The History of the 2nd Dragoons: "Royal Scots Greys"

Chapter XIX: Appendix: Extracts From Orders of (2)

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The two following letters from General Dalyell do not relate to the Greys, but are charming specimens of written language. It may be well to remember that the great Duke of Marlborough was almost devoid of education.

_General Dalyell to the Earl of Lauderdale._

+My Lord, ...+

I moist confes I could not hev thoight this cuntray so il
prinsiplit as I find tham, and am confedent if foren forsis or
armis cum this laind vil all go in Rebelion, and it simis this
laist if it had not bein mistymed had bein muth moir terible, and
no piple heve with moir egernes soight after marterdom then thir
Roigis to karay thair desyn on deye; mane of the vimen upbraden
thair husbends and childen for not deyen on the pleis; and that
vhith is to me strange to see even thois vho profesis muth for his
Maieste so mersefule inclynit to thois damnet crue.

My Lord,
I am your Lordships humble servent
+Dalyell+.
Kilmanoh, _the 27 decembr 1666_

_Lieut.-General Dalyell to the Duke of Lauderdale._

_Edeinburgh, 4 June [1680]_

+May it pleis your Greis+,

The trust his Maieste hes honorit me with of his forsis in this
kingdom forsis me to reyou the acompt of the troupe bestaued on
the Erle of hume, whois karithᵃ is so od that it uil onle rander
the troup euslis to his Maiesty bot thingis may probable fal out
to ingadg them against his Maiestes forsis, yai his Liutinant the
Mr of Rois ken hardle stay on his imploiment nather is his quarter
cliret nor his troup payit as is doon be the reist of the forsis. I
kno the foilt is myn that he is not trayit be a court of uar: this
I shun it for the honor of his famile and leist it migh damp his
loialte. Remiting it to your greis to taik what couers you pleis to
precrayne[?] in it

* * * * *

May it pleis your Greis of ever mois humble servant

+T. Dalyell+.

* * * * *

In the Record Office under the date 30th October, 1684, is the following order, which is of particular interest as incidentally illustrating that the Dragoon was neither Cavalry nor Infantry, but the chosen hero of modern story--the Mounted Infantryman.

For the preventing of all disputes that might arise concerning
the Rank of our Royall Regiment of Dragoons or of any other
Regiment of Dragoons that shall be employed in our Service;
Wee have thought fit hereby to declare Our Pleasure--

That our own Royall Regiment of Dragoons, and all other Regiments
of Dragoons to be employed in our Service shall have precedency
both as horse and Foot as well in Guarrison an in the Field as
in all Counsells of Warr and other Military occasions; and the
Colonells and Officers of the said Regiments of Dragoons shall
command as Officers of Horse and Foot according to the nature
of the place where they shall be (that is to say) that in the
Field the said Regiments shall take place as Regiments of Horse,
according to the date of their commissions; and that in Guarison
they command as Foot Officers, and their Regiments take place
amongst the Foot according to their respective seniorities from the
time they were raised.

An Account of Moneys disburst for the Ld Tiviots Regt of Dragns on
their March from Scotland to Deptford & Greenwich to embark for
Flanders in March 1693/4 and on their March from Harwich where they
landed again from Flanders in Decr 97, to Berwick upon Tweed in
their way to Scotland.

£ s d
Feb 93/4 For 4 wagons for the Regt from Harwich to
Southwark, being one wagon to two
troops--300 miles at 8d a mile for
each waggon comes to 40: 0:0
27 Apr 94 For 1 Waggon for 2 Troop from S'wark to
Gravesend. 20 miles 0:13:4
for 1 waggon for a Troop from do. to
Dartford and Crayford 14 0: 9:4
For 1 wagn for 2 Troops from do. to
Croydon & Bromley 10 0: 6:8
For 1 wagn for two troops from do. to
Putney & Wandsworth 5. 0: 3:4
For wagons from the several places above mentioned
to Deptford & Greenwich for Flanders 2: 0:0
For fire and candle on their March from 8 Feb 93-4
to the last of March following 15: 6:0
-------
58:18:8

MUSTER ROLL

of Major Andrew Agnews--Troop of Dragoons begin: the first of
December and ending the last of Jany--both inclusive, 1702-3

