
+fresh start. What with the darkness, the difficulty of getting the
+laden bullocks along, the practical absence of a road, the subsequent
+march proved very trying, and the position of the troops throughout the
+night was potentially one of great peril. If the Mohmands had come down
+the eastern slopes of the Rhotas Heights and fallen upon them as they
+stumbled and groped their way along the Lashora ravine, Macpherson
+would have had to choose between a retreat or an advance up the steep
+mountain side, three thousand feet high, in pursuit of an invisible
+enemy, and exposed to a shower of rocks and stones--missiles which
+every hill-man knows well how to handle.
+
+Fortunately no such alternative was presented to him, and the head of
+the column--the rear guard being still far behind--reached Lashora
+between six and seven o'clock on the morning of the 21st, just as the
+2nd Brigade was preparing to leave it, and halted to look up and give
+Tytler a fair start. The latter did his best to get and keep well
+ahead, but though his brigade, led by that active officer, Colonel F.
+H. Jenkins, pushed on as fast as it could, its progress was painfully
+slow. The column advancing in single file extended over a distance of
+nearly three miles, and as the sun rose high in the heavens the
+reflected heat from the bare slaty rocks became almost insupportable.
+There were no trees to give the men shade, or springs to slake their
+thirst. For the first four miles the road continued to ascend the
+Lashora ravine between hills on the right hand and rocky, overhanging
+spurs a thousand feet high on the left. On issuing thence it dwindled
+to a mere goat track which ran uphill and downhill, scaling cliffs and
+dropping into gorges, the shaly soil at every step slipping away from
+under the feet of men, mules and bullocks, retarding the advance of the
+two former and almost bringing the latter to a standstill. It was two
+o'clock in the afternoon when the column, having crossed the Sapparia,
+or grassy flats, leading up to the watersheds, arrived at Pani Pal at
+the foot of the pass connecting the Rhotas Heights with the Tartara
+Mountain, the highest peak in this group of hills. Here a wide and
+varied view became suddenly visible. Far away to the north the
+snowcapped Himalayas gleamed in the sunshine; to the south the broad
+Indus washed the base of Fort Attock, and wound through the salt hills
+and plains of the Derajat; whilst to the west, almost immediately below
+the wilderness of rocks in which the invaders had halted, lay, in deep
+shadow, the yawning chasm of the Khyber--a magnificent prospect; but a
+spring of cool fresh water which was soon discovered had more
+attractions for the hot and thirsty troops, and Tytler's whole
+attention was absorbed in scanning the country for a possible enemy and
+trying to trace the course of the three paths which branched off from
+this commanding point. One of these runs northward by a circuitous and
+comparatively easy route, through Mohmand territory to the Khyber. The
+second descends abruptly to the same pass through the gorge which
+separates the Tartara Mountain from the Rhotas Heights. The third
+follows the crest of those heights to their highest point, just over
+Ali Masjid. It was by the second of these roads that the column was to
+find its way down to Kata Kushtia, and Tytler, though hard pressed for
+time, felt so strongly that he must not entangle his troops in such
+difficult ground without first ascertaining whether danger would
+threaten their left flank and rear, that he decided to halt his force,
+whilst Jenkins and a company of the Guides reconnoitred towards the
+heights. Scarcely had this party left Pani Pal when a strange
+reverberation filled the air, which Jenkins, on laying his ear to the
+ground, at once pronounced to be the booming of heavy guns, and as the
+reconnoiterers drew near to the edge of the ridge overlooking Ali
+Masjid, the sound of artillery fire became more and more clear and
+distinct. Though cave dwellings and patches of cultivation had
+occasionally been passed, with here and there the tower of some robber
+chieftain, the country, but for one small band of marauders which
+exchanged shots with the head of the column, had appeared to be
+entirely deserted by its inhabitants. Now a large number of armed
+Mohmands came suddenly into sight, rushing down the hillside, and
+Jenkins fell back upon Pani Pal to report what he had seen and heard.
