The Strand Magazine, Vol. 01, No. 03, March 1891: An Illustrated MonthlyVarious
History
The Strand Magazine, Vol. 01, No. 03, March 1891: An Illustrated Monthly
Various
English literature -- Periodicals; Short stories, English -- Periodicals
"Gallop!" was the order as the firing became general. And here a
discharge from the battery in our front, whose guns were doubly
shotted, first with shot or shell, and then with case, swept
away Captain Winter and the whole division on my right. The gap
was noticed by Captain Morris, who gave the order, "Right
incline," but a warning voice came from my coverer in the rear
rank (Corporal John Penn), "Keep straight on, Jack; keep
straight on." He saw what I did not, that we were opposite the
intervals of the guns, and thus we escaped, for the next round
must have swept us into eternity. My attention here was
attracted to James Melrose, a Shakespearian reciter, calling
out, "What man here would ask another man from England?" Poor
fellow, they were the last words he spoke, for the next round
from the guns killed him and many others. We were then so close
to the guns that the report rang through my head, and I felt
that I was quite deaf for a time. It was this round that broke
my mare's off hind leg, and caused her to stop instantly. I felt
that I was hit, but not till I dismounted. Seeing that the
mare's leg was broken, I debated in my own mind whether to shoot
her or not, when Captain Webb came up to me, and asked me, was I
wounded? I replied, "Only slightly, I thought, in the leg, but
that my horse was shot." I then asked, "Are you hurt, sir?" He
said that he was, and in the leg, too; what had he better do?
"Keep to your horse, sir, and get back as far as you can." He
turned, and rode back. I now caught a loose horse, and got on to
his back, but he fell directly, the brass of the breast-plate
having been driven into his chest. Seeing that there was no hope
of my joining the regiment in the _mêlée_, and the 11th Hussars
being close upon me, I moved a little to the right, so as to
pass through the interval between the squadrons. Both squadrons
closed in a little, and let me pass through. I well remember
that Sergeant Gutteridge was the right guide of the 2nd
squadron. Finding that Captain Webb had halted, I ran to him,
and on inquiries found that his wound was so painful that he
could not ride any further. Lieutenant George Smith, of my own
regiment, coming by, I got him to stand at the horse's head
whilst I lifted the captain off. Having accomplished this, I
assisted Smith to mount Webb's horse, and ride for a stretcher,
taking notice where we were. By this time the Russians had got
back to their guns, and re-opened fire. I saw six men of my own
regiment get together to recount to each other their escapes.
Seeing their danger, I called to them to separate, but too late,
for a shell dropped amongst them, and I don't think one escaped
alive. Hearing me call to these men, Captain Webb asked what I
thought the Russians would do?
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.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account