Andrew Agnew _Major & Capt_
Patt: Robinson _Lieut_
William Crawfoord _Cornet_
James Douglas _Qr Mr_

Thos: Taitt } _Sarjants_
And: Ffordyce }

John Vanmorgan } _Hoyboyes_
Henrick Bastine }

William Pattan } _Drummers_
David Jolly }

Walter Graham _Corpll_
William Murray _Corpll_
Robert Douglas _Corpll_

Tho: Agnew
James Agnew
Anthony Alisone
James Alexander
Duncan Blair
Halbert Broun
John Blackburn
James Bannerman
George Cannon
John Craig
John Campbell
Alexander Gordon
Nathaniell Gordon
Samuell Gordon
Walter Graham
Thomas Graham
James Gray
John Halling
John Hunter
William Hartley
Andrew Hartley
William Johnstoune
David Kennedy
David Kiddy
Alexander Lawsone
James Murdoch
Thomas Manwell
Andrew Mcffadrick
John McMichan
James Mcdonald
Stephen Oliphantt
John Portteous
Quintine Robisone
Thomas Ronnan
John Simpsone
John Smith
James Stewartt
Robertt Stewartt
William Shirilaw
William Simpsone
George Steill
John Taylor
James Tellfoord
John Weir
George Wrightt
George Duncan
Archibald ffleming
James fforbes
James Knox
John Lawrence
John Moore
John Buchanan
John Thomsone
William Stewartt

_Att Tyell y 1st of Dec 1702_

Mustered in in Major Andrew Agnews Troop in her Majesties Royall
Regiment of Scots Dragoons Commanded by the Right Honorable the
Viscount of Teviott ye Capt, Lieut, Cornett and Qr Mr with their
led horses two sarjants three Corplls two Hauttboyes two drummers
with fifty four private dragoons Mounted. These comenceing the
first of Decr to ye last of Janry both inclusive being sixty two
daies.

_G. Marshall_

* * * * *

The following, by kind permission of the Editor of the _Globe_, and the author, Colonel R. M. Holden, F.S.A.Scot., is reprinted from the _Globe_ of 14th June, 1906:--

THE WATERLOO BALL

The Congress of Vienna was about to break up, not in the best
possible humour, when the announcement fell like a thunderbolt that
Napoleon had escaped from Elba, which had been assigned to him on
his abdication in 1814, that he had landed in France, had entered
Paris, and had re-ascended the throne. The Allied Sovereigns
soon silenced their differences in a harmonious resolution to
combine against the disturber of the peace. Napoleon was declared
the common enemy of Europe, his sovereignty was ignored, and
preparations for war at once entered upon. It is estimated that by
June a million of men were ready to fall upon France.

The Duke of Wellington established his headquarters at Brussels,
where he had with him in and about the city over 25,000 men. The
city was filled with fashionable non-combatants of all nations,
including numbers of British who had long been cut off from the
Continent, and had been drawn thither by curiosity, or from having
relations in the army. The whole place teemed with intrigue, for
there were still a large number of officials who had served under
Napoleon, and were ready to return to him. However, everything
outwardly remained quiet, and there was no sense of immediate
danger. Parties were common, "and all went merry as a marriage
bell." Among the social entertainments none was so much talked
about as the now historic ball which was given by Charlotte,
Duchess of Richmond, wife of Charles, fourth Duke of Richmond
and Lennox, K.G., who, with their family, had occupied a villa
in Brussels since the Duke relinquished the Lord-Lieutenancy of
Ireland in 1813. The Duchess was a daughter, by his beautiful wife,
Jean, of the fourth Duke of Gordon, known by the Highlanders as
the "Cock of the North." The daughter of a soldier, the wife of a
soldier, and the mother of one, her Grace was in close touch with
the army. In her youth there were few more attractive girls than
Lady Charlotte Gordon when she used to appear in the feather bonnet
and Gordon tartan plaid, in compliment to the 92nd Highlanders and
Gordon Fencibles, which her father had raised.

