Jamaica—The Exhibition—Market—Rebellion—the Commission—Col.
Hobbs—The Voyage—Route—Voyage—Queen's Birth-day—Edinburgh—
Calton Hill—Tolbooth—Queen Mary's Room—Dunoon—Discharged—
Dalkeith—Glasgow—Embark for Canada—The Voyage—Arrival—
Montreal—Kingston—Picton—The Dunkin Bill—Marquis of Lorne 327
TESTIMONIALS TO THE WRITER.
EDINBURGH CASTLE, _April 26th, 1868_.
I have great pleasure in stating that I have known Sergeant Thomas
Faughnan for about nine years, and during most of that period he was Pay
and Colour-Sergt. of my Company. He was also Sergt.-Major of a
Detachment of which I had command, and I cannot say too much in his
favour, either as a soldier or as a trustworthy person.
He always gave me the greatest satisfaction, in the position he was
placed; both by his high sense of discipline, as well as his entire
knowledge of drill, and he leaves the Regiment with the respect of every
one.
(Signed) JOHN E. TEWART,
_Captain, 2nd Batt., 6th Royal Regiment._
[TRUE COPY.]
Sergeant Faughnan was discharged from the 2nd Battalion, 6th Foot, in
Edinburgh, May, 1868, after twenty-one years' service, with an excellent
character, I have pleasure in stating that I consider him a most honest,
trustworthy, respectable man; for many years he held positions of much
responsibility.
(Signed) JOHN ELKINGTON,
_Colonel Commd'g 2nd Batt., 6th Royal Regiment_.
ALDERSHOT CAMP, _July 10th, 1868_.
[TRUE COPY.]
ALDERSHOT CAMP, _July 12th, 1868_.
I have known Sergeant Faughnan for the last five years, in the 2nd Batt.
6th Regiment, and can say that he has behaved himself very well in every
way as a soldier. He was an honest, willing and sober man; he was also
Mess Sergeant for several years, and gave every satisfaction, and
deserves to get on in the world, and I much wish he may do so.
(Signed) SPENCER FIELD,
_Captain, 2nd Batt., 6th Royal Regiment_.
[TRUE COPY.]
I have known Sergeant Thomas Faughnan, late Sergeant in the 2nd
Battalion, 6th Regiment, for about ten years, during which time he
served as Pay and Colour-Sergeant to a Company with great satisfaction
to the Captains; also as Sergeant-Major to a Detachment, in which
position, by his steady conduct and fair knowledge of drill, he
commanded the respect of his superiors. He has since served as Mess and
Wine Sergeant to the Battalion, and has been sober and attentive to
those duties. I can recommend him as a general useful Non Commissioned
officer.
(Signed) HENRY KITCHENER,
_Lieut, and Adjt. 2nd Battalion, 6th Foot_.
EDINBURGH CASTLE, 25, 4, '68.
[TRUE COPY.]
I have known Sergeant Faughnan—now taking his discharge from the 6th
Regiment, with a pension, after twenty one years' service—since the
year 1860, and have served with him in Gibraltar, the Ionian Islands,
and the West Indies. Up to 1865 he was a Colour-Sergeant of the
Regiment, and as such was very much respected. About the middle of the
year he became Sergeant of the Officers' Mess, in which position he
remained up to the departure of the Regiment from Edinburgh, on the 22nd
May, 1868. He was for about two years caterer of the said Mess, and in
addition had charge of all wines, ale, &c. Thousands of pounds must have
passed through his hands, for every portion of which he has had to
account, and his remaining up to the last moment in the Mess is a proof
of his having done so most satisfactorily. I, myself, have a very high
opinion of Sergeant Faughnan for his straightforwardness, honesty,
sobriety, ability, and steady good conduct. I am sure his loss will be
much felt in the 6th Regiment.
(Signed) L. B. HOLE,
_Captain, 2nd Batt., 6th Royal Regiment_.
[TRUE COPY.]
I have known Sergeant T. Faughnan for the last seven years, and have
always found him honest, sober, quiet and obliging. He is a good
accountant, and was employed in charge of the Mess, 2nd Batt., 6th
Regiment for some time, and gave every satisfaction. He was also a
Colour-Sergeant and had charge and payment of a Company for some time,
and resigned his colours to go to the Mess.
(Signed) W. G. ANNESLEY,
_Captain, 2nd Batt. 6th Royal Regiment._
ALDERSHOT CAMP, _8th June, 1868_.
[TRUE COPY.]
[Illustration]
STIRRING INCIDENTS
IN THE LIFE OF
A BRITISH SOLDIER
CHAPTER I.
EDUCATION—MY SCHOOLMASTER—SCHOOL HOUSE—MY FATHER, MOTHER,
SISTERS—OUR HOUSE.
I have for some time been trying to think how far back my memory could
go; but, as far as I can judge, the earliest definite recollection I
have is the discovery of how I played the truant, in stopping on the
way-side playing pitch and toss, instead of going to school; and how I
cut all the buttons of my jacket and trowsers for the purpose of
gambling with other boys. After losing all my buttons, I had to pin my
jacket to my trousers. In Ireland in those days, boys had to be content
with gambling for buttons instead of coppers as now-a-days. I was late
for school, and was rather remarkable, going in with my trousers and
jacket fastened together with pins. I remember well the master called me
over to him. Oh! I will never forget his spiteful countenance, and how
he showed his ivories. My heart beat fast. I thought I was very wicked,
and fright made my heart jump to my mouth. I had to stand my trial.
Master: "Well, boy, what kept you late for school?" Before I had time to
answer, "How came the buttons off your clothes; tell me straightforward
at once, who cut them off, and what became of them? Hold up your head
and speak out." "I—I—I—cut them off, sir, to play with the boys, and
they won my buttons." "O, ho! you have been gambling, have you? I will
teach you to cut the buttons off your clothes to gamble. Go, stand in
that corner until I am through with the class."
"Pat Cannon, take this knife, go out and cut a strong birch, this one I
have is nearly worn out. I want a strong one for this youth."
While I was standing in the corner, one of the boys, or, as we used to
call them, "gossoons," stole over to me and gave me a big shawl-pin,
saying: "Stick this in the boy's neck who takes you on his back." I took
the pin as I was told, and nerved myself up for the occasion.
"Dan McLaughlin, take Thomas Faughnan on your back."
I was brought up in due form. "Take off your jacket; get on Dan
McLaughlin's back."
No sooner had I got on his back, and before the master had time to
administer the first stroke of the birch, than I sunk the big pin into
the boy's neck. He shouted at the top of his voice, yelling as if he had
been stabbed with a knife, and fell over the other boys, causing great
commotion. In the uproar and confusion I made my escape out of the
school, jacket in hand. The master stood in a state of amazement. It
took him quite a while to restore order among the boys. I waited outside
until the school came out, then went home with my comrades as if nothing
had happened, and did not go to school again for three days. The master
reported my absence. My father questioned me concerning my absence from
school. I then told him the whole affair, and, as I was afraid of
getting another flogging, he accompanied me to the school next day.
It will be necessary, here, to describe the master and the school. The
master had only one leg and that was his right; he had lost his left
when young, by some means which I never heard of; he walked with a long
crutch under his left arm, and a short one in his right hand. He trotted
very fast, considering that he went on crutches. He was in truth a
terror to dogs or animals which dared to cross his path on his way to
and from the school, and could most wonderfully use the right hand
crutch with great skill and alacrity, in his own defence.
The school was held in the chapel, which was a most peculiar edifice of
ancient architectural design. Its shape was that of a triangle, each
side of which formed a long hall, one for boys, the other for girls;
there was a gallery at the extreme end of the girls' hall which the
choir occupied during divine service.
The structure was one story in height, and had a very high, slanting,
thatched roof, with narrow gables. The edge of the gables rose, not in a
slope, but in a succession of notches, like stairs. Altogether it had an
extraordinary look about it, a look of the time when men had to fight in
order to have peace, to kill in order to live—every man's hand against
his brother. The altar stood in the acute corner of the angle, facing
the men's hall, with a railing around it. Under the altar was a small
hole sufficiently large enough for a boy to crawl in. One day I had done
something for which the master started to punish my back with the birch.
He was laying it on pretty stiffly, and he had me in a tight place,
when, in self defence, I pulled the crutch from under him. He fell over
and I retreated into the hole under the altar. However, tracing me out,
he started to dislodge me with his long crutch. For every thrust he gave
me, I gave him one in return, until I found he was too strong for me,
when I made one drive at him, jumped out of my hiding place, and left
for home in a hurry that day. Next day I expected a flogging, but I got
off much easier than I had anticipated. Afterwards—how strange!—he
took quite a liking to me. The number of pupils attending was over two
hundred. The hall was supplied with fuel by a contribution of two turfs
from each scholar every morning, which he brought under his arm.
Enough of my school history—it would spin out my narrative
unnecessarily. I shall only relate such occurrences as may be necessary
to lead to those main events which properly constitute my eventful
history. I remember my father, but not my mother. She died when I was
yet a baby, and the woman I had been taught to call mother was only my
stepmother. My father had married a second time, and now our family
consisted of my father, stepmother, two sisters, and myself. Our house
was of olden-time stone, gray and brown. It looked very gray and yet
there was a homely, comfortable appearance about it. A visitor's first
step was into what would in some parts here be called "house place"—a
room which served all the purposes of kitchen and dining-room. It rose
to a fair height, with smoked-stained oaken beams above, and was floored
with a home-made kind of cement, hard enough, and yet so worn that it
required a good deal of local knowledge to avoid certain jars of the
spine from sudden changes of level.
