The Subaltern Officer (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1825. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... The subaltern officer George Wood (capt.) PREFACE. If my condescending readers, in taking up this Narrative, entertain an expectation of finding any thing to delight them in style and composition--any of the graces of diction, or flowers of language--they will be greatly disappointed. I am aware of my inability to gratify them in this respect; and sensible that any pretensions whatever of a literary nature, on my part, would be completely ridiculous, because I am sure they would be wholly unfounded: -- Rude am I in speech, And little bless'd with the set phrase of peace; For, since these arms had first their manly growth, Till now, some few years wasted, they have used Their dearest action in the tented field; And little of this great world can I speak, Save what pertains to feats of broil and battle." Let me hope, therefore, that this confession of my incapacity will have its due weight with the critic (if, indeed, any critic can be found who will stoop to notice such a production as mine); that he will be merciful itf proportion as he is mighty, and will not seek "to break a butterfly upon the wheel." He cannot, I assure him, think more humbly of my little Work, than I do myself. To the reader who is unacquainted with military affairs I would observe, that in "The Subaltern Officer," he will find a plain unvarnished account of the different adventures and scenes described in the course of the Narrative, which, whatever be its other demerits, can at least lay claim to truth and accuracy: nor will it, I trust, be found without its share of novelty. The Journals and Memoirs of Private Soldiers have been frequently published; but not those of Subaltern Officers, on whom so much depends, and whose duties are of a...