The much-talked-of ball took place on the 15th June, 1815, ninety
years ago yesterday. At three o'clock in the afternoon of that day
a messenger arrived with important news for the Duke of Wellington
that Napoleon at the head of his army had crossed the Sambre that
morning, and had forced the Prussians to retire through Charleroi
and Fleurus to a position near Ligny. The Duke immediately sent
off orders for his troops to hold themselves in readiness to move,
but not to advance. The latter he delayed until the evening,
when reports from Mons had satisfied him that the attack was not
a feint, and that Napoleon really had taken the Charleroi road.
The critical state of affairs did not prevent the Iron Duke from
attending the ball. On the contrary, he not only went himself, but
he encouraged his officers to attend, thinking that their presence
there would have a reassuring effect on the people of Brussels.
In the room, the coachmaker's store improvised for the occasion,
were assembled some two hundred guests, including ladies well
known in English society, and most of the Duke of Wellington's
staff--the Prince of Orange, the Duke of Brunswick, Lord Hill, Sir
Thomas Picton, Sir Henry Clinton, the Earl of Uxbridge, Lord Edward
Somerset, Sir Hussey Vivian, Sir William Ponsonby, Sir Denis Pack,
and others. The news had spread that the French army was about
to cross the frontier, and it caused a very natural sensation,
but the dancing was not interrupted. Indeed, we are told that it
was maintained with unusual spirit, as if to make the most of the
enjoyment which was so soon to be interrupted. An interesting
incident occurred which does not appear to have been recorded.
During an interval in the dancing, a party of non-commissioned
officers of the 92nd Highlanders, headed by their pipers, proudly
marched into the room, having been specially invited to give an
exhibition of the reel to her Grace's British and foreign guests;
never did these Gay Gordons dance with greater grace, or to a more
appreciative audience.

The imperturbable Duke of Wellington remained at the ball till past
midnight, constantly receiving messages and giving orders privately
to the staff. He then quietly withdrew for the desperate encounter
which was destined to be the crowning scene in a military career
of unequalled brilliancy. The other officers gradually left the
room and joined their regiments, many in their dancing pumps. The
Duchess of Richmond and her daughters took no further part in the
ball; her husband and two of her sons had accompanied the troops.
But the girls generally are said to have shown great heartlessness.
After saying farewell to their partners, many of them for the last
time, they continued dancing for some hours. Meanwhile, drums,
bugles, and pipes sounded the assembly through the silent streets;
the soldiers came swarming out like bees, and Brussels was soon
astir at the unwonted bustle. What followed is well known. Two days
later Napoleon's pride was crushed by the most glorious victory
ever won by British arms; and, alas, the voice of many a gallant
soldier who, but a few hours before, had been a welcome guest at
the historic ball in Brussels, was silent in the grave.

The identity of the famous ball-room in Brussels has been the
subject of much controversy. For many years it was assumed that the
house had been pulled down and the ground built over. The villa
occupied by the Duke and Duchess of Richmond has disappeared in the
sense that it has been absorbed in the Hospital of the Augustinian
Sisters; but it was established by the late Sir William Fraser
to his own and the general satisfaction of the public, that the
ball was never held in the villa. It took place in the store-room,
hired for the occasion, of Mons. Simon, the coachmaker, he who
built the famous carriage which Napoleon used in the campaign.
It was separate from the villa, and still stands in the Rue de
la Blanchisserie, in the lower part of the town, being part of
the building which had returned a few years back to its original
purpose of a coachmaker's factory and depôt. The room is a long
barn-like one, with smooth, old-fashioned pillars, and a polished
floor, and has been likened to the Lower School at Eton under Long
Chamber--the same square, solid pillars, a low ceiling, and brick,
whitewashed walls.

From the "Military and Biographical Notices of the Fallen Heroes"
(pamphlet):

ROYAL SCOTS GREYS

"_Honour to the Memory of the Brave._"

The following is a list of the officers and men killed in action on the 18th June, 1815, belonging to the 2nd N. B. Dragoons (Scots Greys) given by Sir James Steuart, their Colonel:--

OFFICERS

Lieut.-Col. Hamilton
Capt. C. L. Barnard
Lieut. T. Trotter
Captain T. Reynolds
Lieut. J. Carruthers
Cornet T. C. Kinchant
Cornet Edward Westby
Cornet L. Shuldham

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS

Name and Rank. Place of Birth.