My sisters kept the furniture very clean and shining, especially the
valued pewter on the dresser. The square table, with its spider-like
accumulation of legs, stood under the window until meal times, when,
like an animal aroused from its lair, it stretched those legs and
assumed expanded, symmetrical shape, in front of the fireplace in
winter, and nearer the door in summer. Its memory recalls the occasion
of my stepmother, with a hand at each end of it, searching frantically
for the level, poking for it with the creature's own legs before lifting
the hanging leaves, and then drawing out the hitherto supernumerary legs
to support them, after which would come another fresh adjustment,
another hustling to and fro, that the new feet likewise might have some
chance to rest. The walls of this room were always whitewashed in
spring, occasioning ever a sharpened contrast with the dark brown oak
ceiling. If that was ever swept I never knew. I do not remember ever
seeing it done. At all events its colour remained unimpaired by hand or
whitewash. On the walls hung several articles, some of them high above
my head, which attracted my attention particularly. There was a
fishing-rod, which required the whole length between the windows to
support it. There were old bookshelves, hanging between the old pewter,
of which we were very proud; my father's temperance medal, which he
received from Father Mathew; a picture of Dan O'Connell, the "Irish
Liberator;" several other pictures, and many articles of antique and
Irish origin. I need not linger over these things. Their proper place is
in the picture with which I would save words and help understanding if I
could.
MY NATIVE VILLAGE.
Dear Fiarana! loveliest village of the green.
Where humble happiness endeared each scene;
The never-failing brook at Drumod Mill,
The parish church on John Nutley's hill.
There in the old thatched chapel, skilled to rule,
The one-legged master taught the parish school;
A learned man was he, but stern to view—
His crutch he often used, and well the gossoons knew.
Well had the daring urchins learned to trace
His scowling countenance and his fierce grimace;
And yet they laughed with much delight and glee
At all his tales, for many a one had he.
In all my travels round this world so fair,
Of trials and marches I have had my share;
I still have hope my latter days to crown,
And 'midst old friends at home to lay me down.
I trust and hope to visit home again,
And sell my book to every village swain;
Around the hearth a wondering crowd to draw,
While spinning yarns of what I heard and saw.
Men who a military life pursue,
Look forward to the home from whence they flew;
I still have hopes, my long eventful past,
Some day return, and stay at home last.
T. FAUGHNAN.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
CHAPTER II.
RIVER SHANNON—DERRY CARNE—OUR FARM—MY SISTERS GET MARRIED—CAVE—
STILL-HOUSE—STILL AND WORM—PROCESS—INTERIOR—REVENUE POLICE—IRISH
WAKE—FUNERAL.
Our residence was situated on a beautiful bay of the River Shannon in
the County of Leitrim.
The month was July, and nothing could be more exhilarating than the
breezes which played over the green fields that were now radiant with
the light which was flooded down upon them from the cloudless sun.
Around them, in every field, were the tokens of that pleasant labour
from which the hope of an ample and abundant harvest always springs.
The bay was bounded on the east by a large wood which abounds in game of
every description. Gentlemen from the surrounding counties were
frequently invited by its owner, Francis Nesbitt, Esq., Derry Carne,
during the shooting and fishing season. Many times I have been out with
them, coming home foot-sore in the evening, after traversing the woods
all day with the sportsmen. Those were happy days.
My father and the hired man, with the help of my two sisters managed to
sow and gather in the produce of the small farm. I, being the only son,
was kept at school till about sixteen years old, after which I had to
make myself useful around the house and farm. I was about twelve years
old when my eldest sister was married; about two years afterwards my
other sister took unto herself a partner, for better, for worse. After
those events our family dwindled down to three, viz., my father,
stepmother, and myself.
About this time I roamed about the country a good deal. In the evenings
a few other boys and myself assembled in a "Potteen Still-house" to see
the men who manufactured the potteen, and hear them tell stories. It was
situated about two miles in a north-western direction from our
residence. The country was very rugged and wild, but picturesque.
Although a portion of the same landscape, nothing could be more
strikingly distinct in character than the position of those hills. They
formed a splendid pasture lane for sheep. In approaching these hills you
struck into a "Borheen," or lane which conducted you to the front of a
steep precipice of rocks about fifty feet high. In the northern cover of
this ravine there was an entrance to a subterraneous passage twenty feet
long, which led to a large chamber or deep cave, having every
convenience for a place of private distillation. Under the rocks which
met over it was a kind of gothic arch, and a stream of water just
sufficient for the requisite purpose fell in through a fissure from
above, forming such a little cascade in the cavern as human design
itself could scarcely have surpassed in perfect adaptation for the
object of an illicit distiller. To this cave, then, we must take the
liberty of transporting our readers, in order to give them an
opportunity of getting a peep at the inside of a "Potteen Still-house."
In that end which constituted the termination of the cave, and fixed
upon a large turf fire which burned within a circle of stones that
supported it, was a tolerably sized still made of copper. The mouth of
this still was enclosed by an air-tight cover, also of copper, called
the head, from which a tube of the same metal projected into a large
condenser that was kept always filled with cold water by an incessant
stream from the cascade I have already described, which always ran into
and overflowed it.
The arm of this head was made air-tight, fitting into a spiral tube of
copper, called the worm, which rested in the water of the cooler; and as
it consisted of several twists like a corkscrew, its effect was to
condense the hot vapour which was transmitted to it from the glowing
still into that description of alcohol known as potteen whiskey or
"mountain dew."
At the bottom of the cooler the worm terminated in a small cock, from
which the spirits passed in a slender stream about the thickness of a
pipe-stem into a vessel placed for its reception. Such was the position
of the still, head, and worm, when in full operation.
Fixed about the cave, on wooden benches, were the usual requisites for
the various processes through which it was necessary to put the malt
before the wort, which is the first liquid shape, was fermented, cleared
and passed into the still to be singled; for our readers must know that
distillation is a double process, the first produced being called
singlings, and the second or last doublings—which is the perfect
liquor. Sacks of malt, empty barrels, piles of turf, heaps of grain,
tubs of wash, kegs of whiskey, were lying about in all directions;
together with pots, pans, wooden-trenchers, and dishes for culinary use.
On entering, your nose was assaulted by such a fume of warm grains, sour
barm, and strong whiskey, as required considerable fortitude to bear,
without very unequivocal tokens of disgust. Seated around the fire were
a party of shebeen men and three or four publicans who came on
professional business.
In order to evade the vigilance of the "Revenue Police," or, as they
were called, "Still Hunters," the smoke, which passed through a hole in
the roof, came up into a pasture field. On the top of this hole was
fitted a wide flag, made to be shifted at will. On the top of this flag
was kept a turf fire, in charge, of a boy who herded sheep and goats.
When the boy saw the police advancing towards the fire he would shift
the flag over the hole. The police came, lit their pipes, walked off,
and suspected nothing. The boy then shifted back the flag, in order to
let the smoke escape. In this way they escaped detection.
Several illicit stills flourished in this part of the country, which I
frequently visited during the winter evenings. When there happened to be
a wake I often accompanied parties for whiskey to this still-house; it
being the custom to have a supply of liquor to enliven the guests on
good occasions. The boys and girls always expected a good time for fun
and frolic at a wake, especially if it was an old person who gave up the
ghost; therefore it was looked forward to as a kind of pleasurable
occurrence to the rising generation. I became a regular frequenter on
such occasions, for a radius of three or four miles. The corpse was laid
out on a table, with a white curtain similar to those over a bed. On the
same table, in front were six lighted candles. At the entrance stood a
table furnished with bottles of whiskey, glasses, tobacco and pipes, for
those who drank and smoked to help themselves. An old woman sat at the
head of the corpse whose duty it was to start the crying on the entrance
of a guest. After they got through with the crying, the host passed
round whiskey, tobacco and pipes; when the conversation went on as if
nothing had happened, except the loud crying, which was only the women's
part, the men not joining in it.
When my stepmother's sister died, I put an onion to my eyes, in order to
cause them to shed tears, which had the desired effect. Those wakes
generally last two or three nights. Whiskey is passed round previous to
the funeral procession starting from the house.
On returning the processionists invariably called into a "shebeen" to
have a sociable chat and a parting glass to drown their sorrows. I
refrain from quoting the conversation of those peasants, as it would
take up too much space and defeat my object in laying the history of my
life and travels before my readers.
[Illustration]
CHAPTER III.
ADVANCED SCHOOL—STATE OF THE COUNTRY—EMIGRATION—CAUSE OF
POVERTY—IRISH LANDLORDS—POTATO CROP—DISHONEST AGENTS—
ELECTIONS—POLITICS—MY SISTER EMIGRATES—I ENLIST.
About the time this chapter opens I had been removed from the country
school (which has been already described in the first chapter), and sent
to a much more advanced and better school, in the town of Drumod, County
Leitrim. I continued at this school about four years, during which time
I had waxed strong in mind, strength, and learning. In the meanwhile the
state of the country gradually assumed a worse and more depressing
character.
Indeed, at this period of my narrative, the position of Ireland was very
gloomy. Situated as the country was, emigration went forward on an
extensive scale—emigration, too, of that particular description which
every day enfeebles and impoverishes the country, by depriving her of
all that approaches to anything like a comfortable and independent
yeomanry. This, indeed, is a kind of depletion which no country can bear
long; and, as it is, at the moment I write this, progressing at a rate
beyond all precedent, it will not, I trust, be altogether uninteresting
to enquire into some of the causes that have occasioned it. Of course
the principal cause of emigration is the poverty and the depressed state
of the country, wages often being as low as eight-pence a day, and it
follows naturally that whatever occasions our poverty will necessarily
occasion emigration. The first cause of our poverty then is
"absenteeism," which, by drawing six million pounds out of the country,
deprives our people of employment and means of life to that amount. The
next is the general inattention of Irish landlords to the state and
condition of their property, and an inexcusable want of sympathy with
their tenantry, which indeed is only a corollary from the former, for it
can hardly be expected that those who wilfully neglect themselves will
feel a warm interest in others. Political corruption in the shape of the
forty shilling franchise, was another cause, and one of the very worst,
which led to the prostration of the country by poverty and moral
degradation, and for this proprietors of the land were solely
responsible. Nor can the use of the potato as the staple food of the
labouring class, in connection with the truck or credit system and the
consequent absence of money payments,—in addition to the necessary
ignorance of domestic and social comforts, that resulted,—be left out
of this wretched catalogue of our grievances. Another cause of
emigration is to be found in the high and exorbitant rents at which land
is held by all classes of farmers—with some exceptions, such as in the
case of old leases—but especially by those who hold under middlemen, or
on the principle of sub-letting generally.
