The Sun.
London, England, 1829-04-23 00:00:00

ANECDOTES IN WAR.

I remember at Corunua, when we were very
young soldiers, we could not be satisfied with-
out making riflemen creep along the banks and
hedges and shoot the helpless single cavalry
videttes of the enemy. At the time I thought
this very fine and praiseworthy, but since,
" being wiser grown," have considered an officer
approving of such acts as little better than giving
countenance to assassination. Friendly inter-
course_ may, however, be carried to a too great
length. The 21st Chasseurs and ourselves, after
having been all this winter opposite each other, •
have become rather too intimate. One of our
subalterns, who speaks French and German
fluently, knows several of their officers ; and on
my visiting a distant picket, which he command-
ed under my orders, some days since, on inquir-
ing for him, was told, he was over at the enemy's
picket. I have known several instances of right
feeling evinced by the enemy worthy of gentle-
men who are above turning into individual strife
the quarrels of the two countries. While the
light division was at Gallegos, some greyhounds
belonging to an officer strayed into the enemy's
lines, and an opportunity was found, by means
of the first flag of truce, to request their being
returned. The answer was favourable, stating
that they should be sent in on the first oppor-
tunity. A day or two after, the enemy made a
reconnoissance, and, when their skirmishers were
thrown out, the greyhounds were seen in couples
in the rear, and on the first carbine being fired,
they were let slip, (the dogs of war ?) and came
curveting through the whistling balls to their old
masters. These recollections bring up others,
and since you despise more serious strains, I
cannot do better than give you my whole stock
of military tittle-tattle and camp gossip. On the
day the French retired from Fuentes de Honor,
the last troops they withdrew from our front
were some. squadrons of cavalry. Accompanied
by a friend of mine, we quietly followed their
retrogrademovement, and, secure in the speed
of our horses, ,and the open plain, gradually
neared the,rear-guard. When we came within a
few yards, an officer rode out, and *begged than
we would not encroach so much, or otherwise he
should be obliged, but with regret afaire charger
les tirailleurs ; 'it is needless to tell you, that we
did not further intrude upon hii good nature or
civility. I have witnessed some remarkable
instances on a Momentary suspension of arms,-
even during a general, action,. of alino,st a mixture
of the armies. At Talavera, a brook of muddy,
and even of 'bloody water, not ran, but stagnated,
in the ravine between our position and that of
the enemy. During* the mid-day heat, before
Joseph Bonaparte and his Marshals made up
their minds to the general attack, which ended
in their disComfiture, the firing on both sides
ceased, and the hostile, soldiers came to assuage
their thirst from the same water. This led,
through the intervention of the Spanish lan-
guage, to remarks'. on what had, and what was
likely to occur, and the potent contents of can-
teens and calibashes were exchanged in token of
good fellowship. This amiable intercourse was
only broken off by the renewal of the gigantic
contest. Again at Busaco, when the baggage
of General St. Simon, who had been left in the
midst of our ranks on the repulse and overthrow
of the enemy's attack was sent for, the light division
and the enemy's
.troops opposed to them fairly
mingled in plundering the dead, and Lord Wel-
lington became desirous of checking it, as some
of their soldiery had strolled up (I spoke to
several of them) to the very summit of the hill,
even beyond where their advance had penetrated
in their previous attack. A similar occurrence
took place in front of our lines that covered Lis-
bon. Before we fell back upon our redoubts,
we held the ground near the village of Santa
Quintina, opposite our centre for several days.
The 71st under Colonel Cadogan, were here
poSted behind a little bank they had thrown up,
and were only divided from the enemy, equally
covered by a wall, by a small field, about
one hundred yards across. Under Loisson's
direction, the enemy stormed our post, and were
beat back by Colonels Cadogan and: Reynell, at
the head of two companies, literally with the
bayonet, as one of their men 'was stabbed as lie
was crossing the parapet of the breast-work.
The whole skirmish and the repulse were speedily
over, and when all firing had ceased, they called
across for permission to carry off their killed and
wounded men who were strewed over the little
field in front. To this we assented, and they
sent a party, accompanied by an officer, who
commenced their removal. Whilst they were so
employed, the officer came up to Reynell,' and,
with some flippancy , mingled with mortification,
said; " Apres Pcfaire nous somnies des boas
amis." Colonel Reynell replied with great
quickness, pointing to a. shot.lie had just received
through his blue cloth light infantry cap—
, " Sans doute, cependant je,vous rernercie pour
cette marque de votre bonte,"—Naval and
Military Magazine.

