Twelve years in the army : $b or, The incidents of a soldier's life

The two Footnotes in the book have been placed at the end of the Some minor changes to the text are noted at the end of the book. These are indicated by a dashed blue underline. TWELVE YEARS IN THE ARMY; OR, THE INCIDENTS OF A SOLDIER’S LIFE. BY JOHN G. GOLLAN, LATE CORPORAL H. M. 79TH CAMERON HIGHLANDERS. ELGIN: PRINTED AT THE “MORAYSHIRE ADVERTISER” OFFICE, BY J. M‘GILLIVRAY & SON. MDCCCLXIV. “We leave Our home in youth—no matter to What end—study, or strife, or pleasure, Or what not; and coming back in A few short years, we find all as we left It outside—the old elms, the house, The grass, gates, and latchet’s selfsame Click. But lift the latchet— All is changed as doom.”— Montgomery. PREFACE. In writing the following incidents of a soldier’s life during his career in the army, I would, in the first place, throw myself upon the indulgence of a generous people. Not being a man of letters, I am rather doubtful of the present little work meeting with that support which I at one time anticipated; but be it understood that I am the son of poor and humble parents, and my education consequently limited. After having undergone the severe sufferings and dangers of a soldier’s life, as represented in this little work, I feel that my constitution, once vigorous, is now broken; and it is by the desire of a few of my brave companions in arms that I write the following facts, that the public may appreciate the value of the soldier. The few verses of poetry which I have added to this little work will be very interesting to those of poetic feeling. The language expressed in these simple lines is from the heart of him who so often took part in the carnage and strife of the late war, and in my calm and reflective moments I penned in rhyme these verses of my poetic imagination. THE AUTHOR. TWELVE YEARS IN THE ARMY; OR, THE INCIDENTS OF A SOLDIER’S LIFE. INTRODUCTORY—MY ENLISTMENT. I do not wish to enter into the genealogy of my family, notwithstanding I was asked to do so by some friends on several occasions when talking over the past few years of my life in the army. This I find to be rather a delicate subject, and one that I am not prepared for.