The veterans of Chelsea Hospital Volume 2 - Softcover

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. 1842 Excerpt: ... allies; and a foreign regiment of huzzars, of which the uniform closely resembled that of the French, gave by their discreditable behaviour more than a momentary confirmation to the libel. These rascals, having fled in a body from the field, were mistaken, when they showed themselves in front of the town, for Frenchmen; and many a sojourner, ay, and native too, hastened to escape from what they were assured was a victorious enemy. Again, such as either would not, or could not flee with the same degree of precipitation, were all crowding the streets in order to ask for news, while the care of their effects--clothes, furniture, and goods--seemed totally forgotten in anxiety about the preservation of their persons. It was to no purpose that through scenes like these we endeavoured to thread our way; or that we inquired in every quarter for the proper authorities, to whom we might apply for the stores of which we were in search. No human being paid the smallest heed to our demands, and we soon found that in the darkness of night, at least, it would be useless to press them further. We were quite worn out: except during the brief and broken sleep which we had been able to snatch, under the pelting of last night's storm, neither minds nor bodies had been relaxed for six-and-thirty hours; and even in the stoutest and most willing of men, there are limits beyond which nature will not go. We made our way into the market-place; and there, under the shelter of a wooden shed, we enjoyed a couple of hours of deep and refreshing slumber. This might be about two o'clock in the morning. But at four we were astir again, and in search of the articles which we had been directed to convey to the front. While thus engaged, another want began to press: we were sorely beset both...