Troop Sergt.-Major John Weir Mauchline
Sergt. George Rennie Glasgow
Sergt. Arthur Pollock Blantyre
Sergt. James Shudrack Rigegate

PRIVATES

Name. Place of Birth.

Alacorn, William Stichill
Arthur, John Cumbernauld
Baisby, William Horton
Black, Alexander Dunfermline
Brooks, John Heaton Norris
Brown, Samuel Nuttsford
Brown, Thomas Alnwick
Brice, William Bo'ness
Butler, George Cailton
Christie, William Auchterarden
Coupland, John Kirkmahoc
Craig, John Barony
Craig, Robert Rutherglen
Craig, William Paisley
Creighton, David Dalmellington
Dawson, Thomas Ambleside
Dawson, Joshua Ottley
Dodds, John Berwick-upon-Tweed
Donaldson, Robert Barony
Dougal, John Barony
George Ellingworth Brotherton
Fergusson, James Barony
Forbes, Duncan Irvine
Frost, John Tutbury
Gray, Alexander Paisley
Hall, John Cambleton
Harness, John Glaistow
Jameson, John Barony
Johnson, Garirn Old Monkland
Kerr, Alexander Ayr
Kidd, John Kinross
Knight, Andrew Inveresk
Leach, William Norwich
Liddle, James Airdrie
Love, James Dalsey
Lyle, Robert Kilbarchan
Mackie, Robert Blantyre
Mackie, Alexander Glasgow
Main, John Worcester
McAlla, George Carnwarth
McArthur, John Barony
Mather, Gavin Hamilton
Macauly, Hugh Paisley
MacCulloch, John Kilmarnock
McFarlan, Andrew Glasgow
Miller, William Egham
Miller, John Old Monkland
Mitchell, William Kilmarnock
McKechney, Daniel Greenock
McLauchlan, John Dumfries
McLauchlan, James Sanquhar
McPherson, Angus Mordant
Muirhead, Robert Glasgow
Murdock, William Auchinleck
Murray, Peter Tippermuir
Picter, David Stewarton
Priestley, Luke Portsham
Rayburn, John Paisley
Robertson, Thomas Neelston
Robertson, John Paisley
Rolland, David Strathblane
Rose, James Glasgow
Sawyer, John Rutherglen
Scott, John Muiravonside
Senior, John Earley
Simmons, John Burnbury
Smith, James Kilmarnock
Stoddard, David Newbattle
Storie, William Renfrew
Sutherland, William Cambuslang
Taylor, Robert Barony
Taylor, Thomas Fording
Truwant, John Dewny
Turnor, George Yetholm
Turnor, John Orwich
Urie, John Gortals
Walker, Alexander Tengle
Wotherspoon, Peter Abernethny
Whitton, John Peckington
Wylie, Andrew Steuarton
Young, Robert Paisley

8 Officers killed 8 Officers wounded
4 Sergeants killed
84 Privates killed 89 Privates wounded

Memorandum relative to the Cavalry at Waterloo from a pamphlet printed at the time:--

