The Sun.
London, England, 1829-08-29 00:00:00

When we arrived at our position in the line,
twilight had not dappled in the East. A de-
tachment of different regiments, amounting to
200 men, under the command of a field officer,
three captains, and some subalterns, was sent to
piquet, and as it happened to be my turn for
duty, I was included in the number. We then
began to descend the face of the hill, which I
found was more difficult than ascending. Be-
fore reaching the bottom of the hill, we halted,
and placed a range of sentinels in our front.
When day-light began to appear, the enemy's
piquets discovered our sentinels, and commenced
tiring at intervals upon them. Our field-officer
immediately commanded eighteen men from the
left of the piquet, to go down and dislodge
that of the enemy from its position. As I was
stationed in this part, I was •one of the party.
Headed by one of our captains, we began to
move forward, but had not proceeded many
paces when a ball from the enemy whizzed
through my bonnet ; at this I was somewhat
alarmed, but resuming my courage, I resolved
to do my duty. The firing, which was now be-
come rapid and heavy, made us quicken our
pace. To dislodge them was not a matter of
long contest ; for after a few rounds of our mus-
ketry they wheeled about and fled towards the
French lines, whither we pursued them, before
aware of our danger. Volleys, in rapid succes-
sion, were poured amongst us. In our career
we were instantly checked and thrown into con-
fusion. To the eye the scene was now dreadful.
My companions were falling thickly around me. .
The first that got his death wound was our
captain. The shot which he received, pene-
trated his heart ; in a strong convulsive fit
he sprung from the ground, and falling di-
rectly backwards, lay prostrate, without making
a struggle or uttering a sigh. Bewildered and
'confounded, I looked around, and found that
was left alone, and exposed to the fire of the
enemy, whose bullets were showering about my
head like hailstones. My situation at this time
may be more easily conceived than desciihed.
I shouldered my musket, which was loaded, and
retired with haste from this field of carnage. I
had not proceeded far, when three of the enemy's
piquets, who had concealed themselves in the
adjoining thickets, suddenly started out, pre-
sented their muskets at me, and fired, but
missed their object. I discharged the contents
of mine at them, but did not wait to observe
if my shot had taken effect. I then directed
my course towards the hill, pursued by my ene-
mies, who kept continually firing at me; having
reached the foot of the hill, I began to climb its
steep side, with very faint hope of ever attain-
ing the summit. The farther I advanced in my
ascent, the more exhausted I became. The day
was exceedingly warm. I had a heavy knap-
sack upon my back, to which was attached a.
ponderous bill-hook that we used in cutting
down our fire-wood, and as it happened to be
my lot to carry it on the preceding day, I got
no time to deliver it up when ordered upon this
duty. Overcome with fatigue, I was ultimately
compelled to sit down, though exposed to the
greatest peril. In such an elevated situation,
1 was a most prominent object to that part
of the French lines opposite to where I was.
Before I had obtained many moment's re-
pose, the musket shot of the enemy was strik-
ing every place around me, whilst I remained un-
injured, like an enchanted person from fairy-land,
One of these, however, came so nigla my person
aiing fyrocrut mhmeset ast copeur,lodwc.elelr,
ei-esdht: eI
seemuepd,
this of
my
o
and collacting all the strength I had, strained
every nerve till I reached the main body of the
piquet. The commander, to whom my ape: ear-
eu
tot:
rallyl the
unable?maaikel
ance excited the greatest alarm, asked mu with
tsitlieri:erisine,terrvrloiagtathoardi
interrogatories
r.Ostto
enquired particularly about the captain. To
any reply. My jaws wesa parched, and my
tongue considerably swollen ; for that • neorning
having fired above 70 rounds, the ,esan •
pow der
which got into say mouth by biting elle ends off
the cartridgess, increased my thirst. Seeing the
state In which I was, he hastily exclaimed, " my
• God, if I have one drop arum in my flask,
you
shall have it." Then aereing his flask, he shook
it, and to his great delight found 'it contained
some of that genial beverage. Having filled a
glass he put it into my hands; when 1 had
drunk .°4 I instantly experienertd its salutary
••
effects, My tongue, which wad formerly deprived
of moisture, now receiv4 abundance of it, and
I was enabled to relies-kr-se to him the tale of woe,
at the recital of :;hick he was es xceeed. 1' • ing,y af-
fected. Beiaag again served with '7O rounds of
cartridg es I took my station in the pi ' •
piquet, NA:meh
shortly after commenced firing down • u•oon the
light troops of the enemy. By this '
n time the
skirmishing had become general ''.4long the front
of the whole line, and nun-:.erous individuds
were dropping their mortar vestments to • appe, r
before the tribunal of ',;ne Omnipotent. One of
my acquaintanecs.,..Who had his station next me,
received a sly:it in his left eye ;
he fell back upon
the met-
es, where, after a few short struggles, he
eY:inred. After firing two rounds, and in the
act of disliarging a third—after his fall—the flint
of my fire-lock gave way ; a circumstance which
induced me to fall out, in order to replace it.
The officer who commanded tho company de-
manded my intentions for doing so ?„ I told
him ; he seemed satisfied, and then Waved his -
hand as a signal of his compliance. My place
was instantly occupied by a corporal, who,
a'Aut
two Issinntes afterwards, received a mortal\eound,
k which, speedily terminated his existence:. I seri-
, ously thought within myself; that t• ail I remained
there longer I would undoub'
atu y have shared
his fate. This reflection produced a temporary
tear, which can by -,10 means be imputed to pu-
sillanhnity. I 'looked upon the individual who
was subjugated by this principle, in time ofopen
combat, as exposed to the greatest peril, and
that he who perforias. his duty- with active
courage was the most secure
Havin,, fixed my flint with these coasidera-
rions, I sprung forward to my place, • 1
aet again
commenced the work of death. 'again
commenced had fired
about thirty rounds, when we were unexpectedly
relieved by another piquet ; and in order to avoid
the fire of the enemy, which
1111;4.1t prove more
destructive to us when retiring- •e in a body, we
were ordered to marcl a o. in small detached
parties. In this
mangier we proceeded up tho
hill, and reached -
t tne summit in safety, when
each joined his • respective regiment in the _me.—
Eadie's Recollections.