The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1843-11-13

| .
line, through tremendous fire of musketry, and
dreadful was the slaughter as they rushed on
wards. As they came up with us, we sprang to
our feet, gave one hearty cheer, and charged
along with them, treading upon our own dead
and wounded, who lay in the front. The 50th
were next TO us as we went, and recollect, as
said, the hrmness of that regiment in the charge.
They appeared like a wall Of iron. The enemy
turned and fled, the cavalry dashing upon them
as they went of.
| After the day IS work was over, while stroling
about the field, just upon the spot where this
| charge had taken place, remarked soldier of
| the Add, and French grenadier, both dead, ly-
ing close together. They had apparently killed
each other at the same moment, for both wea-
pons remained in the bodies of the slain. Bro
| therwood was lying next me during part of
| this day; he was Leicestershire man, and was
killed afterwards by cannon ball at Victoria.
remember his death more particularly from the
circumstance OF that very ball killing three OF
| the company al the same moment viz: Lieu
| tenant Hopwood, Patrick Mahon, and himself.
| Brotherhood was among the skirmishers with
me on this day. He was always lively fellow,
but rather irritable in disposition. Just as the
French went to the right about, l remember he
ID them furiously; and, all his bullets being
gone, he grabbed razor from his havresack,
rammed it down, and fired it after them.
During this day / myself narrowly escaped
being killed by our own dragons, for, somehow
or other, in the confusion, fell while they were
charging, and the whole squadron laundering
past, just missed me- as l lay among the dead
and wounded. Tired and overweghted with
my knapsack, and all my shoemaking imple-
ments, lay where had fallen for short time,
and watched the cavalry as they gained the
enemy. | observed fine, gallant-looking officer
leading them on in that charge He was a
brave fellow, and bore himself like hero; with
his sword waving in the air, he cheered the men on
as ne went dashing upon the enemy, and hewing
and slashing at them in tremendous style. |
watched for him as the dragons came off after
Fine fellow his conduct made an impression
upon me that shall never forget, and was told
afterwards that he was brother of Sir John
Euston.
French soldier was lying beside me at this
time; he was badly wounded; and hearing him
moan as he lay, after had done looking at the
| cavalry turned my attention to him, and get
ting up lifted his head, and poured some water
INTO his mouth. He was dying fast ; but he thank
| ed me in foreign language, which, although
did not exactly understand, could easily make
out by the look he gave me. Mullins, of the
rifles, who stepped up whilst I supported his
head, id me for fool for my pains. Better
knock out his brains, Harris" said he; he has
done us mischief enough, I'll be bound for it, to-
day."
After the battle strolled about the field, in
order 10 see II there was anything to be found
worth picking up among the dead. The first
thing ! saw was three-pronged silver fork,
which, as it lay by itself, had most likely been
dropped by some person who had been on the
lookout before me. A little further on I saw
French soldier sitting against small rise in the
ground, or bank He was wounded in the throat,
and appeared very faint, the bosom of his coat
being saturated with the blood which had fowd
down. BY his side lay his cap, and close to that
was bundle containing quantity of gold and
| silver crosses, and which concluded he had
| plundered from some convent or church. He
looked the picture of sacrilegious thief diving
hopelessly, and overtaken by Divine wrath. /
kickek over his cap, which was also full of plum
der, but declined taking anything from him.
| l 1elt fearful OF mourning the wrath Of Heaven
| for the like offence, SO left him and passed on.
little further off lay an officer Of the 5Oth reg-
ment | knew him by sight, and recognized
him as he lay. He was quite dead, and lying
on his back He had been plundered, and his
clothes were torn open. Three bullet-hoes were
close together in the pit Of his stomach: beside
him lay an empty pocket book, and his epaulette
had been pulled from his shoulder.
| had moved on but a few PAGES, when re-
collected that, perhaps the officers shoes might
serve me, my own being considerably the worse
Tor wear, SO returned again, went back, pulled
one OF his shoes off, and knet down on my knee,
to try it on. 1t was not much better than nv
own: however, determined on the exchange,
and proceeded TO take off its fellow. AS did
SO was startled by the sharp report of frelock,
and at the same moment bullet whistled close
by my head. Instantly starting up, turned, and
looked IN the direction whence the shot had come
There was no person near me in this part of the
held. The dead and dying lay thickly all round ];
but nothing else could see | looked to the
printing OF my rifle, and again turned to the dead
officer Of the 5Olh. 1t was evident that some
plunderlng scoundrel had taken shot at me-
and the fact Of his doing so proclaimed him one
OF the enemy. To distinguish him amongst the
bodies strewn about was impossible; perhaps he
might himself be one of the wounded. Hardly
had effected the exchange put on the dead Off
GERS shoes, and resumed my rifle, when another
shot took place, and second ball whistled past
me-. This time | was ready, and, turning quick
y, saw my man he was just about to squat
down behind small mound, about twenty PAGES
from me. l took hap-hazard shot at him and