--------------------------+--------------+--------------+---------------
| +Officers+ |+Rank and File+|
+Corps, Etc.+ +--------------+--------------+-----+---------
|Killed |Killed | |
| Wounded | Wounded | |Effective
| Missing| Missing|Total| Force
--------------------------+----+----+----+----+----+----+-----+---------
General Staff | 12 | 46 | 3 | -- | -- | -- | 61 | --
1st Life Guards | 2 | 4 | -- | 24 | 49 | 4 | 83 | 227
2nd Life Guards | 1 | -- | 1 | 16 | 40 | 97 | 155 | 232
Royal Horse Guards | 1 | 4 | 1 | 19 | 61 | 20 | 106 | 239
1st Dragoon Guards | 7 | 4 | -- |120 |115 | -- | 246 | 529
1st or Royal Dragoons | 4 | 9 | 1 | 86 | 88 | 9 | 197 | 395
2nd or Royal N.B. Dragoons| 6 | 8 | -- | 96 | 89 | -- | 199 | 391
6th Dragoons | 1 | 5 | 1 | 72 |111 | 27 | 217 | 397
7th Hussars | -- | 7 | 3 | 62 |109 | 15 | 196 | 386
10th Hussars | 2 | 6 | -- | 20 | 40 | 26 | 94 | 390
11th Light Dragoons | 2 | 5 | -- | 10 | 34 | 25 | 76 | 398
12th Light Dragoons | 2 | 3 | -- | 45 | 61 | -- | 111 | 402
13th Light Dragoons | 1 | 9 | -- | 11 | 69 | 19 | 109 | 390
15th Hussars | 2 | 3 | -- | 21 | 48 | 5 | 79 | 389
16th Light Dragoons | 2 | 4 | -- | 8 | 18 | -- | 32 | 387
18th Hussars | -- | 2 | -- | 13 | 72 | 17 | 104 | 396
23rd Light Dragoons | -- | 5 | 1 | 14 | 26 | 33 | 79 | 397
1st Light Dragoons K.G.L. | 3 | 11 | -- | 30 | 99 | 10 | 153 | 498
2nd Light Dragoons K.G.L. | 2 | 4 | -- | 19 | 54 | 3 | 82 | 518
1st Hussars K.G.L. | -- | 1 | -- | 1 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 618
2nd Hussars K.G.L. | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 487
3rd Hussars K.G.L. | 4 | 8 | -- | 40 | 78 | -- | 130 | 640
--------------------------+----+----+----+----+----+----+-----+---------

The Editor is indebted to Colonel Williams, commanding the Greys, for the following:--

Major Ker Fox, late 19th Hussars, to Colonel Williams, 14th December, 1905.

+Dear Sir+,--In looking through some family papers the other day
I came across the enclosed letter written to an ancestor of mine,
nearly 150 years ago, by a trooper in the North British Dragoons....

"Revd. Sir--Experiencing your wellwishes for me when presant &
Expecting A Continuance of the same emboldens me to send you word
of my welfare being assured that it will be acceptable. I have long
since Designed to do what I am now about, That I might be answered
By the good account that you and all my acquaintances are well. I
have the greatest reason to bless God that I am still Alive For
truely Sir since we have been Abroad many have fallen By Death
some by the fatigues of War & number in ye Field, yet to me has
the Lord been Sufficient having as yet saved my health & covered
me from all the Dangers Ive been exposed to. I might here tell you
of our transactions During this Campaign but being persuaded you
are no stranger to them I will only say that our Fatigue has been
great, For ever since the 20th of last March that our Regiment left
winter quarters we have moved up & down. First from Paderborn to
Bergen where we fought the French & the Battle being as it were
Drawn on both sides we could not live there being then no forage
on the ground & what was in the houses the French had it forraged
into their Maggazins so that for want of forrage we were forced to
Leave the Frontiers of the enemy & march for Hess Castle where we
abode 3 weeks, till the Forrage appear'd in the Field, the French
came down after us with one Army & Formed another near Lipstadt
where we open'd the Campaing. It is strange indeed to hear the
various accounts of the enemy amongst us for the perhaps not 3
miles Distant from others their Number will by talk Increas or
decreas 50000 in a Day, here they were given out for 190000 Men
which I beleve Did not amount to more than 100000. Which was by
far the supperior Number for ours was never 80000. So that at the
eve of the Battle & for some weeks before All was Hush non knew
aney thing till directly put in Execution. So great was the conduct
of our Brave Prince Ferdinand, Orders for marching on the 1st of
August was no sooner given than the French began to cannonade the
Princes Quarters thinking to draw our army there when they would
have flank'd us. But the Prince Left the Place, & March'd us to
the Left. That with the Blessing of God altered the whole for they
were briskly Repulsed & By the same means there great numbers was
put to a Wofull Flight. It is true the sight and presence of the
Field is terrable, But the Victory soon Dispell'd it. Altho many
suffer'd on Both sides, Here the face of affairs were chang'd
And we are almost so far advanc'd After them as where we fought
at Bergen. There is scarce a Day but we gain some Advantage over
them & with Little Loss on our side, so that if God continues his
Favours on our army the enemy will soon Leave Germany. Marbourg
surrendered the 1st Days Seige & Never a Man lost on our side.
About 4 days ago we forc'd the out Posts of their flying Camp &
got 800 prisoners. We Rejoiced here yesterday for the Good News
from England & Saxony By fireing all the Cannon & small arms in
the Field 3 times. The French Ly about 6 miles from us, we march
foreward the morrow, so that if they dont Abandon their Campment we
expect another engadgement soon. I have here Dear & Revd Sir I am
afraid taken to much time in telling you the thing you have long
since been acquaint with; But I hope you will excuse Me in so Doing
and Remember me with my comerades at the Throne of Grace, Being
confident of your care, I pray that God give your endevours the
Blessing of Turning Many that Dwell in Darkness to Him, And that
your Reward may be great, is the ernest Prayer Rev. Sir of your
Most Obedient Servant--+William Knox+ Dragoon.

