The Military Adventures of Charles O'Neil: Who was a Soldier in the Army of Lord Wellington during the Memorable Peninsular War and the Continental Campaigns from 1811 to 1815O'Neil, Charles
History
The Military Adventures of Charles O'Neil: Who was a Soldier in the Army of Lord Wellington during the Memorable Peninsular War and the Continental Campaigns from 1811 to 1815
O'Neil, Charles
Barrosa, Battle of, Spain, 1811 -- Personal narratives, British; Europe -- History -- 1789-1815; O'Neil, Charles, 1793-; Peninsular War, 1807-1814 -- Personal narratives, British; Waterloo, Battle of, Waterloo, Belgium, 1815 -- Personal narratives, British
out, when my attention was attracted to the conversation of two
persons near. “I am sure it must be he,” said one. “Did you read the
description?--the very same hair and eyes, I am sure,” said the other.
“We shall get the reward, no doubt. As soon as he has gone to bed,
we will send for the officer. But come, let us go in, and take care
that he does not suspect us.” As I had recognized my landlord’s voice,
I considered that such treachery was sufficient to justify a sudden
leave; and, thinking that he might take his pay for his supper from his
expected reward, I hastened away. Having travelled an hour or two, I
threw myself on a pile of straw, and rested till morning, determined
that I would trust myself in no one’s house until I was again enlisted.
It was, therefore, with pleasure that I heard, soon after sunrise, the
sound of martial music in advance of me. Two hours after, I was quietly
ensconced in my quarters, in the Lowth Militia, _en route_ for Dublin,
having the third time received my money from government.
[Sidenote: HIS REGIMENT IN DUBLIN.]
Our progress towards the capital was very slow, as we were constantly
looking out and receiving additions to our company from the peasantry
of the places through which we passed. The glowing descriptions of
our recruiting-sergeant, the thrilling sound of the martial music,
the very sight of so many well-dressed soldiers, presented strong
inducements to the ragged, half-clad, and half-starved children of poor
unfortunate Ireland, to leave her shores for at least a season. Then
there was the hope of returning with the pension, that would insure to
them, in their old age, a sustenance, of which they could be certain
from no other source. These inducements carried desolation to many a
home, but they filled our ranks; and, on the 20th of July, we were
in Dublin, with complete numbers. Here I enjoyed more liberty than I
had done at either of the other stations, and had more opportunity to
see the place. The barracks are situated in the west end of the city,
near the beautiful river which divides it into two equal parts. Not
far from them rises the noble hospital of Kilmainham, destined for the
reception of disabled and superannuated soldiers. The visits of these
old soldiers was a source of great pleasure to us, as we were never
weary of hearing them recount their tales of war and of hard-fought
fields; while, in listening to our anticipations, and in seeing us go
through the exercises required, they almost seemed to renew their own
youth. Preparations were now rapidly being made for our departure to
England; and, as the time drew near, my thoughts naturally reverted
to my own dear home, and I felt it would be a great privilege if I
could once more see my parents. I therefore wrote to them, giving
them a full account of my wanderings, my place of destination, and
begging them at least to write to me before I left, and say that I
was forgiven for all the trouble and anxiety I had cost them. The
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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