Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-10-25
HE FOUGHT Beers.
John Desmond Of Augusta Was in the
Zulu War.
For ~ Years Ne Was a Member Of tho Eng
Iish Army.

1t sends the blood coursing through
the veins of any man who reads years
after. Of some of the scenes through
which he has passed. and knows that
they are being repeated. However
badly he hated to go through those
scenes at the first. he now longs to go
back and see what happens this time
This is the very condition that John
Desmond finds himself in, today. in re-
gard to the war with the Beers that
England is just now fighting. His
blood strs as he hears of the Irish
regiments that are being sent to the
front, and he reads of the names of
the great generals under whom he
fought, years ago. who are still in
command of the army and conducting
the campaign against the Beers. Is it
any wonder that he grasps eagerly
that it going on there?
Mr.. Desmond is true native of the
old country, and he has seen service in
the English army to the extent of "A
years. 50 he knows every general. and
he also knows the greater part of Eng
lands fighting history since 1850. when
he enlisted, a boy of IS and scarcely
FIVE feet seven inches tall, the limit
I! { { y elsie ! il those days. He
4 .s. p 49, L.; :
his country in the country with the
Beers when he was member of the
Goth Queens own Regiment, one COM
posed mostly of Irish boys. and q regi-
ment that covered itself with glory
He remembers the bravery of the
Beers in that war when they fought
the English in connection with the
Zulus. and he knows full we'll that the
English have their hands full in order
to conquer.
The stories that Mr.. Desmond can
tell would fill book and they are all
interesting. The history of the later
wars of England are all known to him.
He was present at the fall of Sebas-
topol; he was in the hot Indian climate
fighting the Sepoys: he has been in
every sort Of a trouble that the Eng
fish We're in during the "a years that
he was in the service.
What do you think of the Boers?"
the Journal reporter asked him the
other evening during a little CONVERSE
ton.
They are a tough. hardy crowd"
answered the veteran in his rich Irish
brogue. They are in their own coun-
try and they have the advantage over
the English, but We will win in time.
That general who has been sent out
there is one of the best Oh, he is a
second Wellington. He is to have full
command and he will soon wind up
the trouble backed by those boys from
England and Ireland
Did you have a hard time when you
We're in the Transvaal during the
Zulu war;"
oh. it was everything that could be
hard. 1t is all hills, dales. jungles
swamps and sand deserts. There is
death lurking everywhere for the man
not used to the country. But the
Beers who are terrible fighters, know
the country Well. They will be out
generated on every point, and the ter
ribla machines of war will be sent
there to kill them by England. 1t was
| there that the Goth got its name
| They were called the Half Hundred
| one day. when the sand began to blow
so we couldn't see far ahead. Sudden
| ~ the orders came to prepare for a
charge. We brought down our mus
kets and then we charged. What we
! charged was not the enemy; it was a
high bank beside "a ditch. The general
named us the Half Hundred Blind
| Boys We won more honors, though,
| for our officers than any other regi-
ment in the service.
| 1T was in that war that young
Louis Napoleon was killed. He was Il
colonel of a regiment of artillery, and
with five other officers was out picnic
| ing They We're suddenly attacked
from the bush by the Zulus who sur
rounded them. All gained their
horses backs but young Louis, and his
horse was so wild he could do nothing
| with him. The other five rode away
and never turned back to assist the
young Frenchman, who was murdered
by the Zulus."
1T must seem very odd to be out OF
the army when there is a scrap gong
on. and have the regiments going IL
the front without you
Yes. it is: but the last of my arm!
life seemed the longest of ALL When
arrived home from the Zulu war, nav
ing served "a years l thought was IL
for my discharge, but on gong 10 th'