"_If you Please Turn oer_

"I will be obliged greatly if you would Answer this soon Derecting
to Wm Knox Dragoon in the Royl. North British Dragoons Col.
Prestons Troop With the Grand Alied Army--Germany. And Remember me
earnestly to all my Worthy Friends that are your Hearers.

"_N.B._--I had this By me since the 17th and has had no opertune
of sending it away before this Date. We are now just by the French
and its Beleved that we wont seperate Before we engadge again, we
having been close to them these 7 days. A small River only parts
us. The French head quarters is at Geeshen and ours at Stroffsdorf.
Their Campment is strong and ours is the same. We saddle every
Night & doe not unsadle till we see the enemy's Camp when the fog
is off in the morning. Our Piquets and advanc'd Posts Lys by theirs
all night & Returns to Camp when assured they are still.

"_Kroffsdorf Camp 25th Sept 1759._"

_Frampton, North Berwick,
25th November, 1906._

+Dear Colonel Williams+,

I do not know whether you ever heard of the following, or not--if
not, then perhaps it may serve its purpose....

During a big day at Aldershot, "the Greys," one of the cavalry
regiments engaged, was missed from the scene of action in the Long
Valley. A.D.C.'s, gallopers, and mounted orderlies were sent all
over the place to find them.

The commanding officer had simply dismounted his men, and got them
into the "Cocked Hat" wood, and told them they might get their
pipes out and take it easy. When at length found, an A.D.C. rode up
to the colonel, and said that the general had missed the regiment,
and was extremely put about in consequence, and told the commanding
officer that he (the general) wished the regiment to retire behind
the crest of some rising ground.

It is reported that the commanding officer at that time, not being
very good at handling his regiment, thought he saw his way out of
the difficulty, and with great dignity said, "Young man, go back to
your general, and tell him that the Greys _never_ retire." ...

+Montague Johnstone.+

* * * * *

_Somerset, Coleraine, Ireland,
25th November, 1906._

+My dear Williams+,

We were on the Curragh ... and next us were the old Gordons.
We were always pointing out to them that, for Scotchmen in the
ranks, they could not hold a candle to us. One day some of them
came to us, and told us they had a batch of recruits coming,
real Highlanders, such as we had not, "none of 'em had seen the
English," and the band and pipes had gone to Newbridge to "march
'em up." So down we all went to the outlet of the Newbridge road
to see the arrival on the Curragh. Sure enough, soon we heard the
pipes and saw the sporrans swinging, always a glorious sight! and
on the boys came, straight from their mountains and glens. But,
alas! as they passed us and came in full view of the Curragh, a
young recruit in the ranks turned to his comrade and said, "Why,
bust me, Billy, if this ain't Putney 'Eath without the pubs."
Tableau! and triumphal march home of the old Greys.

At the same period as this, one night the old Gordons poured
through windows and doors into our mess and fairly wrecked us. So
we joined forces and went for the 9th Lancers together in the same
fashion. When all was smashed, all lights out, and everybody was
leaning up against walls in torn and tattered mess uniform trying
to get breath, in came a frightened mess waiter with a candle stuck
in a ginger-beer bottle. This revealed a tablecloth on the floor
still heaving up and down, the last struggle of a glorious fight.
This was slipped away, and underneath was found the Junior Sub. of
the Gordons tightly gripping the Colonel of the 9th Lancers by the
throat--the chief nearly black in the face. But a more good-natured
man never lived. He made it a subject of chaff, and a bond between
all three regiments was thereby forged which I know will never be
broken....