By this system a vast deal of distress and petty but most harassing
oppression is every day in active operation, which the head landlord can
never know, and for which he is in no other way responsible than by want
of knowledge of his estates.
There are still causes, however, which too frequently drive the
independent farmer out of the country. In too many cases it happens that
the rapacity and dishonesty of the agent, countenanced or stimulated by
the necessities and reckless extravagance of the landlord, fall like
some unwholesome blight upon that enterprise and industry which would
ultimately, if properly encouraged, make the country prosperous, and the
landed proprietors independent men. I allude to the nefarious and
monstrous custom of ejecting tenants who have made improvements, or,
when permitted to remain, make them pay for the improvements which they
have made.
A vast proportion of this crying and oppressive evil must be laid
directly to the charge of those who fill the responsible situation of
landlords and agents to property in Ireland, than whom in general there
does not exist a more unscrupulous, oppressive, arrogant, and dishonest
class of men. Exceptions of course there are, and many, but speaking of
them as a body, I unhappily assert nothing but what the conditions of
property, and of those who live upon it, do at this moment and have for
many years testified. I have already stated that there was a partial
failure in the potato crops that season, a circumstance which ever is
the forerunner of famine and sickness.
The failure, however, on that occasion, was not alone caused by a blight
in the stalks, but large portions of the seed failing to grow. In
addition, however, to all I have already detailed as affecting the
neighbourhood, or rather the parish, of Anaduff, I have to inform my
readers that the country was soon about to have a contested election.
Viscount Clemens and Samuel White, Esq., were the opposing candidates.
The former had been a convert to Liberalism, and the latter a sturdy
Conservative, a good deal bigoted in politics, but possessing that rare
and inestimable quality which constitutes an honest man.
It was a hard contested election. The electors throughout the country
were driven to the town on side cars escorted by police. The excitement
was fearful. However the people's candidate gained the election. There
was a large amount of whiskey drunk during this election and there was
plenty of fighting.
At this time my eldest sister, with her husband, emigrated to Canada. On
parting with her she said she would send for me, but I did not like the
idea of going to America or Canada at that time, although I heard good
reports from both countries. I thought instead that I would go for a
soldier. I had seen splendid, tall soldiers frequently marching past our
house, when I invariably accompanied them for several miles to hear
their band play. With this intention I went to the fair of Mohill, on
the 8th of May, 1847. There I met a recruiting party. I went up to the
sergeant and asked him if he would take me for a soldier; he answered me
in the affirmative. He then told me to answer the following question,
viz.: "Are you free, willing and able to serve Her Majesty Queen
Victoria, her heirs and successors, for a period of twenty-one years?" I
answered, "I am." "Then take this shilling in the name of the Queen." I
"took the shilling," and was one of Queen Victoria's soldiers, and of
the 17th regiment of foot. I must say I never regretted it since.
MY OWN, MY NATIVE LAND.
"Where'er I roam, whatever realms to see,
My heart untravelled fondly turns to thee;
Such is the patriot's boast where'er we roam;
His first, best country, ever is at home.
And trembling, shrinking from the spoiler's hand,
Far, far away thy children leave the land.
Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey,
Where wealth accumulates, and men decay:
Princes and lords may flourish, or may fade;
A breath can make them, as a breath has made;
But a bold peasantry, their country's pride,
When once destroyed, can never be supplied.
A time there was, ere Ireland's griefs began,
When every rood of ground maintained its man;
For him light labour spread her wholesome store,
Just gave what life required, but gave no more;
His best companions, innocence and health;
And his best riches, ignorance of wealth.
The broken soldier kindly bade to stay,
Sat by his fire, and talked the night away;
Wept o'er his wounds or tales of sorrow done,
Shouldered his crutch and showed how fields were won."
[Illustration]
CHAPTER IV.
SWEARING IN—MARCH TO DUBLIN—BEGGARS' BUSH BARRACKS—RATIONS—THE
CITY—EMBARKATION—THE SHIP—THE VOYAGE—LIVERPOOL—TRAIN TO LONDON—
BILLETS—CANTERBURY—JOIN THE 17TH REGIMENT.
The sergeant conducted me to the rendezvous, where I passed a medical
examination, and was returned fit for "Her Majesty's Service." He then
ushered me into a room in which were five more brothers-in arms.
Next morning at ten o'clock I was taken before a magistrate and
sworn-in, after which I received a half-crown, called "swearing-in
money." My sister and stepmother hearing I had enlisted came after me
the following day, and tried to get me off, but the sergeant would not
hear of it, and I was unwilling, as I had made up my mind to be a
soldier, as I was anxious to get away from my relatives. My anxiety was
soon realized, for next morning, after breakfast, we were on the road
for Dublin in charge of a staff sergeant, the distance being one hundred
and fifty miles, which we accomplished in ten days. During the journey
the sergeant amused us with stories of his experience in the regiment to
which he belonged, marches in different countries, and several battles
he had fought. It being the month of May, the roads were in good
condition, the weather salubrious, and the country beautiful in the
summer sun.
On our arrival in the evening we were billetted at a public house, where
soon after our arrival we enjoyed a hot meal, the landlord being allowed
ten-pence for the same, this being according to "Her Majesty's
Regulations." After we had regaled ourselves with the landlord's
hospitality, the sergeant enjoyed himself with his pipe and a glass or
two of beer; he also gave us some of it to drink. I had never tasted
beer previous to this, although I had often tasted "potheen whiskey."
After the sergeant had finished his pipe and glass of beer, we retired
to bed, slept well, and dreamed of long marches. We were on the march
again next morning at eight o'clock, and so every day until we reached
Dublin, which we accomplished in ten days. On arriving in that city I
was astonished at the appearance of the splendid high buildings, the
like of which I had never seen before; they formed a striking contrast
with the cabins which I had been used to look upon in Leitrim.
We entered the city from the south, marched past the Royal Barracks,
along the Liffy to Carlisle Bridge, where we crossed over; thence past
the Bank and Trinity College, to Beggars' Bush Barracks where we were to
await orders to join the depôt of our regiment in Canterbury.
On our arrival in barracks we were told off to different companies _pro
tem._ until our embarkation for Liverpool. This was my first night in
barracks. I was shown a bed or cot, with three pegs over it, to hang my
clothes on. We soon got acquainted with other recruits, and old
soldiers, who showed us to the canteen, where there was a large company
of soldiers and recruits carousing and singing. On the first post
sounding, we had to answer our names in barracks at tattoo roll-call,
and be in bed at last post. Fifteen minutes afterwards "out lights" was
sounded, when all the lights were put out, except the orderly
sergeants', who had fifteen minutes longer for theirs. "Reveillé"
sounded next morning at five, when we all got up, made our beds, and
were on parade at six o'clock, when we were drilled till half-past
seven, were practised at setting up drill and the goose step. It being
my first drill, I was awkward; we had three such drills daily (Sundays
excepted), while we were in these barracks. On being dismissed, we went
to breakfast, which consisted of a pound of bread and a basin of coffee
each; my appetite being good, I made short work of the pound of bread.
Our dinner consisted of soup, beef and potatoes; at supper we got a
quarter of a pound of bread and a basin of tea. After paying for our
rations, washing, and barrack damages, there were four-pence left, which
I received every day at twelve o'clock, so that I could spend that much
for extra food if I wanted it; some of the recruits preferred to spend
it in beer.
When the daily afternoon drill was over I generally walked into the city
to see what I could of the place. I went past some splendid shops, saw
the soldiers on guard at the castle, went into the Royal, Ship-street,
and Linen Hall Barracks, visited Nelson's monument, Sackville Streets,
Four Courts and Burns' saloon in the evening. After we had been a week
in barracks, an order came for us to proceed to Canterbury and join our
depôt there; this order was most agreeable, and we hailed it with
pleasure, for we were anxious to get into our uniform. Accordingly two
days afterwards, fourteen of us, with a staff sergeant in charge, were
paraded on the barrack-square. After we had signed our accounts, and
were told that our bounty would be paid to us on arrival at our depôt,
we were told to number off from the right, and showed how to "form four
deep;" the command "quick march" being given, we marched off to the
north wall for embarkation on board a steamer which was to sail for
Liverpool at four p.m. that day. An officer accompanied us to the
steamer to see us all safe on board.
Several soldiers came to see us off. I would like to tell my reader more
about Dublin; but, as I hope to visit it again during my soldiering, I
will defer them till further experience has increased my stock of
knowledge. Four o'clock p.m. was the time set for our departure; we were
all well pleased when we got on board; the afternoon was beautiful, so
we anticipated a pleasant voyage. An ocean-ship was to me a novel place,
and I had many things to learn. "What is that little flag at the main
mast?" said I to a man standing near me. "That they call a Blue Peter;
it indicates that the ship is to sail immediately." "And what is that
flag at the stern?" "Why, that is the Union Jack, the pride and boast of
every British subject."
