Narrative of a Private Soldier in His Majesty's 92d Regiment of FootBillany, George
History
Narrative of a Private Soldier in His Majesty's 92d Regiment of Foot
Billany, George
Great Britain -- History, Military -- 1789-1820; Soldiers -- Biography; Soldiers -- Religious life
Regiment embarks at Cowes on board the Diadem, 64, and Inconstant
frigate, 27th May, 1800; and sails for the coast of France. Anchors at
the Isle of Houet, 2d June. Singular occurrence on the 4th. Intended
attack on Belleisle. Religious seamen on board the Terrible, 74. Sails
for the Mediterranean. Arrival at Minorca on the 21st July. Regiment
leaves Minorca on board the Stately, 64. Intended attack upon Cadiz, 6th
October.--Dangerous storm in Tetuan bay. Touches at Minorca and Malta.
The fleet anchors in Marmorice Bay, preparatory to landing in Egypt.
Some account of that bay and the surrounding country. Author's state of
mind during the passage. He is seized with an infectious fever. His
religious experience during his sickness, and after his recovery. Sails
for Egypt. Objection against the truth of the Scriptures.
CHAPTER V.
Account of the landing in Egypt, 8th March, 1801. Author seized with
night-blindness. Action of the 13th. Scarcity of water. Account of the
position of the army and Pompey's Pillar and Cleopatra's Needles. Battle
of the 21st, at which the Author is wounded and sent on board an
hospital ship. Condition and behaviour of the wounded. Author removed to
an hospital at Aboukir. Lord Hutchison goes with a part of the army to
Cairo. Author's wound gets worse. Troublesomeness of flies and vermin.
Sirocco, or hot wind, and rapid increase of the plague. Account of
several interesting cases. Behaviour of the wounded in Aboukir hospital,
and the Author's religious experience.
CHAPTER VI.
Author embarks for Rosetta. Dangerous passage of the bar at the mouth of
the Nile. Rosetta hospital. Author dangerously ill. Death of his
comrade, &c. Inundation of the Nile. Skin bottles. Surrender of
Alexandria. Dress of the Sepoys and Egyptian peasants. Manner of eating
their meals. Mahomedan mosques. Gun fired at mid-day in Cairo by the
rays of the sun. Explosion of a powder chest kills several of the 13th
foot. Remarks on the state of mind in which many died. Produce and
manner of cultivating the Delta. Immense heaps of grain. Wretchedness of
the peasantry. Extracts from Sir R. Wilson and Dr. Clarke, on the
diseases and plagues of Egypt. The unavoidable evils of War. Author
leaves Rosetta, and sails for England.
CHAPTER VII.
Arrival at Cork. Marches to Kilkenny. Proceeds to London and admitted an
out-pensioner of Chelsea. Arrives in Glasgow. Retrospect of his military
life. Distressing state of mind. Obtains peace of conscience by hearing
the gospel in Albion-street Chapel, and joins the church under the care
of Dr. Wardlaw.
POSTSCRIPT.
Consists of an Address to readers in general, and to those in the army
in particular, of what the Author wishes them to learn from the
Narrative.
CHAPTER I.
DEAR PASTOR,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account