The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1883-03-07
3alraiiait 6azette.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH !. lss3.
Charre of the Highland Brigade.


The following verses written by private in the Pin
B,ttaion Gordon HehlAHder-, were printed recent!
Al Cairo for eirculaion in the regiment. srArehba
Alison e1pressed very favorable opinion Of Privat
sharpes poeteal gifts and with his judgment most Q
orr readers, We think, viii be disposed to agree
Hurrahi my lads, old seo,lAnd's plumes.
In triumph well may wave
And proudly may old England boast
Her sons both staunch and brave;
And Ireland's pride-the brave Eighteenth
Who never yet knew fear
Struck terror TO the rebel hearts
That heard their charging cheer.
Hnrrahl hurrshi the Highland steel
Its bloody work has done,
And fast and far the rebels nee,
For Te-el-kebir's won
Twas on the evening Of the twelfth.
We formed upon parade,
And Alison, in words like these,
Addressed his brave brigade;
Ny lads" he said, ''ouT foes arc strong,
Their trenches wide and deep,
And far and near across the plain
His heavy guns can sweep;
So stealthiiy and silently,
Our way to-nighf wei feel,
And then. ere dawns the morning light,
Upon them with the steel.
No cheer arose throughout the ranks,
For silence was the word.
utplainer still their faces told
How eeep thtir hearts were stirred;
And round their Weil-l0ved Chieftain's lps
The smile that proudly played.
said palmer far than words could say,
Right well he knew his Highland lad
We're steady, hrm and true,
And none could better do the work
Laid ont for them 10 do
And then commenced that silent march.
Across the desert sand,
No sound except the stealthy tread,
Or low, hAlf-hushed command;
A rest-ane then once more on foot,
Without q sound or sign.
Still closer 10 the deadly trench
Pressed on the thin red line.
Now siienee-silence on Your I've.
No word above your breath,
II hut their gunners found Us nov
'Twould mean a sweeping death.
At last rang ont their bugle notes
Upon the morning air,
And in the gloom the rife fash,
Told US the foe was there
One instant pause 10 tx steel.
One instant only one,
And with cheer that rent the the air,
The Highlanders rushed on,
And soon their flashing bayonets quenehed
The living chain Of FIRE;
HurrHhl the foremost trench Is won,
The rebel hounds retire.
But onward. onward 10 the front,
Advance my Scottish sons;
Although you've left his trenches clear,
You've yet 10 take his guns.
See how his cursed rebel shot
Amongst Us pillow the ground,
And still HE ill-drocted shell
Are bursting all around;
Another charge, another cheer
And staFS his gunners lay,
While redly CLEANED our bayonet bladcs,
All In the bursting day.
And now. my gallant Highland lad,
The victory IL wonl
Our Indian troops take up pursuit
Your work T. most done.
Sect how across the desert waste
In terror wild they ny,
.. gaspiug on the bloOd-stainCd sand.
IN Hdfled heaps they he.
For Alexnndria's butchery
A double debt they pay;
o victims OF a hcllish hate,
You're well avenged to-day.
God rest the gallant souls that fell
In that fierce anc bloody fight,
While bringing British pluck 10 bear.
Against the rebel might;
And though their friends and c0mrade- erleyc
Still glorious It's To tell,
For every Highland heart that's still,
4 hundred rebels fell.
And proudly will the Scotch recall
And long the rebels rue,
The Thirteenth Of September,
Eighteen hundred and Eighty-rwO.
7. SHARPE, Gordon Hishaudcrs,
CAIRO. October llth, 1889