This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1850 edition. Excerpt: ...rush forward to secure the body of their colonel, and each time were those who made the attempt either killed or disabled. The enemy got possession of the body, and, cutting off the head, mutilated the remains most horribly. The reader may imagine how the poor soldiers of that magnificent regiment burned to ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1850 edition. Excerpt: ...rush forward to secure the body of their colonel, and each time were those who made the attempt either killed or disabled. The enemy got possession of the body, and, cutting off the head, mutilated the remains most horribly. The reader may imagine how the poor soldiers of that magnificent regiment burned to revenge the death of their ill-fated commander: but they had not an opportunity--the retreat was sounded, and they were obliged to quit the ground. I recollect an anecdote told me of one of the wounded of this regiment. He had contrived to crawl away amongst some bushes, and had there concealed himself while the Coorgites with their long knives came out to put an end to the wounded, as was their custom. The work of destruction over, the cowardly murderers returned to their stockade, and he remained unobserved for some time; by chance, however, one of the enemy caught sight of him, as he lay in a kind of hollow in the ground. The villain came up to him, and, finding him alive, drew his knife and aimed a blow at him, which he at once parried with his arm, receiving a severe wound in doing so. Such was the violence of the blow that the man actually tumbled upon his intended victim, and then the struggle took place for the mastery between the two; a mortal combat, a trial of strength for life or death, which was witnessed by no one, and which lasted for some time, terminating fortunately in favour of the brave son of Erin, who, by dint of great personal exertion, dispatched his swarthy foe with his trusty bayonet. This weapon he had in his scabbard at the time, and he contrived to draw it out. Placing the hilt, or that part of it which fastens on to the muzzle of the firelock, against his chest, he drew the murderous Coorgite towards him, so as to...
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