CONTENTS

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CHAPTER I

Early Experiences

Born in Scotland—At fifteen years old appointed to the 78th Regiment—First visit to London—Join regiment at Shorncliffe—Embark for Gibraltar—Put under arrest—Lieutenant James Mackay

CHAPTER II

The Campaign of Maida

Expedition to Calabria—In General Acland’s brigade—Battle of Maida—Sergeant McCrae and the wounded Frenchman—Reggio—Capture of Catrone—Taormina—Syracuse

CHAPTER III

In Egypt

Expedition to Egypt—We take possession of Alexandria—Entrapped by the enemy at Rosetta—A trying retreat

CHAPTER IV

The El-Hamet Disaster

Colonel McLeod’s death and losses of his detachment—Captain Mackay honoured by Turkish Pasha—Return to Sicily—78th goes to England—Attack of ophthalmia

CHAPTER V

The Battle of Talavera

Gazetted to lieutenancy in 24th Regiment—Embarked for Portugal—Battle of Talavera—Wounded—Soldiers seize Spanish pigs

CHAPTER VI

The Battle of Busaco

Army kindly received in Portugal—Much fighting with French army under Massena—Lord Wellington’s retreat on the Lines of Torres Vedras—Battle of Busaco

CHAPTER VII

The Lines of Torres Vedras

Continued fighting—General Beresford knighted—English and French officers spend evenings together at theatres, etc., with consent of their commanders—Massena retires to Santarem

CHAPTER VIII

The Lost Regimental Books

Story of the lost regimental books and the honesty of the soldiers

CHAPTER IX

The Battle of Fuentes d’Onoro

Much fighting—We drive the enemy across the Mondego at Coimbra—Battle of Fuentes d’Onoro—I go into the French lines to take away the body of a friend

CHAPTER X

In Scotland

On sick-leave in England—In Scotland—Journey of seventy miles in twenty-four hours on foot after a ball—Appointed to assist at brigade office, 1813—Appointed captain and brigade-major in the York Chasseurs

CHAPTER XI

Voyage to Barbados

Portsmouth—Guernsey—Sail for Barbados—Honest Henry—Frightful storm—Adventure at Funchal

CHAPTER XII

St. Vincent and Guadeloupe

Life in Barbados—I am appointed acting-paymaster—President of a court-martial—Deputy judge-advocate—At St. Vincent—Expedition to Guadeloupe—Appointed deputy-assistant quartermaster-general and sent to Guadeloupe

CHAPTER XIII

Dominica

Sent to Dominica—A fatal foot-race—I give up appointment and rejoin my regiment at St. Vincent—An awful voyage

CHAPTER XIV

An Amusing Duel

Jamaica—Return to England—York Chasseurs disbanded—Trip to France—An amusing duel

CHAPTER XV

Chased by a Pirate

Appointed captain in the 50th Regiment—Embark for Jamaica—A terrible storm and a drunken captain—Return to port—Sail again with another captain—Ship chased by a pirate—Jamaica once more

CHAPTER XVI

Life in Jamaica

Appointed deputy judge-advocate—Sir John Keane—An interesting court-martial—Sent with a small detachment to Port Maria—Awful outbreak of yellow fever

CHAPTER XVII

Home Again and Married

Invalided to England—Ship injured on coral rock—Dangerous voyage—Married on 25th November, 1826—Portsmouth—The Duke of Clarence—Ireland—Complimented by Sir Hussey Vivian on execution of difficult manoeuvres.

CHAPTER XVIII

To New South Wales

Dr. Doyle’s sermon—Ordered to New South Wales—Sail for Sydney with three hundred convicts—Mutiny at Norfolk Island—Appointed colonel-commandant there

CHAPTER XIX

Norfolk Island

Life at Norfolk Island—Trial of the mutineers—A fresh conspiracy—Execution of thirteen mutineers

CHAPTER XX

Sunday Services at Norfolk Island in 4 I appoint two convicts (who had been educated for the Church) to officiate—Find about a hundred ex-soldiers among the convicts—Separate them from the others, with great success

CHAPTER XXI

Life at Norfolk Island in 4 Solitary case of misconduct among the soldier gang—I get many pardoned and many sentences shortened—Theatricals and other amusements—Visit from my brother—Mr. MacLeod

CHAPTER XXII

Mangalore Cattle Station

Wreck of the Friendship—I am attacked by Captain Harrison and MacLeod—I receive the Royal Guelphic Order of Knighthood—Secure the sheep and cattle station of “Mangalore” in Port Phillip with my brother—Leave Norfolk Island—Visit to Mangalore

CHAPTER XXIII

On my Defence

Court of inquiry as to my management of Norfolk Island—Major Bunbury reprimanded by Commander-in-Chief at the Horse Guards for his unfounded charges

CHAPTER XXIV

Ordered to Calcutta

50th Regiment ordered to India—Sudden death of one of my boys—Voyage to India—First experiences of Calcutta

CHAPTER XXV

Life at Calcutta

Magnificent entertainments at Calcutta—Dost Mahomet—Wreck of the Ferguson—Preparations for Burmese campaign—Special favour shown to soldiers of the 50th Regiment

CHAPTER XXVI

At Moulmein

Great welcome to Moulmein—No fighting after all—The Madras native regiments

CHAPTER XXVII

Voyage up the Ganges

Return to Calcutta—Much illness in regiment—Boat journey of three months to Cawnpore—Incidents of the voyage—Death of Daniel Shean

CHAPTER XXVIII

In Command at Cawnpore

Life at Cawnpore—Quarrel between Mowatt and Burke—Court-martial

CHAPTER XXIX

The Gwalior Campaign

Expedition to Gwalior—In command of the regiment—Brigadier Black—His accident—I am appointed to the command of the brigade—Battle of Punniar—In General Gray’s absence I order a charge on the enemy’s guns—Severely wounded

CHAPTER XXX

Wounded and Made Much Of

“My brigade had carried all before it”—Painful return to camp—General Gray’s dispatch

CHAPTER XXXI

Return to Cawnpore

Slow recovery from my wound—Painful journey by palanquin to Cawnpore—Am created a C.B.—Other honours and promotions

CHAPTER XXXII

On Leave for Two Years

Riding accident at Cawnpore—Foot seriously injured—Get two years’ leave of absence—Voyage to Cape Town—On to Australia—A strange cabin

CHAPTER XXXIII

Australia Once More

Sydney once more—Visit Mangalore—Select land for house near Melbourne—My War Medal

CHAPTER XXXIV

Second Voyage to Calcutta

Sail for India—Dangers of Torres Straits—Copang—Arrival at Calcutta—My son appointed to the 50th Regiment

CHAPTER XXXV

To Cawnpore and Back

Violent gale at Loodhiana—Two hundred men, women, and children buried—By river steamer to Allahabad—Rejoin the regiment at Cawnpore—Return voyage down the Ganges

CHAPTER XXXVI

India to Cape Town

The guns captured in the Sutlej campaign—Lord Hardinge’s compliments to the regiment—I secure compensation for the regiment’s losses at Loodhiana—Voyage to Cape Town

CHAPTER XXXVII

Return to England

Return to England—Continued in command of the regiment

CHAPTER XXXVIII

Farewell to the 50th Regiment

Decide to retire—Return to Australia


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

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