We learn from an Irish gentleman, lately
come from the South of Ireland, that the lower classes
of the Catholics are impressed with a belief that the
Relief Rill will in some way—they scarcely know how—
materially improve their condition. They are no doubt
right in their general expectations, but some of them
have curious notions of the way in which Emancipation
will operate. An amusing instance of this was related to
us by our friend, as follows :—A labourer in Cork got
drunk, and sallied out into the streets in a very pugna-
cious humour. One of the city magistrates, who was on
the spot, seeing that the man wanted some one to fight
him, and that a crowd was gathering, went up to him
and advised him to go home, saying that if lie did not lie
would be doing something that he would regret after-
wards, or something would be done to him that he
would regret. " Oeb," said Paddy, "what is there that
I can regret now ? sure and we'r emancipated." " Well,
my good fel!ow," s.tid the magistrate," and what do you
mean to do now that you are emancipated? " Och,"
replied the man, " sure and I'll 444 my son to,a judge !"
.L—Liverpool Paper.

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, APRIL 9'

Xavier Chabert, a foreigner,. who deicribt.,
self in his schedule as a resident of DUblin, .gor/
, .
burgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, and Liincleoi_l4,o9-11
fessor of chemistry and pyrotechny, a genot.com_,
mission-merchant
was opposed by Mr. Nicholls, on ,behalf , and an exhibitor of cUritisti"!°
;of .
Messrs. Preston, of Edinburgh, haberdashers, fro*
whom he received muslins to the value of neerlt
4001.—1 n answer to questions put to him by CoPt.'ir
set, he stated that he. was in the habit of
,puto4s'.
fire and molten lead into his mouth; he professe4r."'
swallow them, but he only put them into. his mouji!'''
and took them out again in a sly manner, fer„l.l.
were too hot to eat.—(Much laughter.)-secopii
swallow prussic acid without experiencing . an
effects from it ;—that's what he called pyroteeiAll'i
He had-five partners in the beginning, but 1101,Ild!
were not thriving he latterly acted alone.
a counting-hOuse in Dunster-hill, but he had nO.Pri.'
perty except a wife and child.—(Latighter.)--"P'"
received goods from his opponents thiough
yeller, and he sold them in a week after to $•
Christoph, who never paid him, and who cOul41:1°-'
now be found any where. When the_iime for go-
ing his opponents had arrived, apprehensive of,
ing arrested, he put all the goods which he had to
the counting-house into a coach to carry them
and when he came to the place where he was to 'l°:
posit them; he met an officer who was going. to iirqs,;l
him, he ran off, left his books, &c., in the caach`,#P,ti
I
could never find them since.
Mr. NICHOLLS said, that theounds on
opposed him were the non-production of his
books; he looked on the insolvent's. stateine4ll,'o,,!.
lame story: as there was no evidence to ate; 'l6fri
trary the Court discharged him.

~eci

SOUTHWARK SESSIONS, APRIL Sg•

The Court was unable, either yesterday or te-o,_l
to proceed to business until near 12 o'clock, in,
lion-attendance
sequence of the on-attendance of an -Alcleort
This morning Sir John Perring, though not on sr
rota, left the Justice-room to preside. It is di to
the Recorder to say that he was punctual. Pl.;
VW
convenience and expense occasioned to the
are loudly complained of.
Alexander liflntosh and George Lewis were_l:l
dicted for stealing from Eliza Brent, on the 4f11,1
March, a purse, containing half-a-sovereign all"
shilling.
The prisoners are well known thieves, end Were
found Guilty.—Transported for life. •