ROUGH NOTES
BY
AN OLD SOLDIER,
DURING FIFTY YEARS' SERVICE,
FROM ENSIGN G. B. TO MAJOR-GENERAL, C.B.
Man plods his way through thorns to ashes!
This edition is published by PICKLE PARTNERS PUBLISHING
Text originally published in 1867 under the same title.
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Publishers Note
Although in most cases we have retained the Authors original spelling and grammar to authentically reproduce the work of the Author and the original intent of such material, some additional notes and clarifications have been added for the modern readers benefit.
DEDICATION.
.
To The Young Officers of the British Army
Stick to your trade, young Gentlemen.
The wheel of fortune is always going round, and every spoke
comes uppermost in its turn.
I was SIXTEEN years a Sub.
G. B.
ROUGH NOTES BY AN OLD SOLDIER.
"MAY PLODS HIS WAY THROUGH THORNS TO ASHES."
CHAPTER I.
Farewell to Home.The Route,Marching and Dining.A Serious Loss.The Lazy LieutenantArrival in Lisbon.Paterfamilias. My Billet.--The Route, March, ArrivalHow we fared.Subaltern Life,Roughing itIn Pursuit.First Blood.Victory.
THE London Gazette of the 11th March, 1811, proclaimed "George Bell, gentleman, to be Ensign in the 34th Regiment of Foot, by command of His Majesty King George the Third." On the 11th of March I was at a public school, when some one came and gave me the above information.
So soon as I collected my senses, I jumped up, broke my way into the presence of the great Dominie; bid him a hasty farewell, shook hands with my class companions, and bolted out of the house, no one seeming to know what it was all about until I was clear away, and sent back a newspaper with the Gazette, which fully explained my hasty retreat from thraldom.
Six days after the 11th of March I was just seventeen years of age, an independent military gentleman, let loose upon the world with the liberal pay of 5s, 3d. a day, less income-tax, which has never been increased from that day to this.
I had an official letter very soon to join my regimental depot without delay, signed
HARRY CALVERT, Adjutant-General.
So I went off that night by the mail a hundred miles' journey, to bid them farewell at the beautiful paternal residence on the banks of Lough Erin. Here I only remained two days: there was weeping and lamentation over-much at my departure; but it was the tender custom in Ireland long ago. The family circle saw me off, at the end of the long avenue, all pretty cheery until we heard the mail-coach horn in the distance, when the ladies began a fresh lamentation, which set me going until I nearly cried my eyes out.
I was now fairly off, and with my pocket full of money, so I began to brighten up by the time the coach stopped for the night, for this hundred-mile journey occupied two days.
This royal mail-coach was horsed with a pair of old Irish hunters, carried four passengers inside, and two guards in royal livery behind, with a box of blunderbuss firearms and pistols, to protect themselves and the mail-bags; the roads in those days being swarmed by highwaymen. We had no adventure.
After being well furnished with a good kit, and supplied liberally with everything I required, I sailed in the mail-packet for Liverpool, which I reached the third day, after a stormy voyage. It was then the custom for each passenger to carry his own prog; my hamper never was opened, I was so desperately sea-sick, consequently the steward came in for nearly all the good things, and might have set up a cookshop for many a day afterwards.
Safely on English ground for the first time, I enjoyed myself for a couple of days, and then took coach with four spanking horses for Beverley, in Yorkshire, where I joined my depot, and went to drill under the command of an old sergeant, who used to say that he was preparing me for a great general some day, if I didn't fall on the bed of honour before my time.
At this time the Peninsular war was being carried on with desperate strife: there was a continual demand for men and money; the former were engaged at eighteen guineas bounty, while the Spaniards were supplied most liberally with English gold, our army being half-starved, and Lord Wellington snubbed by the Government, and every obstacle thrown in his way towards success.
I now mounted my uniform for the first time, and when full dressed was ashamed to appear in the streets. I fancied all the people would be laughing at the raw Ensign, with his cocked hat and feather, jack boots, white breeches, sword, and belt; then the sword was always getting between my legs, trying to trip me up as I cautiously went along, not daring to look at any one. I thought myself the observed of all observers, being just bran new out of the tailor's shop. We were encumbered with many sorts of regimental useless dresses, such as long black cloth leggings, with about two dozen of bright buttons up the outside of each leg! Thon, for the evening, tight-fitting white kerseymere pantaloons, and Hessian boots with black silk tassels in front; and, when on duty, a gorget hanging under one's chin.
I was a right jolly fellow when I got all this toggery off my back, and enjoyed myself to the full. We had no mess, lived in lodgings, no restraint on us young fellows, and had, with the 5s. 3d. a day, 6s. a week lodging money, to provide ourselves with respectable quarters.
I found the pretty town of Beverley a most agreeable residence, and never dreamt of leaving it, until one fine morning we heard of the battle of Albuera, in which my regiment was engaged, and suffered severely: the gaps of death must be filled up; the route came upon us suddenly, and I was one of the number ordered out to fill a vacancy.
