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He broke the pledge on the way to our native village in
Dorsetshire and there we melted forty pounds in about three weeks. On arriving
at Dorchester we both got pretty tight and comfortable. Here we spent a day or
two with a cousin, who joined us and we went on a visit to his Fathers at
Blandford in a dog cart. On our returning home, we found the house had been
stormed and occupied by a sailor and a soldier who had taken possession and
awaiting our return. After a reconnaissance through the window I became rather
alarmed, for I saw an artillery man sitting in the room and for a moment it
struck me that he had come from Woolwich to get James for something or other.
But closer inspection these intruders proved to be two of my Cousins Amelia.,. a
tall fine girl, being the soldier. The gay uniform of my brother fitting her to
a “Tee”. She had frightened the servant upstairs and was awaiting our return
with a gallantry that would have done honour to our Regiment. After this we went
to Cernne Abbas and was greeted by the Giant with his usual broad grin and
seemed glad to see us. It seems very strange after being away from home for some
years to return and find it looking much smaller, dirtier, and meaner, but it is
no more strange than true as most persons who have travelled will testify. The
town was soon appraised of our return and our old chums set the bells a ringing,
we in our turn opening a house and a jolly greeting and a merry time of it we
had. Our gay appearance and spending our money so freely, quite charmed the
native lads, who followed us about and begged to be enlisted. So for a lark we
enlisted some half dozen, who were all too short and took them to Dorchester in
a wagon to be passed and left them to find their way back as they best could, to
the consternation of themselves and their friends for they never expected to see
them come back without their gay uniforms, military glory etc.
Dorsetshire was always getting me into scrapes and this
time was no exception to the rule, for I fell in love with a young lady about my
own age or rather she fell in love with me and her name was Anne K------y of
fair complexion interesting and lady like in her manners, but she was not the
only one I fell in love with. As fate ordained, my love was prematurely nipped
in the bud especially towards this fair young lady in consequence of a letter
imprudently left by me and was afterwards sent to her. For this fatal letter
which thus blasted the fond hopes I had entertained, destroyed for ever my union
with her as I had written to another.
I had written to another and broke the promised vow,
My youthful heart had made to her, I might be sorry now,
But fates closed book we cannot read the future to
disclose.
Though oft in afterlife we see our prospects deeply close.
Yet I repine not, who can say what changes had been mine.
Through the rugged path of life then why should I repine.
(Ray Watts 2007 repine in this context, means regret)
After spending a jolly Christmas with our friends in the
country and likewise spending all our money, we had to send to the old lady for
£5 to bring us home. We returned to London and after staying a few days, I
returned to my regiment at Canterbury and from there got transferred into the
Artillery at Woolwich. The young lady (that the fatal letter was written to in
the country) accompanying me to Herne Bay, where we spent a pleasant day. Our
correspondence ceased and from that time I have not heard or seen her since.
On reaching Woolwich, I commenced learning the big gun
drill and being pretty well up to military discipline I soon accomplished it,
but found it very much harder work than the rifles. We soon left Woolwich for
the camp at Chobham, the first day’s march brought us to Wandsworth in Surrey,
where I took the first opportunity of visiting my female acquaintance at
Clapham. She received me with open arms, but my stay with her was short and I
returned to Wandsworth. There I fell in with the friends of an old comrade who
died in Canada, they were very pleased to see me as I had formed their
acquaintance before at Canterbury when they came to enquire about their son.
They made me jolly tight and almost incapable of resuming my march in the
morning. I had spent or lost what money I had possessed and after marching to
Hampton Court, we halted for breakfast but there was none for me, for I had not
provided myself with any, being so tight over night. I sat down disconsolate
looking the picture of despair and grief without, and very seedy within. I fell
into a perspiration and looking into my chase for my handkerchief, I found to my
great surprise a lot of ham sandwiches. In my canteen, which I thought full of
water, I found a pot of half and half and didn’t it go down with a relish
especially the malt. I should have most likely have tried it’s quality on the
road had I known for it to have been there, my friends had anticipated my wants
and placed it in there without my knowledge. I arrived alright at the camp and
there met my old regiment the Rifles and soon joined them where I fortified
myself with a glass or two to keep the wet out. That with the effects of
overnight, made me again top heavy, I mistook my quarters and got into the wrong
tent, from which I was soon bundled out and had to make my bed on the grass in
the open air. All night the rain pouring on me the whole time, I was awakened in
the morning when the trumpet sounds to horse, and made my way to the stables
jolly well drenched. I took off my shirt and dried it on the back of my horse.
I had unaccountably lost my kit, sword and belt and could not appear on parade
in the morning,g so I was made Sergeant Major groom for my misbehaviour. What
many others would have got a Court Martial and heavily punished for, I managed
to get an early bath. I afterwards found my kit and sword, I with my usual good
luck in the army I steered clear of that scrape.
About this time an event occurred, which had an important
bearing on my future prospects. During my stay at Chobham my female acquaintance
changed her residence and went to reside at Cottage Grove Clapham and one day I
had a letter from her stating that she and a friend of hers were about to pay me
a visit at Chobham. I, accordingly thinking that two was company and three was
none, I prepared a comrade whose name was “Campbell” to take care of my young
lady’s friend. They both arrived and were punctually met by us at the place of
appointment. We took them to the different encampments and afterwards adjourned
to a booth, where we partook of refreshments and spent a jolly day. We saw them
to Chertsey for to take rail home, I with my lady love and Campbell with his.
Going along the road we came to some honeysuckle growing wild in the hedge which
they both wanted. Campbell got too elevated to comply with the request, so I had
to get them for both and in presenting it, gave to Campbell’s lass a kiss. We
left them soon after & I afterwards heard that a quarrel arose between them on
their way home about my gallantry which caused in the end estrangement between
them. My young lady knowing I was about to be brought off from the army, had the
Banns published at Battersea Church, but however I was not to be caught like
that so I managed to keep out of her net. At the same time keeping an eye on the
lass I had kissed on the road to Chertsey and after a quarrel with my old
acquaintance, I transferred my affections to this party who afterwards became my
wife.
On our way from Camp, back to Woolwich, we halted for the
night at Hampton Wick. One of my comrades was a first rate ventriloquist and
exerted his talent as such to some purpose doing Johnny up the chimney and a
variety of other performances. One of which he contrived to send the landlady
out after her daughters thinking they had gone off with some soldiers and while
she was gone after them, we just wet our whistles with a drop of the old lady’s
beer from the cellar. We started next morning and on arriving at Acre Lane
Brixton, I saw my dear old Mother standing ready to receive me with her hands
full of sandwiches, Currant Pie and other sundry good things besides a stunning
glass of hot brandy and water. The officer would not allow me to stop and devour
them, so I pulled off my Shako and she tumbled it all in pell mell and a regular
mixture it was. This little affair was the cause in some means, of my leaving
the army, my mother being an eye witness of the harsh treatment a soldier has to
contend against. |