My reflections were broken by the loud, sharp cry of the ships captain,
"all on board." The last warning was given; friends hastily exchanged
the farewell tokens of affection. I saw many, too, struggling to keep
their tears back. I stood alone; no one knew me or cared particularly
for me, but I was not an uninterested spectator. I dropped a few tears
when I looked at my native land, which I was about to leave, and thought
of the friends I had left behind me. All was in readiness,—ten minutes
past four o'clock p.m. the ponderous machine was put in motion; the huge
paddle-wheels lazily obeyed the mandate. The Blue Peter came down and
the Union Jack went up, and we moved slowly out among the shipping of
the harbour. It was a clear, beautiful evening, and the water lay like
an immense mirror in the sun-light; we passed the light-house which
stood at the end of the harbour like a huge sentinel to guide the
passage to the ocean. Onward we went; shore and city faded away and
disappeared in the distance. I looked out on the wide expanse of waters;
the sea and sky were all that could be seen now, except a few sea-gulls,
which hovered round the ship in search of an accidental crumb that might
be thrown over-board. We were fairly out at sea. The flags were taken
in, and things put in readiness for rougher ocean life; for a time we
moved on pleasantly. Towards sun-down a head wind sprang up producing
that rocking motion of the boat that makes sea life so much of a dread
to those unaccustomed to water; at about ten o'clock our head wind
changed to a side wind, and we had what the sailors call "a chopping
sea," producing a very unpleasant motion of the boat. Previous to this
the recruits were in good spirits, but now silence reigned; I could see
them getting pale, and one by one go below. I felt myself approaching a
crisis of some kind, but was determined to put it off as long as
possible. I kept on deck in the open air, and resolutely frowned down
all signs of rebellion in my stomach. From what I heard going on around
me, I was aware I was not the worst sufferer; with some the agony of the
contest was kept up all night long. At three o'clock p.m., we passed
Holy Head; at five we were steaming up the Mersey, and were landed on
Liverpool Dock at six o'clock. After a run of twelve and a half hours,
here I was, standing in amazement, looking at the forests of masts, and
the vast amount of shipping in the Docks. Liverpool is noted principally
for its shipping accommodation and fine docks; of these it has now over
eleven miles in length, all walled in, and protected by massive gates
like the locks of a canal; this renders the shipping very secure. It is
a place of great mercantile importance and trade; the streets are
continually in a perfect jam with heavy waggons and vehicles of almost
every description. If I was astonished at the appearance of Dublin, how
much more so at this great Babel of commerce. The sergeant took us to an
eating-house, owned by one of his acquaintances, where he ordered
breakfast, for which I believe the landlord did not make much profit;
for what with sea-sickness, and fasting since three p.m. the day
previous, I'll leave it to my reader to determine whether we were able
to do justice to the landlord's hospitality or not.
We left the depôt at Liverpool about ten a.m. on the "Great
North-western Railway" for London. I am now taking my first view of
England and English scenery, also my first ride in a railway carriage.
As we passed along, numerous towns and villages dotted the country;
multitudes of great black smoke stacks, amid splendid steeples and
church towers, side by side, rose in majesty towards the heavens.
Thus religion and industry are generally, nay always, found in close
proximity; with the smoke of the furnace goes up the incense of worship;
with the hum of machinery is mingled the anthem of praise. The train
stopped at several stations, which were beautifully fitted up; during
the journey we frequently partook of refreshments at the different
stations. The train travelled very fast. After a ride of one hundred and
eighty miles, in nine and a half hours, we reached London, the great
metropolis of England, and the mart of the world. We were set down at
Euston Station. Now my eyes, indeed, were opened wide, gazing on the
magnificence of the great modern Babel of the universe. We were billeted
on three different taverns, in close proximity to each other. The
sergeant had to report himself at the "Horse Guards," and hand over some
recruits which he had for regiments stationed at London.
He left me in charge of the billet while he was gone. We remained here
five days, during which I visited a great many places. There are many
wonderful things that can be seen in a brief walk through this great
metropolis, if a man has his eyes open.
I should like to have had time here to take my reader to the top of some
of the tall monuments; to walk with him among the wondrous
fortifications of "Old London Tower," through the rooms where nobles,
princes, kings, and queens have been incarcerated; to stand with him on
"Tower Hill," where the scaffold and executioner's block tell their dark
tales of treachery and blood and murder. I should like to go with my
reader to Westminster Abbey, a wonderful pile, a venerable old church,
and the great sepulchral home of England's honoured dead. It is worth a
journey across the Atlantic to take a stroll through its cold, damp
aisles and chapels; to stand amid its costly monuments and mouldering
dust, where death for many long centuries has been gathering her
glorious trophies, and yet her dark garlands have been recorded and
embodied by human skill and art and genius. I have in a very brief space
brought before my readers facts and stories; but I must defer any
further description until my next visit, for I hope to see all those
wonders again. The sergeant had done his duty to his satisfaction, and
this being our last evening in London, he took us to the Haymarket
Theatre, where we witnessed the "Colleen Bawn." After the play was over,
we took the serjeant into a saloon close by, and treated him to oysters,
beer, and cigars, after which we went to our billets quite jolly. Next
morning, after paying the landlord and bidding him good-bye, we marched
to the Waterloo Railway Station, where we took the train at ten o'clock.
After a ride of about eighty miles, in two hours, we were in Canterbury,
and put down at St. Dunstan Street Station, marched into barracks, and
were handed over to the officer commanding the depôt of the 17th
Regiment of Foot, "The Royal Tigers." We were told off to companies, and
shown our quarters. More about Canterbury as my story advances. As I am
now stationed here; I hope to have an opportunity of getting acquainted
with this ancient cathedral city.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
CHAPTER V.
MEDICAL EXAMINATION—RECEIVE MY KIT—DRILL, MANUAL AND PLATOON
EXERCISE—DISMISSED DRILL—VISIT THE CITY—DESCRIPTION—ROUTE—
THE MARCH.
The following morning, reveillé Sounded at Five o'clock, when I turned
out, made my bed, and was dressed when the drill bugle sounded at
half-past.
Parade being formed at six by the sergeant-major, the recruits without
uniform were not required to drill that morning; drill being over and
the bugle for breakfast sounding, we all sat down to a pound of bread
and a basin of coffee each. We were afterwards marched to the Regimental
Hospital by the orderly corporal, where we passed another medical
examination, which was final, and were returned fit for service; we were
next marched to the quarter-master's store, and received our uniform and
kit, which consisted of one of each of the following articles, viz.,
pair boots, cloth trowsers, summer trowsers, shako, tunic, stock and
clasp, shell-jacket, forage-cap, pair mits, tin blacking, pair braces,
clothes-brush, canteen and cover, knapsack and straps, great coat and
haversack, two shirts, two pair socks, and two towels; for the marking
of which we were charged a halfpenny each. We were next taken to the
tailor's shop, where we had our clothing altered and fitted; this lasted
four or five days, during which time we were exempt from drill; but
instead had to do the duties of orderly men by turns, that is, prepare
the meals for those at drill, and keep the barrack rooms clean and in
proper order. After we got our clothing all right, we then turned out to
drill three times a day, viz., before breakfast, club drill; ten
o'clock, commanding officer's parade, with setting up drill; afternoon,
goose step, extension and balance motions.
At all these parades and drills we were minutely inspected by the
orderly sergeant, and afterwards by the sergeant major, and if the least
fault was found ordered to parade again, which was called "a dirty
parade." I took particular pains to escape the latter.
When drill commenced, we were formed into squads of six or eight men
each, in line, at arms-length apart, which is termed a "squad with
intervals;" after drilling in single rank for a week, one squad was
increased to two ranks, at open order, the rear rank covering the
intervals.
The sergeant major frequently came round to each squad, and finding a
deserving recruit, sent him up to a more advanced squad; in this way the
most intelligent and attentive recruits were advanced. I was lucky in
being one of the first sent up, and I afterwards got sent up step by
step, until I reached the advanced squad, where I learned company's
drill without arms; after which we were served with arms, formed into
squads, taught the manual and platoon exercise, company and battalion
movements, with arms.
We were then put through a course of ball practice. The distance being
fifty, a hundred, hundred and fifty, and two hundred yards; the "old
Brown Bess" being in use then. The first shot I fired I got a bull's
eye, which was reckoned a first-class shot, and the only one I got
during the practice. After we had finished the course, we were again
inspected, when we acquitted ourselves to the entire satisfaction of the
officers, and were accordingly dismissed from recruits' drill, and
returned fit for duty as soldiers. Two days afterwards the head-quarters
of the regiment arrived from Bombay, marched into barracks, band
playing, colours flying, forming up on the barrack square. The men were
tall and soldier-like, but very much tanned from exposure in the east.
Their strength on arrival was only five hundred.
We were all delighted to meet the head-quarters, which had been long
expected. They had a long, rough voyage of three months, having come in
a sailing vessel.
After they had been inspected by the commanding officer, Colonel
Pinnikuck, they were told off and shown to their different barrack-rooms.
Next day, regimental orders being issued, I heard my name read out
"Private Thomas Faughan posted to the Grenadier or Captain L. C.
Bourchier's company." I was well pleased to hear this, it being the best
company in the regiment. The whole of the recruits were also posted to
the different service companies.
Being dismissed from recruit's drill, I had ample opportunities of
walking out in the afternoons, and visiting some of the old places
around the city, among which was the cathedral, one of the oldest
ecclesiastical edifices in England.
It was consecrated by Saint Augustine, A.D. 597. Here, too, he baptized
Ethelbert, King of Kent. Saint Martin's Church under-the-hill, said to
be the oldest in England, is another time-worn structure, partly built
of Roman brick and tiles. There are fourteen such old churches here,
most of them built of rough flint, and very ancient.
Also the ruins of a Norman Castle, one of the largest in England, which
stands near a mound known as the "Dan John;" connected with this are
beautiful gardens, where the band of our 17th regiment played always on
Thursday afternoon, when hundreds of the élite of the city assembled to
promenade.
