New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-02
4 SOLDIERS STORIES.
"reminiscences of Fighting in India
and the Crimeo.

PER@soNAL ADVENTURES AMP ANECDOTES
! Robertson. c. B. Deny 8vo, Up. 2s4. Long
Colonel Robertson at the goodly age Of eighty
| four has sat down in racy fashion the incidents
| Of life full Of soldierly adventure He had
| barely received his commission when he was
sent active service to India. He went
! through the SutleJ campaign ending in the bat
/ tie Of Sobraon; he saw exciting days in the
CTmea; he fought CALAMITY throughout the
| Mutiny, being praised IN dispatches and
winning his precious Order OF Companion Of the
| Bath. It may be added that he writes almost
we'll as he fought though not recklessy
This scion of q good old Scotch Jacobite fam
| lily began IN early youth to court rash advent
ures and hairbreadth 'scapes Even when not
on the battlefield he managed to get into dan
ger An inch of space saved him from death
under the wheel of a gun carriage which actu-
ally went over his hair he lay in bvouac one
dark night; he emerged in safety from an
awakening den OF wild beasts he went sliding
az Simla down the track Of a recent landslip
when It seemed as If nothing could save him
from landing. a shapeless mass, at the foot Of
tho precipice:
Far down below bush which WAS still
growing, and as shot past l caught it with
held on w Si fhe co Ss earth amy stones ex
| pended themselves in the river below cannot
long p Tf lad as 30 4srH Of B one my 6an nd ae
prickles of which were driven into my hand in
held on Of certain death If let go; for nothing
could have lived in the raging river below me for
Ing village had evidently seen What happened, FOR
at tho e6 s1 Of hs Rd &
ing each others hands they worked their way
Oh "a
man carefully putting his feet where the man be-
made each step Arm before he took another. When
ne came to me and took hold we IetuTned e 2a
We're on solid ground.
In one OF the engagements on the banks OF
the Sutlet Robertson, seeing regiment Of
Sepoys in the British service blindly opening
fire upon charging company Of the 10th Lane
ers rushed down the front Of their line knocking
up the muskets with his sword and shouting in
Hiudustani "Our men, our own mem" 1t was
"a wonder" he says L not shot for some
Of the muskets were fred right In my face; but
men can do wonderful things and escape in the
heat Of battle" A fellow officer who was com
handing a company in front had an equally
narrow escape. He had soda water bottle Of
cold tea resting on his hip, and round shot
cut the bottle from his hip without touching him
and even without his knowledge. On a lonely
ride to Ferozepoor with dispatches, young Rob
ertson suddenly found himself in an open space
and rode right into the middle OF a regiment OF
the enemy. Some were drawing water and
many were standing sitting about. evidently
hating for their midday rest. I going AT
easy canter at the time and without either
slackening or Quickening my pace cantered
right through the middle OF them. My only fear
was that 7 should ride against some OF them.
as they were thickly scattered about My scar
Hk,,F-
but they simply stared AT mo IN establishment.
and I smiled and nodded at them Rniably
rode past. Not a man raised his hand against
me- but when I had passed the last OF them
had a most uncomfortable feeling. expecting
every moment TO get a SHOT in the back How
ever, nothing happened and as long as was
in sight kept UP the same easy pace. Then
I went of pretty hard until got some miles
between me and my friends." The most tragic
story OF that campaign had TO do, not with an
incident on the firing line. but with the slow
march before the battle OF Moodkee while the
exhausted men were crawling up, one by one.
Colonel Bolton was a nne old soldier but. very
toms. In those days the men had TO wear high
and stiff leather stocks 70 keep their heads up,
about $ absurd article can be imagined for
a man fight in. On this occasion he. the colo
0s If they o6Sd T hS 5e done p POOR
and he observed one o. them with his stock OF
stock Immediately" vas standing close TO the
worn face. For a moment I thought he going
70 shoot the colonel; then he put his forehead on
I don't know how the colonel felt but It gave me
very u@ly turn.
Some Of the unpleasantness Robertson
countered on this campaign arose from HIS look
Of extreme youth. He describes IN a rueful way
his report 10 the general in command OF the
rival OF the wounded under his charge.
And pray. young man" says the indignant
general. why doesn't the commanding officer
come and report for himsef?' please, sir"
says the youth u am the commanding Of
hcer"
Colonel Robertson's chapters on his Crimean
experiences are wildly picturesque. He gives
Us, by the way, little glimpse Of Chinese Cor
don HE was sitting on a light camp chair.
making notes, with a bright, happy smile on his
face, while the shot and shell were flying about
in all directions, the bombardment was then
at It's dercest l shall never forget that noble
face. Of the most perfect composure in the midst
Of such imminent danger" Concerning two
other famous British soldiers, Sir Colin Camp
bell and Sir James Outran. Robertson. in his
story Of NIutiny days, has many interesting
things 10 say. He describes Outram having
a never failing knowledge OF what the enemy
was doing before Lucknow:
When there was a council OF war held by the
enemy he knew within q few hours all that had
been resolved upon at H. 6nu ne was Ism neyeF once
stationed there. Ills system was delightfully."- sim
afternoon that he wished to see all the command
ing officers at his tent and then his address TO us
be attacked from such and such quarter at day
light tomorrow m9rning, be ready In good time
Good evening, gentlemen NO long rlgmarole or
long words, but knew exactly what no re-