The Hawaiian gazette., 1883-03-07
Balraiiait Gazette,
WEDNESDAY, MARCH :, 1883.
Charge Of the Highland Brigade.


The following written by private in the Frs
Battalion Gordon Hiehlandc-s were printed recent!
At Cairo for circulation in the regiment. srArrhba
Alison expressed very favorable opinion OF Prirat
Shapes poetical gifts, and with his Judgment most
our readers, we mink, win be disposed TO agree;
Hurrahi my lads. old seotland's piumes,
In triumph well may wavc;
And proudly may old England boast,
And irellnd's pride-ihe brave Eighteenth
Who never yet knew fear
Struck terror 70 the rcbel hearts
That heard their charging cheer.
Hprr1hi hurrahi the Highland steel,
Its bloody work has done,
And fast and far the rebels fee,
For Tel-el-Kebir's won
Twas OF the evening Of The twelfth
We formed upon parade,
And Alison, in words like these,
Addressed his brave brigade:
Ny lads" he said, .'our foes are strong,
Their trenches wide and deep,
And far and near across the plain,
His heavy guns can sweep;
So stealthily and silently,
Our way ionightweill feel,
And then, ere cAwns the morning light,
Upon them with the steel
No cheer arose throughout tn. rauks
For silence was the word,
But palmer still their faces told
how deep their hearts were stirred:
And round their well-oved Chieftain's lip-
The smile that proudly played,
said palmer far than words could say,
Right well he knew his Highland lads
Were steady, firm and true,
And none could better do the work
Laid out for them TO do.
And then commenced that silent march
Across the desert sand.
No sound except the stealthy tread
or low, hAlf-hushed command;
A rest-and then once more on foot,
Without a sound or sign,
stiIl closer TO the deadly trench,
Pressed on the thin rcd line.
Now silence-silence on your lives,
No word above your breath.
II but their sunners found u nov
Iwopld mean sweeping death
At last rang ont their busle notes
Upon the morning air,
And in the gloom the rife hash,
Told Us the foe was there;
One instant pause 10 tx our steel,
One instant, only one,
And with a cheer that rent the the air
The HiEhlanders rushed on.
And soon Iheir flashing hayonets QuCnehed
The living chain OF IRE;
Hurrshl the foremost trench Is won,
The rebel hounds retire.
But onward. onward to the front
Advance my Scottish sons;
Although you've len his trenches clear,
You've yet to take his guns.
see how his cursed rebel shot
Amongst us pillow the ground,
And eth his il-directed .hcu
Are bursting all around;
Another charre, another cheer,
And stark his Eunners lay,
While redly CLEANED our bayonei blades,
Al IA Aa4t NAAes4At N-s
And now. my gallant Highland lads,
The victory IL won,
Our Indian troops take up pursuit,
Your work j. almost done.
Seel how across the desert waste
In terror wild they fy,
OF, casping on the blood-stainod sand.
In riddled heaps theyhc
For Alexandria's hatchery
4 double debt they pay;
victims Of a hellish hate,
You're well avenged to-day.
God rest the gallant souls that fell,
In that ferce and bloody fight,
While bringing British pluck 10 bear.
Against the rebel might;
And though their friends and comrades gricvc
Still glorious It's 10 tell,
For every Highland heart that's still,
A hundred rebels fell.
And proudly will the Scotch recall,
And long the rebels rue,
The Thirteenth OF September.
Eighteen hundred and Eighty-tWO.
7. sHARrE, Gordon HighlandeTs,
CsTRo. October 18th, 1882