A CHAT WITH "DUNCAN DHEW"
It was one beautiful summer afternoon, while strolling along the pleasant
country lanes, which looked charming with their avenues of stately oak
trees, whose branches were tenanted by scores of squirrels, that I came
upon an elderly gentleman who was sitting smoking. I bade him "Good-day,"
and asked him for a match; which he gave me and invited me to sit down
beside him and have a smoke and a chat. In the course of our conversation
I discovered that my friend was no common man. When, in reply to his
enquiry, I told him that the headquarters of my regiment were at
Edinburgh, he said, "and what a disgrace some of the men have brought
upon your regiment." Every one of the guards at Holyrood Palace had been
found 'beastly' drunk, excepting one man, who was keeping sentry at the
magazine on the top of Arthur's Seat. The circumstance was especially
discreditable as His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was staying at
Holyrood. "I understand (continued the speaker) that they broke into the
wine cellar, and stole some fifty bottles of port and champagne. Most of
that they drunk, until when found they were 'blind palatic'." "Yes, sir"
said I, "I believe it is all true. All the men are put back for
court-martial except the man at the magazine, who held his post all night
without being relieved." "Serves the rascals right," retorted the old
gentleman. "In my time of soldiering every man jack of them would have
been shot--the sergeant as well." "Then, sir," said I, "you have been in
the Army?" "Yes," he replied, "I have served a little time, and took part
in the Peninsular War." But beyond this my unknown friend would tell me
nothing about his military career.
A VISIT TO THE "BIG HALL"
We next fell to talking about the big hall which lay in front of us. My
friend asked me if I should like to look over it, and on my saying that I
should, he directed me on the way to the mansion, telling me to go a
little further up the lane, then turn in at the wicket gate and follow
the footpath across the lawn. "Then," said he, "you'll come to the
kitchen door. Knock, and ask for a horn of beer." "But whose word shall I
give?" I asked, "Tell them an old gentleman called Duncan Dhew, in black
knee breeches and leggings has sent you, and it will be all right. And
then (added he) if you wish it you can go further into the park by
crossing another path over the lawn." I thanked the kind old gentleman,
and took my departure.
THE SCOTCH LASSIE'S REGRET
It was not long before I was at the old hall. I rapped at the
kitchen-door according to orders, and a woman of about forty summers made
her appearance. When I mentioned the name given me by the old gentleman
she laughed heartily, and said that if I would come in I should have a
horn or two of beer--if I liked. She was a pleasant-spoken Scotchwoman,
and before I took my leave she said chaffingley that it was a pity she
wasn't twenty years younger, for then she might have been "my lassie."
A BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE
Quitting the house I took into the park, and to say that I was delighted
with the scene is not in anywise doing justice to the feelings I
experienced at the time. I can truly say that I have never seen anything
so lovely since--the splendid walks, with their long avenues of
wide-spreading and noble-looking trees; the bright gardens and sparkling
fountains; the babbling burns, crossed here and there by pontoon bridges;
and last, but by no means least, the panoramic bits of the distant
landscape visible through the openings in the trees--all these went to
make up a veritable Arcadia. Then, as I walked further into the park I
saw numbers of wild deer, which looked up at me as I passed by as much as
to say, "What business have you to intrude on our sacred rights?" Well, I
walked and walked, until I thought I was not coming to the end of the
park that day. But soon the path dropped, and disclosed a little valley,
in which were located about a half-dozen thatched dwellings. Here, I
found, lived the gamekeeper and a few farm labourers. At the house I
called at the wee laddies and lassies wondered whatever I was; they had
never before seen a "walking target." The gamekeeper told me that if I
was stationed at Greenlaw Barracks I had walked in a very curious
direction, for I was thirteen miles, by the ordinary road, out of my
course. I was exceedingly ill at ease to hear this pronouncement, and
told him that it would be "hot" for me if I was not in before the
"tattoo," or the "last post." The keeper, I found, was a true Scotchman,
and of a very obliging nature. He proffered to take me through the wood
to a place called Milton Bridge. We started, and were soon at the village
mentioned, where, at the "Fishers' Tryst," we had a "drappie o' whuskey"
over the matter. Then we parted, and I got into barracks in time.