This is one of the pleasantest stations in England for a soldier; there
is no garrison duty to perform, the only duties being the regimental
guards, and they come very seldom; the men getting sixteen nights in bed
between guards.
Regiments arriving from India are generally stationed here for some
time, in order to recruit after foreign service and the long voyage.
The citizens are very much attached to soldiers, and treat them with the
greatest kindness and respect. Our regiment was not fortunate enough to
be left here much longer, for a letter of "readiness" was received by
the commanding officer, directing him to hold the regiment ready to
proceed to Dover at the shortest notice, which he made known to us in
regimental orders that evening. After this order was read we were all on
the alert, officers and men preparing for the march, packing officers'
and mess baggage, whitewashing and cleansing barracks—to save barrack
damages, that great curse—ready to hand over to the barrack master.
Accordingly the route came, which was read as follows, viz.:—
"REGIMENTAL ORDERS,
BY LIEUT-COLONEL PINNIKUCK.
CANTERBURY BARRACKS, Sept. 20th, 1847.
Agreeably to a Route received this day from Horse Guards, the Regiment
will parade in heavy marching order, at eight o'clock, A.M., on Tuesday
next, the 24th instant, for the purpose of proceeding to Dover, there to
be stationed till further orders. The men will breakfast at 7 o'clock on
that day.
By Order,
(Signed), Lieut. CODD,
_Acting Adjutant 17th Regiment_."
The following morning inspection of kits, at ten o'clock, by the
commanding officer, ordered, and afterwards medical inspection. Next day
being Sunday, the regiment paraded at ten o'clock, for divine service,
when we all marched to church, with the band playing; Protestants and
Roman Catholics going to their different places of worship, no other
denomination being recognised in the regiment.
The barracks were inspected on Monday morning, by the quarter-master and
captains of companies; the afternoon was occupied in loading the baggage
waggons.
Tuesday, Sept. 24th, the regiment was on parade, ready to fall in, when
the officers' and non-commissioned officers' call sounded; the latter,
forming in line, were minutely inspected by the adjutant, accompanied by
the sergeant-major, at the same time collecting the reports from the
orderly-sergeants, after which the companies formed on the coverers,
right in front.
The rolls being called, the captains inspected their companies, that
being finished, the colonel gave the commands, "eyes front, steady, fix
bayonets, shoulder arms, left wheel into line, quick march, halt,
dress." Then the adjutant galloped down the front, collecting the
reports, saluting the colonel as he reported "all correct, Colonel!"
"Form fours, right, quick march;" when the whole stepped off, the band
at the same time striking up "Auld Lang Syne;" marched out of barracks,
down north gate, and up High Street, accompanied by such a crowd of
citizens, that it is easier to imagine than describe. After marching
through the principal streets, the music changed to "The Girl I Left
Behind Me," of the latter there were quite a few followed us outside the
town; when the order was given "unfix bayonets, march at ease." The
latter order being quickly obeyed (for we had quite a load on our backs,
having the whole of our kit in our knapsacks), we were allowed to sing,
chat, and laugh to shorten the journey. After we had got to the half-way
house we halted, piled arms, and were allowed to go into the hotel for
refreshments. When we were well rested and refreshed (thanks to the
landlord, who had everything we needed ready), the march commenced
again, and we accomplished the journey of sixteen miles in eight hours,
in heavy marching order. On arrival in Dover, at four o'clock p.m., the
left wing were stationed at the castle, and right, with head-quarters,
at the heights.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
CHAPTER VI.
ARRIVAL AT DOVER—FIRST GUARD—THE DEAD HOUSE—GHOST—THE HEIGHTS—
SHAFT—FORTIFICATIONS—MARCHING OUT—CHARTIST RIOTS—TRAIN TO
LONDON—DEPARTURE—OSBORNE HOUSE—MAIN DOCK—ROUTE TO CHATHAM—
SIEGE—SHAM FIGHT.
On the arrival in barracks, the companies were shown their respective
quarters, when we soon divested ourselves of our knapsacks and
accoutrements; orderly men were told off to draw rations and prepare
supper, while the remainder went to fill their beds with straw at the
barrack stores; cleaning arms and accoutrements occupied the remainder
of the evening. We were exempt from drill the following day, in order to
get our barracks and appointments thoroughly clean after the march.
It was now getting near my turn for guard, and it being my first, I was
determined to turn out in a soldier-like manner, with my appointments
clean and shining. Accordingly I was detailed for the western redoubt,
which furnishes a sentry over the garrison hospital, that stands on the
middle of a common, on the top of the Western Heights above the
barracks, and a quarter of a mile from any house or habitation.
After mounting guard I was in the first relief, and my post was at the
hospital; on receiving my orders from the corporal he directed my
attention to the dead house, where, laid out on a table, was a body I
was to keep the rats from gnawing. The corporal having posted me at
eleven o'clock that night, all the ghost stories I had heard in the
"potheen still house" in Leitrim, came up in my mind as flush as when
they were told. While I was thinking, I heard a noise, looked round, and
saw a man dressed in white standing at the door of the dead house. I
tried to challenge, but my tongue was tied. I felt paralyzed. I
scrambled along the walk to the front of the hospital, knocking at the
door, when the sergeant came out and said, "what is the matter, sentry?"
"Oh!" said I, "there's a man, dressed in white, at the 'Dead House.'"
He went back for an orderly, saying something incoherent, when both went
round to the dead house, and there they found everything as they had
left it. The sergeant called me a fool, and threatened to report me for
leaving my post; this stirred me up, and I walked up and down briskly
the remainder of the two hours which appeared the longest I ever passed
in my life. I said nothing of the occurrence to the men on guard lest
they might laugh at me.
Our guard being relieved, we were marched to barracks, inspected by the
orderly officer, and dismissed. The sergeant, however, did not report me
as he had threatened; whether he forgot or not I did not try to find
out. The garrison consisted of two batteries royal artillery, one on the
heights, and the other at the castle, a company of sappers and miners,
besides our own regiment.
The troops had many guards to furnish, consequently the men got only
five nights in bed between duty; besides, fatigue parties were many and
laborious, on account of so much uphill work; the water supplied to the
garrison was brought up from a well over three hundred feet deep, by
means of a wheel which took four men to work, they being relieved every
two hours.
The heights on which the barracks stand are three hundred and eighty
feet above the level of the sea. A deep perpendicular shaft, containing
about four hundred steps of winding-stairs, leads from town to the
barracks on the heights, which tries the men's wind coming up at tattoo,
and at other times when on fatigue.
The garrison is well fortified, and comprises "Dover Castle," which
occupies a commanding position on the chalk cliffs, about 380 feet above
the level of the sea, and in the construction of which, Saxons and
Normans displayed no small amount of ingenuity; the Western Heights,
Fort Burgoyne, the south Front Bastion, the Drop Redoubt, the Citadel,
the western outworks, and the north Centre Bastion, with Queen Anne's
Pocket Piece on the Castle heights. The harbour is well sheltered by the
chalk cliffs, which end landwards, in a charming valley leading to what
is known as the "Garden of Kent." During the winter our regiment marched
into the country in heavy marching order twice a week, when we generally
went ten to twelve miles on each occasion, and not unfrequently
encountering a snow or rain storm, returning literally covered with mud,
the roads being so sloppy. These marches, with piquets, fatigues, and
guards, kept us busily employed. About the end of March there was great
excitement in London over the "Chartists," who were expected to break
out in open revolt. The colonel got private notification that most
likely the regiment would be ordered to London. We were therefore
expecting an order to proceed thither to quell the riot which was daily
expected. Our expectations were realized, for on the sixth of April,
1848, we got the route to proceed to London by rail, on the 9th instant,
there to be stationed till further orders. When this order was given,
there was great excitement in barracks preparing for the journey; we had
only two days to pack and get the baggage to the station; however, many
hands made light work, and we had all the baggage down at the station
and everything in readiness on the evening previous to our departure. On
the 9th, we were on parade at seven o'clock, a.m., in heavy marching
order, the companies told off and all reported present, when the colonel
gave the command—"quarter distance column on the grenadiers, quick
march," each captain halting his respective company as it came into its
place. He then addressed the men, urging them when in London to uphold
the credit of their old corps, &c., after which he gave the command "to
the right face," when each captain gave the command to his company,
"quick march," the companies stepping off in succession, each company
wheeling to the left down the shaft. On arriving at the bottom the band
struck up "The British Grenadiers;" we marched to the station
(accompanied by a large concourse of the townspeople), where a special
train was in readiness to convey us to London. As we went on the train
the band played "Auld Lang Syne," and "The Girl I Left Behind Me." One
hour-and-a-half afterwards we were marching four deep with fixed
bayonets, from the Dover and Chatham Station to Millbank Prison. The
streets were so crowded that we had great difficulty in reaching our
destination. On arrival, we were shown into two large rooms, one for
each wing, with a straw mattress on trestles for each man.
The following morning, April 10th, 1848, an order had arrived from the
Duke of Wellington, Commander-in-Chief, to hold the troops in readiness
to march to Kennington Common, where the Chartists had intended
assembling in large numbers to march through London to the House of
Commons carrying a petition embodying their demands.
This was to be presented by Fergus O'Connor, one of the members for
Nottingham.
The Londoners, to the number of a quarter of a million, enrolled
themselves as special constables; the Chartists were not allowed to
march in procession, and the whole affair passed off quietly, without
bloodshed.
The troops which the Duke had posted ready, when called on, out of
sight, were not required. Our regiment with several others, and a few
troops of cavalry, were under arms the whole day in rear of the prison,
ready to advance at the shortest notice.
While here we were not allowed to go through the city on account of the
unsettled state of society; we were supplied with beer inside, the
orderly sergeants of companies serving it out in our mess tins.