+
+The news that the main body of the division was engaged with the enemy
+quickly spread through the ranks, and the men, forgetting fatigue and
+hunger--the last of the food carried by them had been eaten before
+leaving Lashora, and the bullocks carrying the rest of the rations had
+long since parted company with the troops--were eager to push on. But
+Tytler saw clearly that the circumstances in which he now found himself
+demanded a change in the original plan, by which the whole of his force
+was to take up its position across the Khyber defile.
+
+As the Mohmands were evidently present in great strength and hostilely
+inclined, and as his hospital establishment and commissariat were six
+miles in rear, and the brigade which ought to have covered his left
+flank was also behind--by abandoning Pani Pal he would not only lose
+his communications with the latter and expose the former to danger and
+the risk of being cut off and captured, but would leave open the road
+by which the Mohmand contingent in Ali Masjid might retire from that
+fortress after its fall, or by which it could be reinforced in case
+that fall should be delayed. Very reluctantly, therefore, though with
+soldier-like promptness, he made up his mind to send Jenkins with the
+Guides and the major portion of the 1st Sikhs to Kata Kushtia, whilst
+he himself, with a detachment of the latter corps and Her Majesty's
+17th Regiment, remained at Pani Pal to guard Jenkins' rear and keep in
+touch with Macpherson. That general, having detached the 20th Punjaub
+Infantry under Major H. W. Gordon to cover his left, had resumed his
+march at 8 a.m., and following in Tytler's wake had soon overtaken that
+officer's commissariat bullocks, which so blocked the narrow path that
+the troops had considerable difficulty in forcing their way through
+them.
+
+Between two and three o'clock the column arrived at the lower edge of
+the flats (Sapparia) previously mentioned, where it was fortunate
+enough to find a little water. By this time the men, who had been over
+thirty hours under arms, were so worn out that Colonels Newdigate and
+Turton reported their respective regiments, the Rifle Brigade and the
+4th Gurkhas, unfit to go farther, and Macpherson, like Tytler, had to
+accept the responsibility of modifying the part assigned to him in the
+common programme, and to some extent for the same reason, viz., the
+danger to which his hospital and commissariat transport would be
+exposed if, by pushing on to the summit of the Rhotas Heights, he were
+to put it out of his power to protect them during the dark hours which
+were close at hand.
+
+On the flats, then, the main body of the turning party bivouacked on
+the evening of November 21st, whilst the flanking regiment, after many
+hours of stiff climbing, during the course of which it had been
+threatened by a large number of Mohmands, established itself at dusk on
+the top of Turhai, a ridge parallel to and immediately under the Rhotas
+Heights.
+
+No sooner had the Guides and the 1st Sikhs, under Lieutenant-Colonel
+Jenkins, taken up a position on the hill opposite the village of Kata
+Kushtia, which completely commanded the Khyber Pass, here some 600
+yards broad, than a party of the enemy's cavalry, about fifty in
+number, was perceived at 4:30 p.m., leisurely making their way up the
+pass. To make the garrison of Ali Masjid realise that their retreat was
+cut off, Lieutenant-Colonel Jenkins ordered his men to open fire upon
+these Afghan horsemen at a range of about 500 yards. Several were
+dismounted and the rest galloped away, some back to Ali Masjid and some
+up the Khyber Pass. As it began to grow dusk a larger body of the
+enemy's cavalry, accompanied by a small party of infantry, came from
+the direction of Ali Masjid riding hard for their lives as they passed
+the place where the troops were posted, from which it was evident that
+the retreat from Ali Masjid had commenced. This body of Afghans came
+under fire of 200 or 300 rifles within 300 to 500 yards' range and
+suffered some loss. As darkness closed in the Guides and the 1st Sikhs
+lay down on the rocks about one hundred feet above the level of the
+stream, and no large body of the enemy passed during the night,
+although, doubtless, men moving singly or in small parties escaped.
+Meanwhile, at 2:15 a.m., on the 21st of November, the 1st Infantry
+Brigade, under command of Brigadier-General H. T. Macpherson, C.B.,
+V.C., marched from the camp at Jamrud and followed in the track of the
+2nd Brigade, which preceded them by eight hours and forty minutes. The
+fighting strength of the brigade amounted to 43 British officers, 569
+British rank and file, and 1,345 natives of all ranks.
