Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-05-09
A SOLDIERS RECoLLECrIONs.

~ was SLoTliy aittT lue capture OF
tho Island of Guadsloupe from the
French, in the year 1S0-, that my
teur of duty placed me in command of q
subsaltern's guard of Fort Matilda. where
division Of the prisoners Of war
was then confined. | remember the
guard mounting of that morning. Never
was there recollecteda more motley group
than that which, under my command,
maj ched on the parade ground. The
officer, an Irishman; the sergeant, from
the York Rangers, Of the same nation;
half dozen borders from the 25th; as
many Germans from the 5th battalion OF
the Goth, and several Africans from nv
own corps, the -th West India regiment,
figured in the 'Grand Report"
The day passed off in the intellectual
manner usual with Subs on duty, namely,
in writing out, and tearing to pieces the
guard report-leaning over the parapet
of the draw bridge-yawning over Dundus
and arranging and re-arranging the
papers in my writing desk. Evening
came. The guard was turned out at
"gun-fire." l heard the drums of the
several regiments, encamped or hutted at
a small distances round the town, beat
the tattoo. My regimental coat and
wings (for [ was Light Bob were ex-
changed for the more comfortable blue
surtout. The white beaver, the heavy
costume of the day, gave place to a light
and easy foraging cap: and my net ham,
mock, from the Spanish main, was slung
sufficiently low to allow my toe to reach
the ground, that might give it the see
saw motion so agreeable to the West In
dian. "Who goes there z" shouts the
sentinel at the gate. Rounds" "What
rounds 2" ''Grand rounds" Guard
turn OUT Clash sound the horses hoofs
of the field officer on duty, as he retires
from his examination Of my post, and all
is still again.
At eleven o'clock I rouse myself, tie
my bandana tight round my throat, and
visit the sentinels; nothing more to do till
morning. light my cigar, take fare
wnlI glass nf my swizzle, (cold rum and
water, very weak, and which west In
dian only can mix and, reclining in my
hammock, compose myself for a nap. In
vain; the annoying buzz of the musqui-
toes, and the close atmosphere of the
guard-room, precluded the possibility of
sleep. l arose and opened the jalousie to
admit the sea breeze, whose sudden and
low moaning was just beginning to be
heard. How lovely was the scene that
met my view. The moon had only just
risen over the smoke cloud that constant
ly hangs on the summit of Mount Souf-
riere; which, lighted by her radiance
seemed like palm tree of the brightest
amber, gradually reddening to a bright
flame color, at the point where it emerg.
ed from the crater of that ever-smoking
furnace. The mountain itself rose dark
and giant like, in deep shade; its outline
clearly defined against the cloudless trans
parent brilliancy of a tropical sky. Here
and there struggling moonbeam finding
its way to the bottom of some of the nu-
merouS ravines on the mountain S side,
and sperk!ed with brilliant light reflected
in the streams below. In the plain at the
foot of the hill, stood the town of Bassa-
terre; the low fiat roofs of its houses GOV.
cred with the dew; glittering bright in
the moonlight, which, as usual in that
climate, was so clear as to render even
the gay coloring of the verandahs and
galleries plainly distinguishable; while,
in the foreground the ramparts and glaciS
of Fort Matilda frowned in black and
solemn grandeur. The night breeze blew
cool and sweet; thousand lizards chrip-
ped shrilly beneath the window; while
the melancholy tones of the sentinels, as
they sung forth, with prolonged and va
rying cadence, the customary warning Of
'sAIl's WE'LL" harmonized sweetly with
the monotonous booming of the sea, that
broke upon the shore below the fortress
Leaving the window open, [ resumed
my place in the hammock; and while
viewing the prospect before me, and in
haling the fragrance of my cigar, sweet
and pleasing ideas Of country and OF
home rose gradually within my mind.
Inc landscape slowly faded from my
view. the thought of kindred, of friends,
and of the green banks of the Shannon,
continued to mingle undefnedly, with
lofty palm trees, smoking mountains,
cigars, swizzle, sentries, grand rounds,
rum, and prisoners Of warm word L
was fast asleep; and so night have con-
tinued until morning, had [ not been
awakened by an unusual commotion In
the mems guard-room, separated from
mine by thin wooden partition only.
The confusion at Babel was order and
regularity compared with the uproar |
now heard. The Irish sergeant's brouge,
as he alternarely sore and blarneyed,
rose clear and sonoIous over the gutteral
grumbling of the German, the rumbling
burr of the NorthuInbrian, and the lab
bering, monkey-like equeak of my own
negroes while at intervals thought
could distinguish the low meanings OF
one in pain. To snatch my sabre from
the table, and run into the adjoining
room, was the thought and work of a
minute; and in the confusion Of noises
was astounding, the scene that met my
eyes, on crossing the threshold, was rer'
fectly alarming. A huge wood fire, that
incongruous but invariable appearance OF
the West India guard-room, threw its
fitful beams on the rough and marked
features of the whole assembled guard,
who were congregated around black
soldier of my own regiment, nay OF my
own company, who lay on the hearth,
agitated almost convulsively. His face,
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