The Story of a Soldier's Life, Or, Peace, War, and Mutiny Volume 2 (Paperback)

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. 1881 Excerpt: ...and I had to think seriously of a return to India, where, however, the fighting had long since ceased, tranquillity having been quite restored. The serious part of the matter was that I should be obliged to part from my wife, whose father had made me promise, before giving his consent to the marriage, that I would never take her to India. Whilst turning the matter over in my mind I received information that the Lieut.-Colonel of the 78th Highlanders, then also on leave of absence in England, was anxious to exchange, as the regiment was on its way home, and he wished to remain in India. I at once placed myself in communication with him, and an arrangement was soon effected. Both the 78th and 93rd being kilted corps, we were mutually satisfied in every way. On the 30th September, 1859, our exchange was duly gazetted, and I found myself the Lieut.Colonel of the Ross-shire Buffs. It was with much regret that I quitted the Sutherland Highlanders, in which corps I had spent so many happy days, and seen so much hard service; but it must be borne in mind that in India a battalion has two Lieut.-Colonels, and I was only the junior, whereas now I had the sole and independent command of a regiment--one second, too, to none in the army. On the 6th October, my eldest child and only daughter was "born, at Callingwood. The 78th landed shortly afterwards from India, and I at once started for Fort George, for the purpose of taking command, knowing well that there would be plenty of work in store for me. Fort George is situated on the Moray Firth, and is about twelve miles distant from the town of Inverness. I arrived there on the 19th October, and thus it fell to my lot to join all my three regiments in Scotland. It may not now be out of place to give a brief history o...