k
as plants in a new-set forest. We were now and then saluted with a
solitary gun from the fort, to let us know they were not asleep; blue
lights were seen burning on their ramparts, and they occasionally
indulged us with a rocket or two, which played beautifully in the air.

The soldiers, seeing I was a spirited youth, and a competitor with them
for glory, gave me a few salutary hints, especially an old veteran of
the 76th Foot, who had been then fighting about twenty years in the
East. Among the hints he gave me were these: 1st. Never to pass a man
lying down, or supposed to be dead, without giving him the point of the
bayonet or sword; for it was a common trick of theirs to lay themselves
down on your approach, and then to watch the opportunity of cutting you
down. 2nd. Whenever I saw a rocket or shell fall near me, to get as
close to it as possible, and lay myself flat on my face. This was
undoubtedly very excellent advice; but I soon got tired of killing dead
men, and lying down every time I saw a rocket; the having neglected to
do which, on one occasion, however, nearly cost me my life, which I
shall mention in its proper place.

The storming party consisted of about seven hundred men, composed of two
companies of his majesty's 22nd regiment, two of the Company's European
regiments, and the rest native troops, the whole under the command of
Colonel Ball, a brave old hero, but so feeble, that he was obliged to be
pushed up the track of glory. The two flank companies to which I
belonged led the column. Sergeant Bury, of the Grenadier company, headed
the foremost; but being wounded at the moment, he was compelled to leave
the battery. I volunteered to take his place. The enemy had a strong
intrenchment between our batteries and the breach, with innumerable
guns, so placed as to have a cross fire on the storming party. However,
we soon fought our way through their intrenchments, our gallant captain
(Lindsay) cheering, and boldly leading us on. Crossing these trenches,
this brave officer was cut with a spear in the arm, and also received a
severe wound from a sabre; but his gallantry and zeal were so great,
that he could not be prevailed upon to retire from the scene of action.
A little on our right I saw some of the enemy point a gun at us.
Immediately, with three or four comrades, I rushed out to spike it; for
which purpose, I was in the act of searching for the touchhole, to put a
nail in it, when one of the enemy'