BACK TO AULD REEKIE
The very next morning after this interesting day the order came that our
company was to return to Edinburgh, and give place for another company.
My stay at Greenlaw had extended over six months. Now for "Auld Reekie!"
Soon after we arrived there was a great review at the Castle, the Queen
and Prince Albert Victor inspecting the troops.
INTERVIEW WITH THE EMPRESS EUGENIE
I remember being the sergeant in charge of the guard at Holyrood Palace
at the time when the Empress Eugenie was on a visit to Scotland. The
French Fleet accompanied her to Scotland, and lay in the Firth of Forth.
The crews of the ships comprised some fine sailors, who, I think, were
the smartest lot I ever saw. The Empress and her Court stayed a full week
in Edinburgh. I remember one eventful day when a party of two ladies and
four gentlemen, after inspecting Queen Mary's Room, and the old picture
gallery in Holyrood Palace, passed into the guard-room where I was in
command. The ladies advanced towards me, bidding me "Good afternoon." The
gentlemen remained behind. In the best way I could under the
circumstances I asked the two ladies to be good enough to take a seat,
apologising for the rude seat which was all I could offer them. They
courteously accepted the seat, and, at the older lady's request, I sat
down beside them. The talking was confined to one of the ladies, who
seemed, I thought at the time, of a very inquisitive nature. In the first
place she expressed her wish to know something about the British
soldier--how he was fed, whether he was well-clothed, what kind of
rations he was provided with, &c. I gave her my opinion on these points
as far as I could go. She then asked how long I had been a soldier, and I
said only a short time. "Then you cannot tell how you feel when your
comrades are being slain on the battle-field?" "No, ma'am, I cannot; but
there is a man lying down on the guard-bed who can. He went through the
Crimean War." I then advanced to the old soldier's bed, and said,
"Francis, there's a lady here wants to know how you feel when you are on
the battle-field." "Tell her," said Francis, without looking up, "we see
nowt but hell-fire and smoke!" "Well, what does he say?" asked the
inquiring lady, who had, fortunately, remained in the background. It
would not, of course, have done for me to give the answer as it stood, so
I replied, "He says, madam, that he can see nothing but fire and smoke."
"Well," said the lady preparing to depart, "you seem to be well clothed
and to have plenty to eat." As I was showing her out of the room, she
said, "If I were to give you a Scottish pound note, would you share it
amongst you and your fellows?" "Yes, ma'am" said I, "when we have
dismissed guard." Whereupon she placed the note in my hand, and I thanked
her cordially. I had not the slightest idea who the donor of the note
was, or who were the people who had been our guard-room guests, until the
next day. We were then relieved from guard by the 78th Highlanders, who
were only about 300 strong, and had just returned from the Indian Mutiny.
It was while upon the esplanade, where there were a thousand of the
Waterloo and Peninsular pensioners assembled for drilling, that I noticed
my lady guest and a gentleman reviewing the veterans. They were walking
up and down the ranks, and every now and again the lady stopped before an
old soldier, spoke to him, and, before passing on, put into his hand a
Scottish pound note. It was said that during the week she presented no
less than a thousand of these notes to the soldiers. One old hero, I saw,
got five pound notes. I asked the captain of the guard who the lady was.
He seemed much surprised when I assured him that I did not know who she
was; but greater was my surprise on being told that the lady was the
Empress of the French.
ADIEU! EDINBURGH--A DISAPPOINTMENT
Orders were issued for our regiment to remove to the ancient town of
Ayr--news which delighted me greatly. Next day the regiment, numbering
about a thousand men, mustered for the last time in Edinburgh. The
inhabitants of Auld Reekie turned out in their thousands to see us march
to the railway station and to bid us adieu. The regimental band--which,
by-the-bye, included many able musicians from the West Riding of
Yorkshire; Wilsden, Haworth and Cowling being among the towns furnishing
the band men--played lively airs during our march to the station, such as
"Good-bye, sweetheart!" and "The girl I left behind me." At the station I
met a sore disappointment. Since the issuing of the orders of removal to
Ayr, I had been buoyantly thinking of what happy times I should have in
Ayr, and my feelings can be imagined when I found I was among the
detachment which was to be sent on to the barracks at Hamilton--a small
town on the Clyde about ten miles from Glasgow. However, I determined to
make the best of the matter, and hope for better times. The two companies
forming the detachment, numbering about a couple of hundred men, reached
Hamilton all right. Within a short distance of Hamilton, is Bothwell and
its famous Castle; and during my stay in the locality I paid frequent
visits to Bothwell Castle and Bothwell Bridge, at which latter place Sir
William Wallace defeated the English in battle. I also visited the
magnificent residence of the Duke of Hamilton.
