Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-05-20

where he had no right to be. He was |
thinking whether he had better not beat a
retreat, and retire to some spot where he
would be screened from observation, when |
the object of his dread turned round and
asked him his business there. The Duke
was pleased with his answers, and deter
mined to turn his metal and sense to good
account.
"You are funny chap. Why. you
ought to have been a soldier! Would you
like to serve your country, if l gave you the
opportunity?"
"Yes, my lord
Would you take u message of impor-
tance for me, if sent YOU with one?"
Touching his hat in the approved mill
tary fashion he replied If were trusted
by you, my lord l should think it the
proudest day of my life
The Duke, who at that time was no duke,
but Lord Wellington, put into the mans
hand his feld-glass, and directed him
where to look. Those troops you see
yonder are the Enniskillens; those beyond
are the Royals. There, you see those gray
horses, they are the Scots Grays. They
are commanded by Lord Edward Somerset
There. again, is the AID. Between (point-
ing to certain spots) such and such ii regi-
ment lie, Sir James Kempt's brigade, the
2Sth, the 42d, the 10Th Highlanders, and
the 95th Rifles. have no materials for
writing by me, so mind you are very ac-
curate in delivering my message" He
then, having intrusted to him a brief, en-
phatic order (Which he made him repeat,
that there mi ght be no mistake,) ended the
interview with these words: Tell him,
by G., if he perseveres in carrying out
what he had begun to do, the game will be
all up with us!'
81 dare say you have often joined in a
fox-hunt in England?"
"Often. my lord"
"Well, in the hunting-field you don It
think much ofa man who is always " skirt
ing But | shan't think much of you in
the battlefield, ut least as my aide-de-
camp, if you do not skirt. Your business
is to execute my orders with as little risk
to yourself as may be; because if you put
yourself in danger, you imperil the safe
delivery OF my message, and so jeopardize
the success of the fight. Mind. then, don t
go near the smoke; bat pound away on
that nag of yours until you reach the rear
YOU can get speech with that you come
from me, and must be taken to the Gener-
al. and it will be all right
the stranger was off at the top of his horses
speed to execute them. The Duke watch
en- his progress with marked interest and
approval for some little time; when pre-
sentlv his appreciation gave way to appre-
hension, and apprehension to Indignation
as he observed his messenger doing the
very thing he had specially warned him
against-namely. dash through the very
: thick of the smoke with all the fearless
ness of an old cavalry officer. While the
, Duke was riding up and down. uneasily
ruminating on the chances of his message
: ever reaching its destination, he was joined
: first, by Sir Alexander Gordon, then by
Sir Augustus Frazer. and then by Sir
; Horace Seymour, bearing message from
Lord Anglesey. As soon as they had al
/ come up, within a minute or two of each
other, the Duke said: Il have been want,
: ing one of you gentlemen sadly. In your
! absence have been so hard pressed for al
: aid-de-camp that have had to appoint Z
new one in the person of Brummagen
I bagman.'' He then told them of the mis-
5 sion on which he had sent him. Each prof
t fered his services The Duke declined
thom." . Perhaps L may want one o
f you,'' said he; we'll wait a few minutes
' I'm disposed to have faith in Brummagem
He's no fool.n He then dismounted from
1 his horse passed his horses bride into
f Seymour's hand, took from his dispatch
: box, which was on the ground, the Sll
/, newspaper, opened it to its full extent
a spread it over his face, leaned his head OF
A Il sack of forage. and in another instan
5 was asleep. All three aides-de-camp stooC
silent by. At the expiration of five OF 81,
: minutes interval he sprang up on his feet
h opened his tield-glass, and cried out, in ;
p tone of unusual vivacity, by Jove. 1t i,
: all right. kempt has changed his tactics
n He has got my message for he is doing
precisely as | directed him. Well done
# Buttons.
; The Duke, one evening after dinner, tol'
e nv informant that he considered the cOun
4 teraction of fkempts original movement al
L most the pivot on which the fortunes o
:. the battle turned; and certainly next il
e Importance to the closing of the gates o
:, Hougoumont by Sir John Mcconnell, Cap
Is thin Wvndham, Ensigns Gooch and Har
yev; and last, not least. Sergeant Graham
:, of the Coldstreams. Indeed, so indebte,
: did the Duke feel to the hero of our tai
: for the intelligence and intrepidity he ha,
Il displayed. that the instant the Prussian
o had come up, and he had ordered our har
5 assed troops, who had sustained the chic
y brunt of the French attack, to lie dow
e and rest, and leave the pursuit to the las
e comers, he had him cried. first on the field
# then in the village of Waterloo, then Il
d Brussels, and last of all at Paris-but to n
l. purpose.
is For many years the Duke never coul
o gain tidings of him, until one day, at din
!, ner at his own table, happening to men
5, ton the circumstances, and express his II
e gret at never having been able to lear
ID ANYTHING of him since the event, one of hi
le guests told him that he knew the mar
d and had heard him allude to the part h
g had played, very cursorily. and withou
4, boastfulness. The Duke instantly too
l. down the mans address, wrote to him, an
le within week obtained for him a commi:
1t sionship of customs in the west of Englan
n in recognition of his services.