Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-07-19


From the Military Sketch Book
THE SOLDIERS ORPHAN.
Among soldiers-men whose habits Of lille
are almost in direct opposition to social and
domestic enjoyment-who are strangers every
where, and whose profession is to destroy their
fellow men, il is astonishing what tenderness
and amiability of disposition are frequently TO
be met with. If a comrade dies and leaves a
widow or if an object OF distress presents Itself
10 regiment-such as a poor traveller, unable
10 proceed from illness or want, subscription
is Immediately set on foot, and although few
pence from each be the extent Of the aims, yet
with men whose pay is so limited, it bears the
credi, Of considerable gift; but il is not the "a
mount Of the subscription l have looked TO
most; il is the generous promptiidde with which
the measure is adopted.-Nor are such the
greatest marks Of tenderness in the soldier: Of
tentimes has it occurred, that an orphan has
been left in regiment, and the child has eth
er been supported and domiciled with the com
pany 10 which its father belonged, or a single
soldier has undertaken the care Of il. | be-
lieve one remarkable instance occurred imme-
dia,ely after the battle Of Waterloo-,he infant
was discovered under the carriage Of field
piece. Another is, believe, at this moment 10
be found either in the 10Th or 79lh regiment
That which fell under my own observation
will relate; and / think il affords undoubted
proof Of the kindest and most amahle heart.
Al the battle Of Talavera, a soldier who had
his wife ,and child about two years and hall
old in the regiment With him was killed. His
death weighed heavily al the heart OF The wo-
man, and together with severe cold caught IN
marching. ptoduceG rever winch terWindtcu
in her death Her infant, thus lett fa,heriess
and mother'ess, became an interesting OBJECT oil
pity. The officers Of the regiment put the boy
in the care of woman belonging 10 their own
regiment. This woman, however was drunk
ard, and the comrade Of the deceased father
perceived that she neglected the child. He re-
ported this 10 the officers, and they determined
TO remove IL but on examination ii was found
that there was no other woman in he regiment
who had claims 10 be trusted more than the
person with whom the child already was. In
deed, there are but few women permitted TO
take the field with the soldiers, and those III &C.
neral are not only Incorporate, but blunted In
their feelings by their own prlvatons.
The comrade, finding much difficulty in pro-
viding nurse for the child, declared that he
would sooner undertake the care OF him HIM
self until an opportunity of better disposng OF
him should occur, as he felt convinced that the
poor infan, would be lost, if suffered TO remain
with the woman under whose care he then was
There was no objection made 10 this, so the
soldier Immediately took charge OF the child.
And well he acquitted himself in his RESPONSE
bil;,y: he regularly washed, dressed, and lea
the little fellow every morning, he would clam
Der over the hills and procure goats milk Tor
him, when even the officers could not obtain
that luxury; and although not much OF cook,
would boil his ration meat into i nutrailNe Jei-
L., ily ha hpS IF
child. In less than two months, the little cam
paigner was very diferen, in appearance from
that which he exhibited when first taken in
charge Of the soldier; and he became a rosy
faced, chubby, hardy little hero, as ever BIZ
vouack on the hill, Of Portugal
Month after nonth passed away, during
which the regiment often moved about. Up
OIL the march the soldier always found means
OF procuring q seat for the child UPON one OF
the baggage ,auies; and he now became SO IN
teresting O. I'll who rev him, that little dill
Guilty in ot,a,o;ng trauspor, for him was TO be
met win One time a mueteer would take
the boy before him on his macho, or.pace him
between Two sacks or casks, upon the animals
back, and gibber Spanish to him as he logged
along at other times he would find seat on
some officers baggage, or"get lift" in the
arms If the men; nobody would refuse hfte John
M accommodation whenever he needed it. So
far heard from soldier Of the division in
which the child was protected. What follows
l witnessed myself.
After the battle Of Busaco; which was fought
in the year following that IF Talavera, the ar
my retreated oser at least one hundred and fiji
ty miles Off country the most difficult to pass:
steep after steep was climbed by division after
division, until the whole arrived within the
lines of Torres Vedras. The whole of this
march. from the mountains Of Busaco to the
lines, was scene Of destruction and misery, not
to the army, but to the unhappy population.
Every pound of corn was DESTROYED, the wine
casks were STAYED, and the forage was burnt;
the people in flock trudging on before the ar
my to shelter themselves from the French, into
whose hands, had they remained in their hous-
es, they must have fallen. Infants barely able