The troops which had been concentrated in London, from different parts
of England on this emergency were now ordered to return; some to their
former stations, others to fresh ones; our regiment was ordered to
proceed to Portsmouth.
The troops had a very smart, soldierly appearance; such a large number
of cavalry and infantry emerging from their different quarters through
the streets, bands playing, quite astonished the citizens as they
marched to their destinations.
Our march was to the London and South-western Railway Station, where we
took the train at ten o'clock, a.m., for Portsmouth, arriving there at
twelve o'clock, a distance of seventy-five miles in two hours.
We were marched to Colworth and Clarence barracks, there to be stationed
till further orders.
General Orders issued soon after our arrival, by Lord Frederick
Fitzclarence, commanding the troops in garrison; the 17th Regiment was
taken on the strength of the garrison, and detailed to furnish the
following duties: main guard, Southsea Castle, Landport Rablin, and the
main and lower dock-yard. The guards with the colours of the regiment
that furnishes the main are trooped every day at ten o'clock on the
Grand Esplanade (Sundays and wet days excepted). I was detailed for the
main guard, which consists of one captain, one subaltern, one sergeant,
two corporals, and twenty-four privates; my post being on the ramparts,
in the rear of the guard-house, where I had a fine view of the harbour,
the roadstead of Spithead, and the Isle of Wight, on the coast of which
the walls of the Royal residence at Osborne House are seen sparkling
among the trees. I had been well broken in to sentry duty by this time,
and was not so easily frightened at my post now, as when I was watching
the corpse at Dover hospital.
Numbers of nobility and gentry assemble to witness the trooping, and to
see the main guard relieved. The following day, after being relieved,
general field day of the troops in garrison was ordered to assemble on
Southsea Common, under the command of General Fitzclarence. These
reviews were once a week. My next guard was the "main dock," it is also
a captain's guard of great responsibility; sentries are very strict on
their posts, being furnished with "countersign," "number," and "parole,"
no person is allowed to pass a post without being able to give them to
the sentry. There are a great many mechanics and labourers employed
here; it is at present two hundred and ninety-three acres in extent—one
of the largest in the country. Of this immense naval establishment, the
most noteworthy, if not the most recent, features are, the mast and rope
houses, hemp stores, rigging-stores, sail-loft, and the dry docks,
spacious enough to admit the largest vessels, and offering every
facility for their speedy repair: of the various building-slips, one of
them, roofed and covered in, is so large that three or four vessels can
be in process of construction at the same time. When Queen Victoria and
Prince Albert opened a new basin in those docks in 1848, our grenadier
company formed a guard of honour to Her Majesty and the Prince. We also
formed a guard of honour on the occasion of Her Majesty and Prince
Albert landing at Gosport the same year, when they inspected our company
and complimented Captain Bourchier on the clean, soldier-like appearance
of his company. I remember Prince Albert perfectly well; he was dressed
in a Field Marshal's uniform, with a broad blue silk sash over his left
shoulder. He was the finest looking man I ever saw—he must have been
six feet four inches in height. The dock-yard also contains the
residence of the superintending officers and a school of naval
architecture.
This is a very lively town; the public houses are well patronised by
soldiers and sailors; we liked the station very much, although the
guards came often; we bathed once a week on the beach of Southsea
common, which is now a fashionable watering place—a band plays here
once a week in the afternoon. After we were here six months we got the
route to proceed to Chatham, where we arrived on the 18th October, and
were stationed in Chatham barracks. If Portsmouth was a strict garrison,
this is much stricter—there are so many recruits here belonging to
regiments in India. They are formed into what is called a provisional
battalion. We were looked to as an example for the recruits. Here the
dock-yard duty is carried on much the same as at Portsmouth, with a
little more humbugging.
We were employed here a good deal in preparing for a siege operation at
Saint Mary's Barracks, above Brompton, in building a stockade, and
throwing up earthworks and trenches; in the summer we had a grand
sham-fight, the troops being formed into two armies, one attacking, the
other defending. We were practising for this siege for over two months
previously, carrying scaling ladders and moving round with them to the
ditches of the fortification; it was very fatiguing work. After we were
well practised, and everything in readiness, the grand day came off on
the Queen's birthday, 1849, when over ten thousand people were present,
most of whom came down from London to witness this grand sham-fight. It
came off splendidly, when all returned home well pleased.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
CHAPTER VII.
ROUTE TO CANTERBURY—THE MARCH—ARRIVAL—CHATHAM—DOCKYARD—FURLOUGH
TO LONDON—THAT GREAT CITY—JOIN MY COMPANY—SHEERNESS—THE DOCKYARD—
GET MARRIED—ROUTE TO WEEDON—ROUTE TO IRELAND.
A few days afterwards we got the route for Canterbury. On June 2nd we
marched from Chatham up High Street, with the band playing at the head
of the regiment. We were accompanied by a large crowd of the townspeople
outside the town, who gave us three cheers on parting; we marched ten
miles that day, and were billeted in the pretty little village of
Greenstreet where the people treated us with the greatest kindness and
regard.
Resuming the march at seven o'clock the following morning, we arrived at
Canterbury at twelve, where we were met by several of our old
acquaintances, who were pleased to see us back again, and accompanied us
to the barracks. During our stay here of three months we had easy times,
getting sixteen nights in bed, hardly any fatigues, but plenty of drill.
On the 5th September, 1849, we marched back again to Chatham, arriving
there at 5 p.m. on the 6th, after two days hard marching with a full kit
weighing fifty pounds. The march tired many of our men, the weather
being very sultry and the roads dusty.
The fortified lines around Chatham are the frequent scenes of military
siege-operations, miniature battles, and grand reviews.
In a military point of view the lines of detached forts connecting
constitute a fortification of great strength, and the whole is regarded
as a perfect flank defence for London in the event of an invader seeking
to attack the capital from the south coast; the place is also defended
by some strong forts on the Medway.
Near Chatham is Fort Pitt, a military hospital and strong fort, barracks
for infantry, marines, artillery and engineers, a park of artillery and
magazines, storehouse and depôt on a large scale. In a naval sense, it
is one of the principal royal shipbuilding establishments in Great
Britain, and a visit to it never fails to impress the stranger with a
sense of the naval power of the country. The dock-yard is nearly two
miles in length, containing several building-slips and wet docks
sufficiently capacious for the largest ships, and the whole is traversed
in every direction by a tramway for locomotives. There are on an
average, 3,500 shipwrights, caulkers, joiners, sawyers, mill-wrights,
sail-makers, rope-makers, riggers and labourers, with 5,000 soldiers,
sailors and marines, making it lively for public-houses and saloons,
which are always crowded with soldiers and sailors in the evenings.
About the middle of December, I applied to the captain of my company for
a furlough; having no offence against me since joining, he had no
trouble in getting it granted. I had saved most of my pay since I
joined, and now had sufficient funds, with the amount allowed me from
the captain in advance, to bear my expenses during my absence from the
regiment; and as all my near relatives in Leitrim were either dead or
had emigrated to America, I had no particular place to spend my
furlough, and being stationed so near London, I made up my mind to visit
that great city, and avail myself of the opportunity of visiting once
more at my leisure some of the principal places of note and amusement.
My furlough was dated from 16th December, and expired 16th January. I
left the Sun Pier at Chatham, by a penny steamboat to Stroud Station,
thence by rail to Gravesend, and boat to Blackwall; from there by rail
to Fenchurch, where I took an omnibus to Cambden-Hill-Villa, Kensington,
where I stayed on invitation with a friend during my sojourn in London.
During my ride through the city on the outside of the omnibus, I had a
splendid view of the perfect labyrinth of streets and squares,
warehouses and stores, churches and palaces, which I strongly recommend
all strangers in London to see. Here I am riding through the vast
metropolis of England, where nearly four millions of people of all
classes, grades, and conditions, find a home; a city that covers eighty
thousand acres of ground; where is consumed fifty-five million gallons
of beer and porter, with three million gallons of ardent spirits,
annually poured out to satisfy unnatural and voracious appetites. It
takes thirty thousand tailors to make their clothes, forty thousand
shoemakers to take care of their feet, and fifty thousand milliners and
dressmakers to attend to the ladies' dresses; here an army of
twenty-five thousand servants are daily employed, and the smoke of the
coal-fires darkens the country for more than twenty miles around. The
splendour of the magnificent buildings and shops, carriages, cabs,
omnibuses, and vehicles of every description, with crowds of
pedestrians, impressed me with surprise beyond my powers of description.
I got off at Silver Street after paying the conductor six-pence for my
fare, and walked to my friend's house, where I was received in a most
cordial manner. During my stay in London I visited many of the principal
places of interest in the city, among which were the following, viz.:
St. James' Palace, an irregular cluster of buildings used for court
purposes, but not as the Queen's residence; Buckingham Palace, the
Queen's London residence, a large quadrangular building; Marlborough
House, now the residence of the Prince of Wales; Kensington Palace and
Gardens; Houses of Parliament, a vast structure which has cost
£3,000,000, perhaps the finest building in the world applied to national
purposes—the river front is 900 feet long; Westminster Hall, a noble
old structure, of which the main hall is 290 feet by 68, and
110 feet high; the Horse Guards, the official residence of the
Commander-in-Chief, with an arched entrance to St. James' Park, where
under the arches on each side are two noble specimens of mounted
sentries; the National Gallery devoted to a portion of the nation's
pictures, in Trafalgar Square; South Kensington Museum; the Guards
Barracks, Chelsea; the General Post Office, which has a hall 80 feet by
60, and 53 high, with a vast number of offices all around it.
[Illustration: THE THAMES EMBANKMENT.]
