The Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1852-1853, 1853-09-21
GLORY AND CRUTCHEs:
OR, ..
How Jim Harvey got Wounded


Jim Harvey was on old veteran of the
Peninsular Campaign-porticipated in all
the battles in which Wellington won glory,
and many of the other participants, either
death or pair of crutches for life. Let US
describe him. ..te
He was apparently about sixty years of
age, but had worn well, and altho some
what inclined to paunch, was active and
jaunty still. Although thirty years must
have well nigh elapsed since he stood in the
ranks, he still retained his setting up. OF
middle height but broad shouldered and
ronglimbed, he had at one timc been the
model of an infantry linesman; add to this
light eyes and hair, broad, good -humored
face, with nose decidedly BardoIph and
the picture, barring the drapery, is complete
But the custom of an old soldier is invaria-
bly, the same: a frock-coat is the hight Of
his ambition, and when attained, is paraded
on every occasion. The garment in ques
ton that usually bedecked the person of
Jim Harvey, formerly of her Majesty's 69th
foot, once sergeant and twice private, was
of dark cloth, roomy and capacious, match
ln1 "Cl III CNCI lSopCCO WIN lGo bSCpiiiJ
nying wast-coat and combinations; and but
for the outlines and the swarm of artificial
flies that adorned his long mapped beaver,
he would certainly rather have been taken
by stranger for a comfortable country
tradesman, than what he really was.
The old veteran, as we said before, had
participated in many Of the hard fought
hotflae nf tl,a Dn,incu lar n roIn I
Waterloo, he done his share of the fighting;
but like many of his comrades, his recon-
pense was severe wounds, and discharge
af,er they were heald.
" "Why, you see, sir" said Harvey, set
ting himself as if for story he liked to tell
-"you see, it was near the end of the day,
although the fighting was anything but all
over; yet, we had been out skirmishing, and
the buges had just sounded our recall when
my comrade was knocked over by musket
shot in the breast. My comrade and | had
Joined the Goth on the same day; we had
gone through the campaign in Holland to-
gether, and when both ofus were sergeants,
had been broke by the same court martial
for the same offence-love Of liquor at the !
wrong time, that was; SO Joe Watkins and
l were sworn friends. He would have run
any risk to serve me, for we had lived to-
gether like brothers, and it was not a little
danger that would prevent nay trying to
help him when he needed it; so YOU see,
when the skirmishers retreated, ran to Joe
to see where he had gotlt, and help him "a
gainst my knee, took off his belts, and open
ed bis coat. "I'm hit hard, JIM" said he,
"I'll never see tomorrow" But | tried 70
encourage him and get him on his feet, al |
though felt myself thatit was useless, and
that he had not very long to live, for only
few drops of blood had rickled from the
little blue holein his left breast and he spoke
as if he was suHocating' had seen many
a fine fellow die In the field, but never felt
for any Of them as l did for Joe; SO I linger
ed beside him, giving him, drink from my
flash, and couldn't make up my mind to
quit him in that state, till found it was too
late, when | saw three French cuirassier
squirting across the field to where | was sup
porting Joe. "Them three chaps look as if |
they were coming to fetch me, joe" says i.
!Ieave me, Jim," says he, "and God bless
youl YOU Can 10 ne no Soou ny Staying, |
and shouldn't like you to come to hurt |
they're too many for YOU" They are COM
ing to fetch me, Joe," says |. ''Look out,
Jim," says he-"look out, Jim" And that
was the last word he said, poor fellow. |
felt asif I could have cried; said would |
come back to him, squeezed his hand, and
sprang behind two dead gun-horses that lay
close by, thinking that might be some pro-
lection 70 me, and be kind of rampant
l had time, too, to ram home a cartridge and
take good sure aim before they were on
me, was thought one oflthe best marks.
men in my company then, and felt as steady
at the moment as though on parade in o
barrack-y yard, for ! knew that my life de-
pended on my GOODNESS; and when man
feels that he'll do his best; besides, saw
! had one good chance inmy favor, for luck
ily, they had outridden one another a good
deal. III A M sia
swell, you see, the first chap was with
In Eve yards Of me, when | covered him
sure and fred. The bullet struck him in
the head, near the eye, think, and he gave
me no more trouble--he threwup hisarms,
bis horse swerved, be wavered from side to
side, and rolled out Of bis saddle, about