Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-05-30
aestscellaueo;,s Denartmeut.
From he London Magazine.
THE EyENTrUL LIFE or a soLDI

Rccoections of Evcntfu Life, chiefly passed in the
Army. By Soldier. Vols.
The book whose title is placed AT the lead Of this
paper, work OF peculiar merit; II is noSt amusing
in itself relates to very interesting transactions very
Instructive to them and many other things and has
the advantage of being written by OF class in
which few writers proluced that of common
soldier. The birth of the author superior to tina;
of the common soldier in general. His father was
clerk in mercantile house in Glasgow; his education
consequently OF the better kind is indeed eri
dent from the composition of bis book Circumstances
which need not be detailed here, induced "thc Sol
dei' 10 away from his homo; and like all the chill
dren Of maritime town. lac took the sea as naturally
duckngs take To The water His naval Lie we sha il
skipp: il is Interesting enough but will leave 20
these whom we may induce TO read the book. On his
return from The sea lie ensts into a matching regiment
oN5aiis Tor Lisbon and Joins the British army, then
actively engaged IN the PenInsu!a From Lisbon
he regiment is shortly despatched To the de,encc of
Cad1, then closely beseged by the French. Here he
IS one OF detachment employ 30 keen possession OF
a fort which ii apprehen!c tc F.c:,-: ,rs,t,os
10 man. This patt OF the narrative gives very nnia
Vourabe account of the behaviour cf officers to
their men, and which is not generally true. We OBJ
serve, however, throughout the work very nnFrienily
feeling towards the aristocracy of the army. How far
it Just should he glad to know. The only wav TO
learn, is to encourage education, and then publication
among tie soldiers, who have had hitherto no
means of making their complaints known. No man
can be more hopeless slave than private soldier.
NlIere we were wrought like slaves may saw '; it|,
out nerniason; for worthy adjutant, who aimed al
being a rigid scipnarian, and was great amateur
in the drill way (which lis company knew very we'll
determined that hard labor of cony ci!-
for cleaning things, should tempt him 10 de-
viate from a clean parade, and formal guard mounting
every morning, even although we had been all night
the rain piCquct, carrying I'd bags and dir.
Ging trenches up the knees in sinking mud a tie
varied forms of duty known in militia regiment (ritl,
which he was best acquaDtcd) were BY linn deemed
indispensable: and in place who're had no conye.
nience for keeping things in order, not shell
for them, thi5 eXaCtDcss certainly TO say the
least of it. unnecessarily teasing We were also Obliged
20 stand sentry different parts of The battery full
dressed, where there earthly for us, unless
for show; and could perceive the comnan-
dan aud lie had for their conduct, unless that feeling
the novelty of their s!tuaon-in command of fort
they wishc, to ape with their handful men all the
Importance of leaders Of army.
I'VE were driven from guard 4, ~orling-working
to pcquet-pcGnei 10 working again, a gin horse
round Of The most inOlcrable fatigue which We never
could have borne for any length of time exposed as we
often were TO and raiE in n climate like that of
Cadiz Bnt, with all its, had The rnoi tGca-
ton to find best indicators repaid with the most
supeciliOus haughtness, and the worst OF usage We
were allowed little time TO sleep; and that little was
often withheld from u.s.
''Bu let it not be imagined that our officers partci
paed IN all tbs fatigue they knew how TO take care
of themselves; and they could sit and drink wins in
their bomb proof at night comfortable in mess
at home And was a common amusement of
the ComTdnlant when he got warmed with It, to order
the drum to beat in the middle oil the rgE!t-yyen fine
poor devils, who had perhaps Just lost sense of their
fatigue in sleep, would be rouscd up and Obliged TO 90
10 their several posts he ramparts and when there
not allowed TO stand steadily To await flie
coming OF foe or tlc blue devils OF te commandments
brain had peopcd the different places Of attach, with
millions for aught knew:l and after haitian hour or an
bour'5 hard fighting with the wind, would raciously
be permitted To 20 below to our births. Bot we would
be scarcely lain down. when were again roused 10
commence working. This Tie usual routine The
most Of the time were hoe"
very vivid account is given Of the cannonsdng Of
the fort which they at length forced 10 eydcuae
eve had been in The fort about two months:
aad, from the time tiat bad slenccd the small bat
terry hat had opened on when VIC first gained oos
session Of tie place, tlc r;ouch bad not nnesej Us
although they occasionally fired shots the boats pas
sing M and down the bay. We were well aware how
eye, tat thi5 on'y dcccui calm before storm:
for hcy bad bccu busy all this time building batteries
both in front auI to light in the village have al
ready mentioned, although thcy were hidden from our
vicw BY the houses.
at last, when cgcry Thing prepared thcy com.
MERGED 'rir operations night by blowing up tie
ho'ers ygl-h hal hitherto masked The batteries was
chi r 9.t ut the 'in'; and ~ perceived them louv
ing -l.. '-rca 4 l-ti-I,ir. nd kinlicd We .us
.,ec,ad 'r. or, 81 'oa.t-"k and orr suspi
Dion v-,. Ia .nf, fcr jo = short time after, They
gave n sa;aH, OF gIpo shot VIII oh plougbcd the earth
On efeT" srlc 49, 1855 lat '5i- wa oul, 4 prelude Z