Of public columns and statues the chief which interested me and took my
attention were the following:—Nelson's Column, Trafalgar Square; and
York Column, Waterloo Steps.[1]
Of the public parks in the Metropolis, the most important are Hyde Park,
St. James' Park, the Green Park, Regent's Park, Victoria Park,
Kensington Park—all belong to the nation, and are, of course, out of
the builders' hands. They are most valuable as "lungs" and breathing
places for great London.
The Zoological Gardens, Horticultural Gardens, and Botanic Gardens are
beautiful places, belonging to private societies. Of places of
amusements, there are three opera houses, about thirty theatres, twelve
music halls and concert rooms of large dimensions (including Albert
Hall), a much larger number of smaller size, and very numerous
exhibition rooms of various kinds, including Madame Tussaud's exhibition
of wax figures, in Baker Street; these greatly interested and amused me.
I must not forget my leave is nearly up; my furlough expires to-morrow
night at tattoo. Also, I am sorry I cannot stay longer, time seems so
short and flies so fast in this great city, but as a soldier I must
never forget my duty.
After bidding my friend good-bye, and thanking him kindly for his
generous hospitality, I started back to join my regiment at Chatham, by
the same route I had come, arriving in barracks at tattoo, January 16th,
and duly reporting myself.
Whilst I had been on leave, my company (the grenadiers) were under
orders for detachment at Sheerness. Accordingly we embarked at the Sun
Pier, and proceeded down the Medway, by steamer, on the 8th February,
arriving at our destination at two p.m., commanded by Captain L. G.
Bourchier, and were stationed in the same barracks as the 72nd
Highlanders, whose pipers kept playing and droning from reveillé till
tattoo. This is also another of England's Royal ship-building
establishments; there are nearly two thousand artisans and labourers
employed daily in the dockyard. The streets, public houses, and concert
rooms are continually, unfortunately, crowded with sailors, soldiers,
marines, and dockyard hands, every evening; and not unfrequently a
bar-room row takes place between the soldiers and sailors; on one
occasion I saw two of our tallest and ablest grenadiers peel off their
coats and clean out a whole tap-room of sailors, and that with their
English fists.
On our last visit to Canterbury, what did I do but, like an Irishman,
fall in love. I made the acquaintance of a Kentish beauty and promised
to marry her, with the understanding that I got the commanding officer's
sanction in order to carry out this promise, after our company had been
here about a month, I applied to the colonel, of course through the
captain of my company, for leave to get married, which was granted,
through the strong recommendation and influence of my captain; for my
readers must know that it is only a very small proportion of soldiers
(six to each company), and those only of the best character and highly
recommended, can get leave to marry; or if they marry without leave,
they have no claim to participate in any of the advantages and
privileges attached to the soldier who marries with leave—such as
quarters in barracks and on foreign stations, "rations." Having received
the commanding officer's permission, I was married, on the 3rd of April,
1850, at Minster, in the Isle of Sheppy, Kent. My wife then was placed
on the strength of the regiment from that date. Now my happiness was
complete. I was struck out of the barrack-room messing, and my wife and
I became truly happy together. Instead of walking down the town with my
comrades, I walked out with my wife in the evening on the ramparts in
the rear of our quarters, and gazed in wonder at the massive
fortifications and guns which encircled our barracks. Here we could hear
the soft strains of exquisite music from the various military bands of
marines, or the regiments in garrison, or, more frequently, the pipers
of the 72nd Highlanders, or the sound of the evening gun re-echo over
the surface of the waters from the flag-ship which rode so majestically
at anchor in the distant roadsteads, with the sun sinking into an ocean
of fire, and the white sails of the fishing smacks glistening in the
setting sun. We had been for some time fearing to be relieved from this
delightful station; at length the long expected order came. The rumours
which had been for some time gathering strength as to our destination
were discovered to have had a better foundation than many which in
general floated indefinitely about our barracks, on the subject of which
no one ever could discover their origin, for, you must know, soldiers
are great gossipers.
Our orders are for Weedon, a small town in Northamptonshire, on the
River Nene. In three days we were to embark on board a steamer for
London, thence by rail. We were all rather sorry for leaving the present
station, although soldiers always like fresh scenery, and always play,
when they leave, "The Girl I left Behind Me."
We embarked on the 18th of May, accompanied by the band, pipes, and
several men, of the 72nd Highlanders to the wharf, the band playing
"Auld Lang Syne" as our steamer moved off from the dock, the men
cheering and waving their handkerchiefs, which we responded to in a most
friendly manner. We were all very happy, though we were rather closely
packed together—a circumstance generally considered dangerous to a good
fellowship. The vessel was a small one, and being of rather ancient
build did not boast all those conveniences that the new steamers
possess. The voyage was a short one; the river being very smooth; the
trip was pleasant, although it was somewhat inconvenient for the women
and children, who were huddled up very close together. We were lucky
that the weather was so fine, therefore we had not the unpleasantness of
sea sickness.
As we neared London, steamers and vessels of nearly every size became
more numerous; and the buzz of industry from the shore, with the
whistling of small steamers, the splashing of wheels, the clouds of
smoke, impressed us with the wondrous amount of traffic carried on
through this mighty highway of commerce.
We reached Blackwall at one o'clock, and marched to Euston Station, the
women and children being sent in cabs, where we took the train at three
p.m., arriving at Weedon at 5 p.m., marched into barracks and joined
head-quarters which had been there before us. About this time Colonel
Styte got command of the regiment, an old Waterloo officer of great
skill in military details. The Town of Weedon, which is situated in the
centre of a wide and rich valley in one of the most beautiful counties
in England, was declared by all our soldiers, without one dissentient
voice, to be an exceedingly dull, stupid place. Not having much duty to
perform in this quiet garrison, we were kept continually at drill; in
the evenings the men had nothing to occupy their spare time except to
assemble in the public houses or canteen, and on Sunday, after church,
to walk out of town to a certain country tavern where they unfortunately
used to indulge in drinking and carousing. In the days in which I write,
those who entertained the idea of educating soldiers were laughed at as
visionary enthusiasts, whose schemes, if put into practice, would
entirely ruin and destroy the military spirit of the army; and few there
were among the commanding officers of regiments who possessed moral
courage enough to combat the general opinion, even if they differed from
the principle. Colonel Styte, however, the lieutenant-colonel of the
17th regiment of "Royal Tigers," was happily endowed with moral courage
in equal degree with his gallantry in the field, which secured for him
his present high position, and an honesty of mind and purpose he
possessed that was not usual with officers of his time. He had received
a wound at the Battle of Waterloo in his right arm, which entirely
disabled it, and it hung down by his side quite powerless. Not being
able to draw his sword, we had great sympathy for him, which he
appreciated very much. He had established an evening school for the
drummer boys of the regiment, and for such of the non-commissioned
officers and privates as chose to avail themselves of its advantage. The
colonel and a few of his brother officers raised a subscription in order
to provide the necessary books, and a school was established and well
attended, with most excellent results—valued by many of the best
disposed non-commissioned officers and men, and worked exceedingly well.
Regarding the drummer boys, their attendance was compulsory. The teacher
was a very gentlemanly, able man, and imparted his instructions in a
very painstaking manner, which caused many of the young soldiers to
attend his school willingly, and try to advance themselves by his
instructions.
Nothing in the regiment gave me more pleasure than attending, and the
progress I made during our term served to advance my prospects of
promotion in after years, which I most gratefully remember.
We were stationed in this quiet town for three months when we got orders
to proceed to Castlebar, a town in the west of Ireland, and about one
hundred and sixty miles from Dublin.
[1] The Albert Memorial, Hyde Park, has been erected since.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
CHAPTER VIII.
LIVERPOOL—EMBARK FOR DUBLIN—THE VOYAGE—ARRIVAL—MARCH—THE
TRAIN—THE MARCH TO CASTLEBAR—ARRIVAL—ELECTION—ROUTE TO GALWAY.
May 9th, 1850.—The regiment was formed on the barrack square, right in
front, marched to the railway station, the band playing at the head of
the regiment, accompanied by a large number of the townspeople, with
whom we were popular, and who gave us three hearty cheers as the train
moved from the station at 10 o'clock a.m. During the journey the train
stopped sufficiently long enough at different stations to enable us to
partake of refreshments.
Arriving in Liverpool at 4.30, formed up at the station and marched
through the main street down to the docks, with fixed bayonets, the band
playing "British Grenadiers," where we embarked at 5.30 p.m. At six
o'clock the steamer moved off slowly from the dock, the band playing
"Come back to Erin" when we were cheered by the crowd from the quay.
We had a remarkable fine passage, although the boat rolled and pitched a
good deal with the long swell from south-west, and we suffered but
little discomfort beyond what invariably attends 900 men, 40 women and
children who are imprisoned for the time being, with the fear of being
drowned. Several of the women and children were sea-sick; but as for the
men, their will conquered their stomach, and they were not sick,
although many of them looked very pale and squeamish. Hoping to enter
port in the morning, I was early on deck; we were already in sight of
land; on the right the long low line of the Irish coast was visible
scarcely raised above the level of the sea. Not far ahead the outline
and prominent feature of the Hill of Howth stood out before us on the
right with its light-house; my heart beat high with joy as my eye caught
the first glimpse of the land of my birth, "my own native land."
The city, that at first looked like a white line on the coast, began
apparently to lift itself upwards and assume definite form and shape,
the houses and spires standing out more distinctly. On the left we saw
Kingston, with the grand Wicklow mountains in the background completing
the picture,—indeed the Bay of Kingston is said to be one of the most
beautiful in the world. Now we pass the lighthouse on the left, which
stands at the end of a long pier at the entrance of the bay, close to
the Pigeon House, where there are strong fortifications. We are moving
up slowly among the shipping, arriving at the north-wall at six o'clock
a.m. The order was given to disembark immediately, when huge swarms of
red coats assembled on deck, buzzed and bustled about, actively
preparing to disembark in good order, and fall in by companies on the
quay. On the bugle sounding the whole fell in, and were inspected by the
Colonel. All being correct, we marched off by fours with fixed bayonets
and band playing, along the Liffy to the Western Railway station,
"Broadstone," accompanied by an immense crowd of spectators. We took the
train at eight o'clock for Mullingar, arriving there at ten—sixty miles
in two hours—and were billeted on the taverns and public houses.