+
+Marching under the same conditions, as regards equipment and supplies,
+as the 2nd Brigade, this column reached Lashora in four and a quarter
+hours, although the 20th Punjaubis made a slight detour by mistake.
+
+On reaching the foot of the Tabai spur leading to the Rhotas ridge,
+about six miles from Jamrud, four companies of the 20th Punjaub
+Infantry, amounting to 243 men, commanded by Major Gordon, were
+detached to occupy the Tabai ridge below the Rhotas summit, and there
+to await the arrival of the remainder of the brigade on the main ridge
+leading to the enemy's sangars on the summit, when a simultaneous
+attack would be made on it about noon. The Rhotas peak was to be
+occupied, if possible, and heliographic communication established with
+Jamrud, for which purpose four signalers were attached to this
+detachment.
+
+As has been seen, the 2nd Brigade was just moving off as the 1st
+Brigade arrived at Lashora, and it became necessary for the 1st Brigade
+to halt for an hour to allow Tytler's column to get clear. But at 7:30
+a.m. Macpherson's force resumed its march, ascending a tolerably easy
+path from the bed of the river and crossing the ridge to the left into
+the Lashora Nala. Above Lashora the path wound through a narrow, rocky
+ravine, overhung by precipitous and rugged hills, where the progress of
+the column was much impeded by the baggage animals of the 2nd Infantry
+Brigade, many of which (bullocks and buffaloes) were quite unfit for
+such service. These animals can never move but at a very slow pace, and
+in difficult places often come to a complete standstill.
+
+The 17th Regiment and the 27th Punjaub Infantry were ordered to
+advance, and they were met by a determined resistance, the flags of the
+Afghans keeping well to the front in spite of the heavy fire of our
+infantry.
+
+Here Lieutenant N. C. Wiseman, 17th Foot, followed by two or three of
+his men, charged one standard bearer and ran him through, but the
+gallant officer was instantly surrounded and cut to pieces. The enemy
+now showed signs of giving way, upon which an order was sent to the
+cavalry on the right to attack on the first favorable opportunity. But
+before this order was received both regiments charged successfully. The
+troops were then ordered to retire to camp, as the enemy was completely
+dispersed. The action commenced about 2 p.m. and by 4:30 p.m. the
+enemy's position was captured. The estimated loss of the Afghans was
+between 300 and 400 men, while the casualties among the troops amounted
+to two British officers, one native officer, twenty horses and three
+men killed and four native officers and thirty-six men wounded.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Soldier's Life, by Edwin G. Rundle
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A SOLDIER'S LIFE ***
+
+***** This file should be named 24665.txt or 24665.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/6/24665/
+
+Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at
+https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images
+generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian
+Libraries)
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
+permission and without paying copyright royalties.  Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark.  Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission.  If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy.  You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research.  They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
+https://gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1.  General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A.  By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement.  If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B.  "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark.  It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.  There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement.  See
+paragraph 1.C below.  There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.  See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C.  The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works.  Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States.  If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed.  Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work.  You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D.  The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work.  Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change.  If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work.  The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E.  Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1.  The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges.  If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder.  Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4.  Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5.  Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6.  You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form.  However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form.  Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7.  Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8.  You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+     the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+     you already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  The fee is
+     owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+     has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+     Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.  Royalty payments
+     must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+     prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+     returns.  Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+     sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+     address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+     the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+     you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+     does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+     License.  You must require such a user to return or
+     destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+     and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+     Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+     money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+     electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+     of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+     distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9.  If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark.  Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1.  Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection.  Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2.  LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees.  YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3.  YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3.  LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from.  If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation.  The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund.  If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund.  If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4.  Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5.  Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6.  INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section  2.  Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers.  It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come.  In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3.  Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service.  The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541.  Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+https://pglaf.org/fundraising.  Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations.  Its business office is located at
+809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org.  Email contact links and up to date contact
+information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official
+page at https://pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+     Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+     Chief Executive and Director
+     gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4.  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment.  Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States.  Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements.  We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance.  To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit https://pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States.  U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses.  Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including including checks, online payments and credit card
+donations.  To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5.  General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone.  For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+     https://www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.