IN CHARGE OF DEFAULTERS
I remember that on the first evening of our arrival in Hamilton I had
under me twenty or thirty soldiers, who were on the defaulters' list in
consequence of being absent from barracks the night previous to our
leaving Edinburgh. They had to all intents and purposes been out in the
city bidding their acquaintances good-bye, and had taken too long a time
over it. For this misdemeanour they were confined to barracks at
Hamilton. I assembled the men in front of the officer's quarters, and
said, "This is our first evening here and a grand evening it is. I should
very much like to visit the town, and I have no doubt that you would.
Now, I have a proposal to make if you will all stand by me."--"We will,"
they shouted in one voice. "I propose," I continued, "to see the captain,
and if you will promise that during your stay in Hamilton you will not
commit yourselves, I will try to get you dismissed from defaulters'
drill, so that you can go out and enjoy yourselves." They readily
expressed their willingness to carry out the promise. I then made for the
officers' room, and was admitted into the captain's presence. "Well, what
is your wish this evening?" he inquired. "A great favour, captain," I
replied, "not only for myself but for those men outside. There are over a
score defaulters, and they wish to speak a word with you." "Where are
they?" said the captain. So I brought him outside before the men. He
heard their case stated, and then asked, "Do you all promise that if I
dismiss you from pack drill you will not misbehave yourselves during your
short stay in this town?" Of course the promise was promptly given; but
promises, like pie crusts, are easily broken. Well, every one of the
defaulters was dismissed, and sent to his own quarters. They then went
out of the barracks and had a pleasant look round the town.
A DESPERATE AFFRAY WITH THE POLICE
All went wisely and well for three weeks, at the end of which period
there was a desperate affray between the soldiers and the police. It came
about in this way. One of the soldiers while strolling on the banks of
the Clyde one Saturday night appeared to have insulted a lady. She gave
information to the police, who next (Sunday) morning, accompanied by the
informant, came in full force to the barracks. We had just fallen in for
church parade. The ranks were opened, and the lady passed among us to see
if she could identify the guilty man. Eventually, she pitched upon a man
whom all of us knew could not have been at the place mentioned at the
time given by the lady. However, despite his protestations of innocence,
he was handcuffed, and was about to be marched away by a sergeant of the
police when one of the prisoner's comrades interfered. He did so to a
nicety, for he knocked the policeman down. Then another policeman went to
the ground, and another, until the whole parade was one scene of
commotion. The police were badly worsted, many of them being more or less
seriously injured in the _melee_. Reinforcements were summoned, and many
arrests were made by the representatives of the civil power. The
barracks' officers had no control over their men, and two companies of
Highlanders were sent for to take the place of our regiment at Hamilton
and to escort to Edinburgh Castle those of us who had taken part in
disturbance. At the Castle the men were confined to barracks for a
fortnight to give the police time to work up their "case" for the
court-martial, and in order to see how the wounded policemen, who were
being treated in the hospital progressed.
I WAS OUT OF THE FRAY
I happened to be escorting two men from the hospital to the parade when
the outbreak occurred. I was conversing with the regimental doctor, and
took advantage of that circumstance to get that gentleman to make me a
certificate testifying that I was not "in at the death." However, I was
sent for examination with the lot, but I passed through the ordeal
successfully, the doctor's certificate undoubtedly freeing me. I may here
mention that I have not been a believer in physiognomy since then; for if
a man had a rough-looking or repulsive countenance he was as surely
ordered to "fall out," and many men were so taken prisoners whom I knew
were innocent. In all about fifty were placed under arrest, and taken
before the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, who sentenced them to gaol for
terms varying from one to eighteen months.