Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-02-08
\NEII.
OF THE AFFAIR NEAR KEYNSHAAI
BRIDGE

Monday. June u. 1853, broke very
dark and windy. with dull clouds NOV
ing heavily across the sky and Il con-.
tant sputter OF rain. Yet little after
daybreak, Monmouth's bugles were blow
ing Iis every quarter of The town. from
Tone bridge to Shuttern, and by the hour
appointed the regiments had mustered.
the rell had been called, and the van
guard was marching briskly out through
the eastern cate. 1t went forth in the
same order aS ii entered. our own regi-
ment and the Taunton burghers bringing
up the rear. Mayor Timewell and Saxon
had the ordering of this part of the army
between them, and, being men who had
seen much service, they drew the ord.
nance into Il less hazardous position. and
placed strong guard of horse, a can
mons shot in the rear, to meet any at
tempt of the royal dragons.
1t was remarked on all sides that the
army had improved III order and disci-
pine during the thrccdays' halt, owing
perchance to the example of our own un-
eeasing drill and soldierly bearing. In
numbers it had increased to nigh 5000,
and the men were well fed and light of
heart. With sturdy, close-lOcked ranks
they FpaShed their way through mud
and puddle, with many rough country
joke and many lusty Stave from song
or hymn. sir Geryas rode at the head
OF his musquCtCers, whose befi0ured tails
hung limp and lank with the water drip
ping from them. lsockarbys pikemen
and my own company of scythesmen
We're mostly laborerS from the country,
who were hardened against all weathers,
and plodded patiently along with the rain
drops glistening upon their rudy faces.
In front We're the Taunton foot; behind
the numbering tram of baggage wagons,
with the horse in the rear of them. Sc
the long line wound its way over the
hills.
AT the summit, where the road begins
to dip down upon the other side a halt
WAS called, to enable the regiments to
close up,and we looked back at the fair
town which many Of us We're never to
see again. From the dark walls and
house roofs we could still mark the flap
ping and fluttcr of white kerchiefs from
those whom we left behind. Reuben sat
his horse beside me, with his spare shirt
streaming in the wind. and his great pike
men all a-grin behind him, though his
thoughts and his eyes were too far away
to note them. As we Gazed a long, thin
culver Of sunshine slipped ont between
two cloud banks, and gilded the summit
of the Magdalenc tower, with the Royal
standard which still waved from it, The
incident was hailed as Il happy augury.
and Il great shout spread from rank to
hats and Il Gathering of weapons. Then
the bugles blew a fanfare. the drums
struck up point of war. Reuben thrust
his shirt into his haversack, and on we
marched through mud and sush, with the
drcaIy clouds bending low over us. and
buttrcSSed by the 10 less drelry hills on
either side 4 seeker for Omens might
have said that the heavens were weeping
ever our Inflated venture.
All day We trudged along roads which
were quagmireS. over our ankles in mud
until, in the evening. we made our way
10 Brldgewater, where we gained some
recruits, and also some hundred pounds
for our military chest. for it was well
to-do place, with a thriving cOast-trade
carried on down the river Parrot. After
night in snug quarters we set off again
INT even worse weather than before. The
country iii these parts is Il quagmirc in
the dryeSt season, but the heavy rains
had caused the fons to overflow. aud
turned them into broad lakes on either
side of the road. This may have been
10 some q gree IN our favor. as shielding
Ms from the raids Of the Kings cavalry,
but II made our march very slow All
day it was Splashins and smashing
through mud and mire. the raindrOpS
shining on tho gun barrels and dripping
from the heayy-footed horses Past the
swollen parret through East0yrr. bv the
Peaceful villages of Bawdrip, and over
polden hill we made our way, until the
bugIes sounded Il halt under the groves
Of Ashcot. and a rude meal was served
out to the men. Then on, again. through
the pitileSS rain. past the wooded park Of
Piper'S inn, through Walton, where the
floods were threatening the cottages, past
the orchards Of Street, and so, in the
dusk of the evening, into the gray old
town Of Glastonbury. where the good folk
did their best by the warmth Of their
welcome to atone for the bitterness Of the
weather
CONTINUED next Week.