+J. A. Torrens.+

* * * * *

At Dundalk in 1868 during a good run with the Regimental Drag
Hounds, a grey horse, Barabbas, owned and ridden by Lieutenant
Bashford, pounded the field over a very boggy brook. At dinner
the same evening, while discussing the extraordinary cleverness
of the horse (after clearing the brook a native having roared out
"Begorra, he changed on a trout"!), Mr. Wilkinson, the resident
magistrate of Castle Bellingham, made a bet of £25 that Barabbas
could not jump the mess-room table. The bet was at once accepted,
and Mr. Bashford getting permission of the Colonel, went straight
off to the stable, put on the saddle and bridle, and brought the
horse into the mess-room. Captain Hicks, the paymaster, jumped on
his back, and in a second had cleared the table.

_Scene_--+The Crimea+, two or three days before the charge of
Balaclava. The Scots Greys are mounted and drawn up in line behind
a hill waiting for orders. Lieut.-Colonel Darby Griffiths is
sitting on his horse in front of the centre of the line. To him
comes a young and very excited staff officer at full gallop, who
says: "Colonel, ten men who dare go anywhere and know no fear
are wanted at once. They must be desperate fellows, as they have
a desperate job to perform. Please let me have them as soon as
possible." Old Darby Griffiths, scarcely turning in his saddle, and
without a moment's hesitation: "Greys, from your right number off
ten!"

H. S.

* * * * *

THE LOST DUCKS

Some years ago a famous and historic cavalry regiment was moving
from England to Ireland, marching by detachments, mostly of a
troop each, to embark at Liverpool. These were billeted at nights
in some town, foot and horse billets often widely scattered, and
sometimes far separated one from the other. In the mornings, at the
time appointed for marching away, all assembled at the rendezvous,
usually the market-place, or a main street near the hotel where
the officers were quartered. There a dense crowd watched the
parade, the inspection, and the march off. On a certain occasion,
the captain of C Troop, just before turning out, was interviewed
by an angry, excited inn-keeper, who declared that the troopers
billeted on him had stolen two of his fine, fat, white ducks. The
captain assured him he must be mistaken, but that every means would
be taken, if it were so, to detect and punish the culprits, and
promised compensation. Owing to the great crowd round the parade,
nothing could be done until clear of the town. On these marches,
when horses were liable to sore backs and rubs from careless
saddling, packing kit, girthing, etc., it was usual, after a trot,
to halt a mile or so away from the billets, dismount, and carefully
examine each horse and its equipment. On this occasion, the captain
ordered kits to be unpacked, cloaks to be unrolled sufficiently to
prevent the possibility of ducks being concealed in them. He then
rode round the ranks drawn up on both sides of the road, and made
a careful inspection. It revealed not even a feather of the ducks.
From the next town he wrote to the aggrieved complainant, proving
him to have been mistaken, and saying that such a charge should not
have been brought against his men, who were incapable of stealing.

It was some years before the truth became known to the captain.
In those days, officers on the line of march sent their light
baggage by train with their servants, and carried nothing on their
horses except brushes and stable rubbers for smartening up before
entering a town, but they were ordered to carry behind the saddle
a long-shaped valise, supposed to hold the kit, but usually filled
with hay or straw to prevent rubbing the horse's back.

On that day the missing ducks were packed away in the captain's
valise, and during his inspection and the whole of the day's march,
he carried behind him the theft he was seeking to discover.

+A. C. E. Welby.+

* * * * *

The following by very kind leave of the author, an old officer of the Greys:--

THE BONNIE SCOTS GREYS.

(_Air_--"+Bonnie Dundee.+")

Come Highland, come Lowland, lend ear to the praise
Of the bravest of horsemen, your own gallant Greys;
Ye Scots far away from your native land, come,
Hear the fame of the Jocks, ever "Second to none."

Come, Scots, drink a health to your "Second to none";
To your own bonnie Greys, to their victories won;
Come, drink to the luck of your Jocks, one and all,
Wherever their trumpet of duty may call.

O, see the grey horses come stepping along,
So proud in their glory, so famous in song;
Black bonnets of bearskin; O, where are the peers
Of the men on grey horses, the Scots Grenadiers?