Previous to being dismissed we were formed up at quarter distance
column, in front of the principal hotel, Mr. Murray's, where the Colonel
stayed, when he charged the men to conduct themselves in their billets
in a soldierlike manner, and never bring discredit on the corps through
their misconduct among the inhabitants; non-commissioned officers were
ordered especially to look after the men's interests, and call the roll
at tattoo: he at the same time ordered parade with arms and
accoutrements at five o'clock p.m., after which the men were marched to
their different billets by their respective non-commissioned officers,
where we were received with "ceade-mille-failtha" by the landlords, who
had dinner ready for us in right Irish fashion, according to
instructions received from the "Billet-master." After dinner we were
employed in getting our appointments clean and ready for parade. At the
appointed time the regiment paraded at the former place, rolls called,
and companies inspected by their respective captains. During the parade,
the bands "discoursed sweet music" in front of the hotel. After the
reports were collected, and all reported present by the Adjutant, the
Colonel gave the command, "fix bayonets, shoulder arms, left wheel into
line, quick march, halt, dress," the Major giving the word "steady,"
when the line was dressed; after which the Colonel opened the ranks and
inspected the whole line (the band playing during the inspection),
breaking into open column right in front, and then dismissed.
A large crowd of town and country people were looking on in amazement;
one would have thought they never saw a regiment on parade before, their
admiration was so great.
After going to our billets, the men dressed for the evening in their
shell-jackets, forage-caps, and waist-belts, cane in hand, and were soon
scattered in all directions among the civilians, who soon made their
acquaintance, and pledged their fellowship with creature comforts in the
public houses.
"Reveillé" sounded at five o'clock, when we were on the alert, got
breakfast at six, and were on parade at seven. After the companies were
inspected, the Colonel again addressed them, telling the men the
consequence and penalty of getting drunk on the line of march; after
which he sent off the advanced guard, and told off the rear and baggage
guards. The women, with their children, that could not afford a
side-car, had to ride on the baggage waggon. After these preliminary
arrangements were made, we marched off, the band playing "Patrick's
Day;" the people gave three cheers on parting. After we got well out of
town, we were allowed to march at ease, talk, smoke, and sing. We were
quite fresh on starting, but after we had accomplished about five or six
miles we began to feel the weight of a full kit, arms, accoutrements,
haversack and sixty rounds of ammunition in our pouches, with a thick,
stiff leather stock, and coatee buttoned up tight around our neck, with
a heavy shacko. The weather being warm and roads dusty, we began to get
somewhat tired and thirsty. We were halted close to a small village,
where we procured some buttermilk from the peasants, who gave it
willingly. I went into a house and asked for a drink of water, when the
old woman brought me a large noggin of buttermilk, saying, "Dhrink this
acushla, it's bether nar cauld wather for ye on the road." I offered her
some coppers, but she refused, saying, "No, I thank you, sur; do you
think I would take pay from a poor sojer for a drop o' buttermilk? the
sorrow bit thin; I wish it was bether, it's myself that would give it
ye."
After getting refreshed we started on again; we had nine miles more to
march before we got to Ballymore, where we were to be billeted for the
night; we had frequent halts for a few moments at a time, during the
remaining nine miles, when the people brought us noggins of buttermilk.
As we resumed the march, the band struck up "Patrick's Day," which well
repaid the people for the buttermilk, and several of them accompanied us
for miles along the road.
Arrived at Ballymore at two o'clock, when we were told off to our
respective billets. This is a very wretched small town, with only three
public houses; most of the men were billeted in private houses, the poor
people were hard pressed to find room for us, but we were tired and not
very particular, as long as we got some place to stretch ourselves.
After arriving at our billets, dinner, such as they had, was ready for
us; tea and coffee there was none, but instead there was an abundance of
bacon, cabbage, and potatoes, which we washed down with plenty of new
milk. After satisfying the cravings of the inner man with these
substantials, we felt we should like to try a drop of good Irish
whiskey, made up a subscription and sent our host out for the "crater."
After partaking of this luxury, so long unknown, in which the landlord
joined in a sociable manner, we turned out for parade, when we were
inspected by captains of companies and dismissed.
We had supper at six, oat-cakes, potato-cakes, and new milk, and soon
after we were in the land of dreams, well tired from our march. Reveillé
was sounded at five next morning, arousing the hitherto quiet village,
when we were all on the alert; got breakfast of bacon, eggs, potatoes
and milk, falling in for parade at seven, marching off with the band
playing "Patrick's Day," which caused the people to shout and cheer.
After a long march of sixteen miles we reached Athlone at two o'clock,
dismissed to our billets, where dinner was ready according to
instructions received in advance.
My wife fared much better to-day than yesterday. I had procured for her
a seat on a side-car with the hospital serjeant's wife, by paying half
the expense of the car. This is a good sized town, large barracks and
strongly-fortified, on the Shannon, dividing Leinster from Connaught. We
fared well here and got good billets. To-morrow will be Sunday; we will
halt. We were allowed to indulge in a good sleep on Sunday morning,
nothing to do before ten o'clock, only to get breakfast of ham and eggs;
church parade in front of O'Rourk's hotel, where we were inspected and
marched off to our different places of worship, the band playing,
causing great crowds of people to assemble and accompany us to church.
After dinner the men walked out in full dress; there were crowds of
people and plenty of whiskey drunk during the day and night; great
excitement to see so many soldiers in the town. At tattoo that night one
corporal and six privates were confined, the corporal for being drunk,
and the privates for minor offences. In the morning the six privates
were reprimanded, and the corporal sent back for a court-martial on
arrival at Castlebar.
We were on the march at seven o'clock, the band playing Patrick's Day
and Garry Owen, as we marched out of town, cheered by the crowd. We were
in good spirits, for every fellow had a parting glass with the landlord
before parting, besides we were getting accustomed to the march. After a
march of fifteen miles we arrived in Castleblakeney at two o'clock. This
is a small town like Ballymore. During the march to Castlebar, we always
started at seven every morning, and paraded at five every evening for
inspection.
Next day at two o'clock, we reached Tuam, a fine town, where Archbishop
McHale and Bishop Plunket reside, where we were billeted that night,
marching as usual in the morning: next night at Holymount, arriving at
Castlebar on Thursday, the 18th May, 1850, where we were to be stationed
till further orders, accomplishing a journey of about one hundred miles
in seven days. On arriving we were shown our quarters; bed filling at
the barrack stores, and cleaning our appointments after the long march,
occupied the remainder of the day.
The following day commanding officer's parade in heavy marching order at
ten a.m., when we were minutely inspected and dismissed. We had good
barrack accommodation and easy duty, the men getting ten nights in bed
between guards. After we had been here a few days, we became aware of
the fact that a contested election for a member of parliament was to
take place in about three weeks, and we found great excitement among the
people; the committee of each candidate were holding meetings and
canvassing for their party; many rows took place between them, the
public houses were continually crowded, police were brought here from
distant stations, and, as the day of polling drew near, the excitement
increased. On the day of voting two troops of cavalry arrived, and we
were under orders to turn out at a moment's notice. On the morning of
the election, the grenadiers and light company were drawn up in line on
each side of the square fronting the court-house, with the two troops of
cavalry. The voting commenced at ten o'clock; the police were all formed
ready to pass the voters in and keep the crowd back, the voters were
brought in from the country on sidecars, guarded from the mob by a
policeman on each side of the car.
The people were very roughly used at first by the police, which raised
their wrath, when they rushed with immense force on the police and
thoroughly defeated them, forcing them to retreat to the lines of the
military for protection. Having effected this object the crowd retained
their position, but did not attempt to assault the soldiers, though
their shouts of defiance to the police rose loud and long. The police
were ordered to advance again and seize the ringleaders; they obeyed
very reluctantly, but being assaulted with sticks and stones their
individual courage was excited, and they rushed to chastise the mob, who
again drove them back in greater disorder than before, and a nearer
approach to the soldiers was made by the crowd in the scuffle which
ensued. The police were again ordered to charge the mob, when a more
serious scrimmage arose, sticks and stones were used with more effect,
and the parties being nearer to each other, the missiles intended only
for the police overshot their mark and struck some of the soldiers, who
bore their painful position with admirable fortitude, although their
patience was sorely tried to stand a target for the mob, but a soldier's
duty is to obey orders in whatever shape they come from his officers,
and therefore they had to put up with rough usage. The mob were now
furious and the magistrate had to read the Riot Act before the soldiers
could attempt to quell the disturbance; at last the military were
ordered to fire, the captain giving the command, "with ball cartridge,
load, ready, present, fire," the men were previously cautioned in an
under tone of voice to fire over the people's heads.
This had the desired effect; the crowd dissolved as the muskets were
brought to the present, after which they gave three cheers for the
soldiers and down with the "peelers."
This act brought the soldiers into high esteem with the populace. The
business of the interior was now suspended for a time by the sounds of
fierce tumults, which arose after the soldiers had discharged the
volley; some rushed from the court-house to the platform, and beheld the
mob in a state of great excitement. A popular candidate now stood
forward on the platform and was greeted with fresh cheers. He waited
till the uproarious cheering died away, and then addressed them in a few
words touching their nationality and the honour of their country.
After which the crowd gave him three hearty cheers, and quiet was
restored, when the troops were marched into barracks, but kept in
readiness should another row commence; but happily all were peaceable
afterwards, although much excitement with plenty of whiskey continued
for several days after, in which several of the soldiers joined.