The Express.
London, England, 1856-03-29 00:00:00

THE "SOLDIER'S REIL'EN."

The martial spirit of the inhuhitsote of Benton
was r oised, says the Nottffigh.n4 neves°, ~e Touesday, the
20th inst., by the eapectei return 01 l'ev,tet Weer., of the
7th Fantle's. After the return of Lteut.Wateon, the ar inns
eleven a committee, fn the purpose of reccesteg and ma-
newer' fund, to be called the Benton Pali° .c Fund, to
be eapended in tribute+ of respect to the wounded, end the
erection of a suitable tebtet to tee fal!eo. Private Le'
vocuatestei eclat 18 months back from the militm, and,
after a few smooths' work M the trenches, in which he fought
is Dl.lllfd Knits, he joined is the attack on the Roden
Having succeeded In satiricg the left angle, he shot
and bayoneted ooe of the cease,., at the same moment
that the gun was fined which scut his right leg and the
bay end of his firelock Into shivers, taking away his ',lush
a• clearly as would the knife of an amputator, and kneekiog
b m over th.esnabragure into the ditch fifteen feet blow.
Hire he ley all night, amid tie cries and grans of hie
wounded and Open comrades—The committee, having
veeived pus intimation that he Wl* to rotors on Thum
day night, had providel a chair, in which to entry him
from the train, end present to him am a mark of their
sympathy for his sufferings. Accordingly a pinny number
prommied with bunters, headed by the 'Wilton band, to
ute statism; but after waiting the arrival of the last trait,
they hod to retain without him, in c linguine of en uses+
prowl detentice at Castors. Determiced. however, not to
t.t'hetr pstru.ti.m get cool, they chaired Private Oldham.
of the Coldstream Linacds, who was shot la the foot, and
tai returned a few weeks previously, and who was ti have
a chair presented to him as the same time. Oa arrivtim at
the village they proceeded to the Commercial Ina, when a
olatform was erected on the balcony in front', and a few of
the committee, with Oldham, having ascended, the Chair-
men Friends, we have met tots evening to welcome
each from the war one of our wounded village's, but we
hive boa disappointed. Bat as the dates of the pre.
nests ISM for this insuittg, we shall pr: sent Private Old.
him with kis. Some people say we have no right to go
to war. They have as much right to that opinion as we
hove to believe that while there are napelecipled rusts
4 large Metes leading them states to rob adjaioieg ones of
their territcry, and subj. c:ing them to laws they approve
not of, fight we mat; and while such Is the ease fight we
will. (Cheers) Lad as we cahoot all go, Mavis, our
beaches, our meatless, mud shops, we must amuse meg"
men to go for us, while we kelp to tarry ea the business of
life and the trade of the country. Looking at the trial.,
danger., hardships, and hirrid deaths merles those Is the
hoe who thus ammo, I maims it requires so ordinary
anoint of enrage sad s a•rictisen thus to engage. Look for
a moment at the present war. Hanger, thirst, sold, and pee-
theme before them, and bemire& of gees murderously
peering down grapi,eanister, mod shell is pert et hailstorms
OD the bran midden' heals." After some ether rename,
turning round to Oldham, he said, " Itebat Oldham', yea
hate bees to fight fur us, and have been wounded. We
sow publiely noisome you back t err attire village,
sad treent you with this ebair as a mark of aympathy
for your collaring, and we tromend you to devote your
time to reading sad the cultivation of your mind, that
we may esteem yes for year moral as well as your sot-
dimly character, so that you may obtain a putties in
the 'Mame that will entitle you to the respect of all
elemm—a village which, for patriotism, Is woad to
nose, seeding from Its three Hummed iichehissam three
lieutenants, one ensign, one sergeant, end upwards of
twenty privates, to fight for oar wintry." Oldham
then stemmed thanks, and the bead leaving played "Odd
save the Queen," the inhabitants rimmed to their
hoses. Beton surmise on the following morning, Private
Latern, who had come down in the eight, war announced
as being et the 'tattoo, by two youths who had goes is
that direction to fly thole pgross, but who would set be
persuaded to sorry the sews soles" he seat his leg Is
pro if of his swivel there. The young mains mime breath•
IS se into the 'W.I., inhibiting hie leg, and slotting "Re's
some ! he's Gomel " sad M twenty siect• the oommitteo
were on their way to the station with the char, sad ear.
1 rounded by a quickly ptherine mel•itude. Oe the hen
I areivies at the viline, a ',lute id several gam was find
The pewees's& halted, sad pee these hearty MOM. ma