The King's Own Borderers: A Military Romance, Volume 3 (of 3)Grant, James
General
The King's Own Borderers: A Military Romance, Volume 3 (of 3)
Grant, James
Soldiers -- Fiction
In this charge poor Rowland Askerne fell dead with a ball in his
heart; Colville perished under five bayonet wounds; Colyear had the
staff of the king's colour broken in his hand, and many others fell
killed and wounded; but Cosmo, as if his life was a charmed one, yet
escaped unhurt, and re-formed the corps in splendid order close to
the village of Palavia Abaxo.
Quentin, who had only checked his horse to witness his old comrades
make this most glorious charge, galloped on towards the right, where
he found the foe still pressing forward, and Moore, sword in hand, at
the head of the 42nd, most of whose pouches were now empty.
"My brave Highlanders!" the general exclaimed, "you have still your
bayonets--_remember Egypt_!"
With a wild cheer, their plumes and tartans waving amid the smoke,
the Celts rushed on and drove the French back in disorder upon Elvina.
A few minutes after this, just as Quentin dismounted to breathe his
horse, and just as Captain (afterwards General and Viscount) Hardinge
came forward to report that the Guards were advancing to support
Bentinck's brigade, a round shot from the enemy's battery on those
fatal rocks passed through them.
By the velocity of the ball, the mere force of the air, Quentin was
knocked down, breathless and panting. When he staggered up, he found
the general lying near him, and a startled group gathering round them.
_The same ball_ had mortally wounded Sir John Moore, by shattering
his left breast and shoulder. Hurled from his saddle, he now lay on
his back, bleeding and dying!
CHAPTER XX.
THE BURIAL.
"Not a drum was heard, not a funeral note,
As his corse to the ramparts we hurried,
Not a soldier discharged his farewell shot,
O'er the grave where our hero we buried.
"We buried him darkly at dead of night,
The sods with our bayonets turning,
By the struggling moonbeams' misty light,
And the lantern dimly burning."
CHARLES WOLFE.
Moore's first impulse was to struggle into a sitting posture, and,
while resting on his right hand, to watch the wild conflict between
the French and Highlanders at Elvina. Not a sigh of pain escaped
him, as he bent his keen blue eyes on the corps engaged in front; but
on seeing the black and crimson plumes of the 42nd triumphantly
waving in the village, a smile of gratification stole over his
handsome face, and he allowed himself to be borne to the rear by six
Highlanders and guardsmen, Quentin Kennedy and Captain Hardinge
assisting to keep him in an easy position with the sash of the latter.
"Report to General Hope that I am wounded," said he, calmly, "and
desire him to assume the command."
Quentin observed that Sir John's sword had got entangled in the
wound, and that the hilt was actually entering it. On this, Captain
Hardinge kindly and gently attempted to unbuckle it.
"Never mind it, dear Hardinge," said the dying hero; "I had rather it
should go out of the field with me."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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