The sun., 1896-08-23
DEEDS OF GREAT VAL0R.
soMB THATHlTE COME UNDER TEE
NOTICE OF ARCHIBALD FORBES.
TIE Fanous E.giish War correspondent's
Rtortes OF bravery IN Many Lnnds-
The Rraveet Deea ne Ever Saw Was n
Heroic Rescae from the Enemy In Africa.


| FNorn the Youths conpdnton
Thore are 90 many kinds os courage that to
enumerAte tho variety in detail would hll q
number of the Youths Companion. Person
ally do not rank particularly high heady
valor In the battle or the for,orn hope. Then
the blood is hot and the Ardor of the fray Is
throbbing in every fibre. Unless man 10
An utter coward at heart, II seems to me that
perforce he must in tho nature Of things bo
| brave In the turmoil of battle. OF course,
there, as elsewhere, degrees Of conduct pre-
| sent themselves, and the true man will stem
q sudden panic greatly dare to rave the
| life Of q comrade.
| But II is In cold blood that the higher cour
aRe exhibits itself, and the comparative rari-
| ty OF that virtue proves its exceptional and
r.ore elevated stamp.
Rnrest OF all kinds Of courage is perhaps
that variety which the Duke Of Wellington
used TO call "two-oclock- in the-morning
| courage"
There was the spirit Of the finest courage
in the conduct OF Capt Georse Napier, who,
being struck in the breach at Ciudad Rodrigo.
at the head Of the storming party, his arm
shattered by g cannon ball, kept cheering
and directing his men a. he lay bleeding
and helpless, trodden on. buffeted by the
charging soldiers He would not have him.
self removed until he heard the place was
won, and then, with his sash binding his
arm. he walked quietly to the amputatinR
place. waited his turn. and had TO listen TO
the discussion of a point OF etiquette between
two surgeons as to which OF them was entitled
20 perform on him.
Tint was cool daring on the part of q
rough Irish private in the Peninsular war
who. when q hirteen-inch shell fell in tho
crowded work. knocked out the burning fuse
with . blow of his spade, picked up the she'll
and carried 1t TO his officer, with the quaint
remark, There she is now, your Honor. She'll
do nobody any harm now. for it's mesilf has
knocked the life out av the cratu-e.''
Who does not remember the noble stole
courage and discipline OF those recruits who
stood In their ranks on the deck OF the Birk-
enhead troop ship, waiting for the inevitable
death that was imminent. while the women
and children were being savedG
Briton myself, have ties with the great
republic. and 70: that reason l cherish the
stamp / specially admire performed By Ameri-
caus-Acts which probably not widely
known among tine country men of those brave
men.
first action in the Galena that a shell crashed
into the turret in which lie was with the gun
ners. and half smolhered him with the blood
and bra ms OF ali adjacent sailor. Others were
setting In. Its progress Rodgers aged. not.
however. by angry voice and loud objurga-
Complaining remark. as he wiped his bespat. li;
tered face; AID they told me these things
men1.s Mefe ,h1r"} ne u'ieraHSe nee and the
American sense OF hu;aor. The gunners raj.
lied and renewed the fight.
On another occasion, think when his ship
Iedrrat. ironclad Atlanta. Rodgers. having
gone below for m mept. found a man OF the
decks When challenged 10 answer for COW:
ardice in desertitg his post, the m an made no
order: order. anu was '1' /" -'V"' 0' 'a'' Rodgers
The fight over and the Atlanta prize,o
of his officers, entering his CahtE, represented
70 him that the nan no skulker. but on
the contrary. one OF the best men on the ship
who had been da2cd and stunned by the i'm
the inside OF which he had been leaning; that
challenged by the commanding officer he had
not yet recovered from IN" shock.
Rodgers ordered THAI the man should be i'm
medately uuironed. and az quarters next day.
when officers and shiy is company were mus
tered. he thus curtly but po'ntediy addressed
MY man. called you a coward yesterday.
I hnd was mistaken. and" iiftng MS cap. Il
beg your pardot..
surely than this no commanding officer
one can well beieye | ihn, 'fe for Sath; cet " CO sd
in his manhood To hs fellow citizens. 20 gen !
the WeehawAen's crew would have died 10 a /
1t is remarkable with what different senti- |
mcnts commanders regard tie efforts OF
their su6orr!natcs TO gain renown.
Lord Nolseley. for example. would have !
10 obtain persona! djstin ton. Steady old
Lord Elyde. on the other hand. held that an
centive TO aides dc-camp and staff oftcers
To place themselves IL prominent positions
m pnrs"7s ., aIt"cins IN % And
compared with the gala OF public honor.
but, their Sondu,t IS cruel injustice To other
gallant officers. who. IN all the excitement (
OF action. have important, !espou.! ble, anu
scif-a6neGatory duties 20 perform" /
lent heart Of half a dozen actions. ConSpiCu- /
ou.. above All men b, the while coat he wore
have seen him stand on he parapc: OF our
eearthwork for al hour at a time. the target
Of sheer reckessness, but they wese done
in the intensity Of devotion Ia purpose.
spre his Gea with connG"ntg to follow How
whittier he led. 10 stimulate them to DARN.
by. the force OF example
tanned them: VIXEN he allied 1t was Tor no
want OF ,eNdeavog TO succeed. How he s,rove
Is vividly described in MacGanan's power-
ful etching OF him returning from an effort
which tailed :or wan; OF support Your
lie was in fearful sta,S Of Of ~xci1smsnt ;1sg
blood and mud; III sword 6rok -; his cross
OF 81. George twisted round over his shoul.
ger Sts his his FACE e.HGS VII With g"wGsr and smoke:
voice quite gone He spoke in IA hoarsc WIS,
per. never SAW such picture ot battle AS
skobcleft as strivin; for victory. for ,cIrt,
i2F MFoG SGTonnSTn n nns iSr %iS9 s the E%Gd adsI
partly patriotic, m!'ly personal.
But much a. | admired lkH' s!uEularly brave
man. therc Vas IN my mat warmer gIDw
on that summer attern, on Oh rhe plnIu ul luu. .
di, wAen ! SAN LoIG WilnHm Ber,> .url
wheel his pony ana gallon tntk to lr ~uccor
Of "a fallen TROOPER unI whom lAc .u.u, .
were already pOs.hG 'Lelr as-"Gnls; saw hI.u .
aght, hustle Ihe wouudri nan ~ INTO hi,
saddle. Tending on the Lu.g, wi.A lre revolver
graspcd in his spare hand Chamber NJ behind
ms man. and VIII d.. OF tie spgr- =: ;ne
gam" little beast a-go!ns after the other horse
men.
That pure, unselh>h, devoted, gallant ,
chivalry. concerning which. as lellJuyed "a self Z
respecting soldier, h" kept si.cHcc. II was ne
cause went and toi! the story To SIR Evelyn I
Wood that Beresfurd Eut yhc Victoria cross;
and, indeed, he d"cliped the honor were IL !
not accorded also to the soldier wEo had aided
him in keeping the wounded man ia the saddle
during the retreat.
This piece Of work of Beresford's account
the braycst deed ever saw" and | should
have made II the top" OF this contribution
but that have already described IL fully In
print.