WATERLOO; AND EXPEDITION TO PORTUGAL***


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ADVENTURES IN  HOLLAND AND AT WATERLOO;
AND EXPEDITION TO PORTUGAL.

Proceedings in Holland, Under the Command
of General Sir Thomas Graham, &C., &c.

by

CORPORAL KNIGHT.






Melbourne:
R. Bell, Printer, 97 Little Collins Street East.
1870.




_About thirty-three years ago_, THOMAS KNIGHT _(the author of this work)
published a very interesting account of his adventures. A few members of
the Stock Exchange bore the principal portion of the expense of printing
them. While attached to the Army in Portugal, he was in the same
regiment as my brother, Major F. E. Ebsworth, and servant to him._

  FRED. EBSWORTH.

_Sydney, 11th March, 1867._




Adventures in Holland and Waterloo;

AND THE

EXPEDITION TO PORTUGAL.


My father was a cabinet maker at Frome, in Somersetshire. I was bound
apprentice to a weaver, not liking such a quiet life I ran off to sea,
and entered on board a collier at Southampton, as cabin-boy. In
returning we were driven into Ramsgate by a squall. The cook and I left
the captain to prepare his own dinner. We were fortunate enough to fall
in with a return post-chaise, and were carried along like gentlemen to
Canterbury. This was in the year 1811, or the beginning of 1812, when
soldiers were much wanted, and I thought myself a sharp sort of fellow,
and was fond of a frolic. More than one sergeant tried to cajole me. Two
rifle brigadesmen came to the town on furlough; they had green jackets;
but their fine promises were too much for me. At length they got the
best of me, and enlisted me. I was taken down to Shawn Cliff to the
regiment, and had to be inspected by the doctor; and the following day I
was taken to Hyde to be sworn in by the magistrate. He asked me which I
would go for--limited service or unlimited service. “What is the
difference in the money?” I asked. “Limited service is 10 guineas, and
unlimited service 16 guineas.” I said, “as I may not live seven years, I
will take the 16 guineas.” I received 8 guineas (one half of my bounty)
and returned towards the barracks. I was gaping about at what the
soldiers were doing, when one old chap came up to me and said I was his
first cousin. “I am not quite so green as to be done in that way,” I
answered. However, I soon fell in with a few jolly comrades, and spent
forty shillings out of the half of my bounty. After buying a few
articles I stood in need of, the rest of my bounty went in two days
more. Then I had to go through my discipline, after which I went on
guard, and considered myself an old soldier. There were 200 of the
ablest men picked out to go to Holland. One was a married man, who had a
family of children; the wife was making a great fuss about her husband
going out, and I said I would not mind taking his place. I did so. The
following day the general had to inspect us. He said it was not proper I
should go out, as I could not stand the fatigue; and asked who selected
me. I told him I had a notion of going out in place of private Rourke,
who had a wife and family. “Bravo!” he cried. “Well, we will try you.”

The day after, we marched to Dover, and then went on to Deal, in all
eighteen miles. This I found severe work, but did not let it appear so,
as we were about to leave England. I and five others were billetted at
Deal Castle, in the Walmer Road. In the course of the evening a mutton
pieman came into the room, calling out, “All hot! toss or buy.” We
bought and ate all his pies, shied the little dishes at one another,
made the pieman drunk, and enlisted him. His master came to fetch him
away,