Chapter I: Front Matter

ADVENTURES IN THE RIFLE BRIGADE

IN THE

PENINSULA, FRANCE,

AND THE

NETHERLANDS,

From the Year 1809 to 1815;

BY CAPTAIN JOHN KINCAID, FIRST BATTALION.

One vol. post 8vo. price 10_s._ 6_d._ boards.

"To those who are unacquainted with John Kincaid of the Rifles,--and few, we trow, of the old Peninsula bands are in this ignorant predicament, and to those who know him, we equally recommend the perusal of his book: it is a fac simile of the man,--a perfect reflection of his image, _veluti in speculo_. A capital Soldier, a pithy and graphic narrator, and a fellow of infinite jest. Captain Kincaid has given us, in this modest volume, the impress of his qualities, the _beau ideal_ of a thorough-going Soldier of Service, and the faithful and witty history of some six years' honest and triumphant fighting.

"There is nothing extant in a Soldier's Journal, which, with so little pretension, paints with such truth and raciness the "domestic economy" of campaigning, and the downright business of handling the enemy.

"But we cannot follow further;--recommending every one of our readers to pursue the Author himself to his crowning scene of Waterloo, where they will find him as quaint and original as at his _debut_. We assure them, it is not possible, by isolated extracts, to give a suitable impression of the spirit and originality which never flag from beginning to end of Captain Kincaid's volume; in every page of which he throws out flashes of native humour, a tithe of which would make the fortune of a Grub-street Bookmaker."--_United Service Journal._

* * * * *

"We do not recollect one, among the scores of personal narratives, where the reader will find more of the realities of a Soldier's Life, or of the horrors that mark it; all is told gaily, but not unfeelingly."--_New Monthly Magazine, July._

* * * * *

"His book has one fault, the rarest fault in books, it is too short."--_Monthly Magazine, April._

* * * * *

"His book is one of the most lively histories of Soldiers' Adventures which have yet appeared; their entire freedom from affectation will sufficiently recommend them to a numerous class of readers."--_Athenæum._

* * * * *

"_Kincaid's Adventures in the Rifle Brigade_ is written with all the frankness and freedom from study which bespeaks the gallant soldier, one to whom the sword is more adapted than the pen, but who, as now _cedunt arma togæ_, has, in these 'piping times' of peace, determined to 'fight all his battles over again,' and he fights them in a style interesting and graphic. The remarks on the decisive termination of the Battle of Waterloo are striking and convincing; and to them and the whole book we refer our readers for much amusement and information."--_The Age._

* * * * *

"This is an excellent and amusing book; and although it neither gives, nor pretends to give, lessons in strategy, or a true history of the great operations of our armies, we hold it to be a very instructive work. Napier, it is true, continues to be our textbook in the art of war; but, even in his work, there is something awanting, something which a due attention to historical etiquette prevents his conveying to us. He shows most satisfactorily the talents of our generals, and the _morale_ of our army; but there is an insight into its composition which he cannot give us, and which, indeed, nothing can give but a wide personal acquaintance with military men, and lots of volumes like the present."--_Edinburgh Literary Journal._

* * * * *

"Il est rare que les aventures arrivées à un seul personnage et racontées par lui intéressent le public au point de faire obtenir à ses mémoires un véritable succès; mais il en est autrement quand l'auteur a su habilement accompagner son histoire du récit de faits et d'événemens qui ont déjá fixé l'attention publique. L'ouvrage du Capitaine Kincaid est intéressant sous ces deux points de vue et sera favorablement accueilli. En même tems qu'on suit avec plaisir la marche de ses aventures, on recueille une foule de détails ignorés sur les campagnes de 1809 à 1815."--_Furet de Londres._

RANDOM SHOTS
FROM A
RIFLEMAN.

BY J. KINCAID,

_Late Captain in, and Author of "Adventures in the Rifle Brigade."_

SECOND EDITION.

LONDON:
T. AND W. BOONE, 29, NEW BOND STREET.
M DCCC XLVII.

TO

MAJOR-GENERAL

LORD FITZROY SOMERSET, K.C.B.

&c. &c. &c.

THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED

BY HIS VERY OBEDIENT

AND VERY OBLIGED HUMBLE SERVANT,

J. KINCAID.

NOTICE.

When I sent my volume of "Adventures in the Rifle Brigade" into the world, some one of its many kind and indulgent critics was imprudent enough to say that "it had one fault, the rarest fault in books--it was too short;" and while I have therefore endeavoured to acquit myself of such an unlooked-for charge by sending this additional one, I need only observe that if it also fails to satisfy, they may have "yet another."

Like its predecessor, this volume is drawn solely from memory, and of course open to error; but of this my readers may feel assured, that it is free from romance; for even in the few soldiers' _yarns_ which I have thought fit to introduce, the leading features are facts.

Lastly, in making my second editorial bow to the public, let me assure them that it is with no greater literary pretensions. I sent forth my first volume contrary to my own judgement; but rough and unpolished as it was, it pleased a numerous class of readers, and I therefore trust to be forgiven for marching past again to the same tune, in the hope that my _reviewing generals_ may make the same favourable report of me in their orderly books.

ERRATUM.

Page 11, line 2, _for_ remarkable, _read_ remarkably.

CONTENTS.