The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-09-10 00:00:00

THE HORSE ON THE BArTLE.FIELD.

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I I alp those who have seen a battle.deld can form a notion
Of the extraordinary way in whieh the harass, as long as they
have a hg to crawl on, will follow the regiment to which
they beleng. I saw what evidently had beee sergeants'
horse, keeping their position in rear of their iquadron,
wheelieg with it, aud halthie exactly ret if their riders .ere
Oil their backs, and all tlie time streaming with blood. Poor
createres ! they are Indeed to be ritied, tor they have eel-
titer Vaterhaid, promotion, nor the coveted medal to thiuk
ofosbatever nmy be the ism° ; and Mw indeed ere there
which have been 111 action which have not some honourable
scars to slow. While lum on the sabject I must relate one
of the moot pitiable sights I think I ever sow, which made
an impreeden Os me such al I shall never forgot. Oa the
way to Homburg- not the Homburg —we paesed the
3el Unseats, the Colonel of which was mounted
on a chestriht horse so like the oue tho late Lord
Cardigan used to ride, and on which he wed° his
c,lebretwl charge, that it seeemil as if It must be
the identical lione I raw him again just before they
made their charge easiest infantry, in whioh they were fear-
fully cut rip; aeui the third time I saw him Woe latlllr!thg in
the middle of the plan on ttie sourcing after the haute,
totally divreted of Ills tram:Mgt, CuriO bullete iii him, and
I his felled; Joliet cut Is two. Poor cieuture fie struggled
lip when he easy my home and neighed. The difference in
1 host from the last thno I had seea him galloping at the head
; of the regiment, a king if home,, and /low was appalling;
, added to which the knowledge that his gallant owner had
• already gene to his last rest with so loony other gallant souls
of his corps made use regret that the poor war-home hed not
died then and there to all the hot glory of the charge, rather
than have so lotig to wait the pistol-shot that cloeed this
world to him. The havock that was made lathe cavalry
throughout the whole of the 10th was fearful, and I caw a
Cuirseder reetment, who In their breastplate,, white tunics,
and high bootelooked the very beau %Mai of heavy cavalry,
come out of action numerically shoot two squadrons strong.
Their Colonel marched slowly at their head, utterly over-
come at the loss of his gallant men. Ile had five officers
with him out of idiom 25 that had ridden out with him that
morning. lit the 18th one of the most brilliant actions of
the day was admitted on all sides. to be the storming of St.
which was taken after the in net terrific cannonade,
by a hich, as I told ysu lump letter, it was simply riddled to
pieces. Neth'n.; threughout could be braver thee the French
troops, ami they are ny all allowed to fight remark Mly well,
the junll lying in had generalship and interi tunnel-3,
fle compared with the opposing force. Around ties
particular place the dead lay so thick that one could scarcely
walk one's horse through them.most of them killed by shells,
which inflict, as may lei supposed, the most ghastly wooed..
There was a French ohlloor still lying in a ditch by the read-
able the morning after die rattle, when I went to look over
the place again. Ile had been shot through the cheat, and
Is his left hand held a letter that lie had evideutly hem
carried with him. I diamouuts el end diteugaged it from hts
hand, SLIA am happy in being aide to return it to the sender,
who usenet but rejoice to think that his last thought to this
world Wl3 of her.