The Bivouac, or the Martial Lyrist: containing songs, epigrams, and poems, etc

Front matter

LONDON: ROBSON AND SONS, PRESTERS, PANCIIAS BOAD, N.W. on MARTIAL LYRIST CONTAINING 3lpbnrbs of iilmc *_^ imbrcb SONGS, EPIGRA MS, JND POEMS BV MAJOR R. COMPTON NOAKE. ' 1 1. ill, y;re.il in w:u ! .ill hail, by glory cherish'd I' — Stnti"nti> j 'AH wilhcr'd be my h»:art -inii t"iitnic. whun I refuse a strain To praise thi: soldier's fuithfulnc^-i. 01 of his wrongs complain ' ClittWt-. SECOND EDITION. LONDON CHAPMAN AND HALL, 193 PICCADILLY 1S-2. Jhu-iraftb-, IN AFFECTIONATE REMEMBRANCE, TO THE FIRST, OR ROYAL, DRAGOONS BY THEIR OLD ADJUTANT, THE AUTHOR. NOTE TO SECOND EDITION. The Reviewer of the first edition in our leading literary journal says : ' The Preface may be very well addressed to the general public, but addressed to a special class of men, as these songs of course are, they should not be so heralded.' In reply, the Author presumes to say that the Preface was addressed to the soldier for the purpose of making him acquainted with the tenor of the songs, in the hope that he would be induced to read and to sing those which are written from his own stand-point.

It was also addressed to the general public, so that the civilian might know the truths conveyed in the several satires ; and the Author rejoices to find that the old proverb, viz. ' The shaft of satire, when tipped with truth, ever goes home,' has been completely verified in his Whig-Radical critics. These have felt it so keenly, that, without venturing to challenge the facts stated, they have vented their puerile censure against the sarcasms aimed at their party. Others, comparing with Tyrtæus, censured those songs which reflected upon the country, implying thereby that he would not have satirised Sparta had she appointed a civilian to be her war minister, lost the services of the able-bodied through offering them but NOTE TO SECOND EDITION. a Helot's wage, and then filled the ranks with the undersized, boys, and striplings.

Would Sparta have conquered under such conditions ? And can England ? Except where unavoidable, the Author has abstained from personalities. The satirist should be personal only when attacking vicious principles, these being impersonated in their exponent, as exemplified in the following song, in ' The Glitter of the Shilling,' and ' The clean contrary Way.' THE SOLDIER'S LOT. Air — ' The old English Gentleman.' A humble soldier's fate I sing, and, Cardwell, come, attend, As loud you boast that even slaves shall find our flag a friend ; Come with me to the pauper's bed, and shame that boast shall end. For on it lies the soldier who that banner did defend, And thought to win his country's love, like men of the olden time. 'Twas when rebellion's bloody stream from Merut roll'd along, And you cried out, with bated breath and with a faltering tongue, ' O, be a soldier ! fight for us ! come, join the gallant throng !

Preface

. In the Songs of the Camp and Barrack-Room, now incorporated in this volume, the author purposely abstained from introducing anything of a party or political nature, deeming it to be the soldier's duty to eschew politics altogether. Nor did he touch on the wrongs, real or supposed, of the soldier, or on the revilings of many of our orators, pamphleteers, and military and other writers in magazines, in their persistent cry for a better class of men. His humble endeavour and cherished ambition being to confirm the soldier in his loyalty to his Queen, his Country, and his Corps ; to enhance his courage and historic pride ; to elevate him in his own estimation and in that of his country ; to teach him to value his medal as a prize priceless beyond all other, and, by contrast, to lightly esteem the good-conduct badge, which the vilest man does, and the cowardly soldier might, wear ; also to awaken in our youth a love for those perils and adventures which pertain to a soldier's life.

Since its publication, however, the relations between the country and the soldier have been so altered, and the preface. VIII revilings persisted in, that the author has departed from his former resolution, and, without losing sight of the soldier's loyalty, has endeavoured to teach him to retort on his calumniators and to question England's boasted generosity, hoping that his voice may reach those who have the power to redress his wrongs, by replacing him on a footing, as a matter of right, with the civilians who serve the State. The calumnies are continued in such articles as ' The Philosophy of Recruiting,' in the Contemporary Review for December 1869; in the pamphlet entitled 'The British Army of 1868,' in Good Words, January 187 1, by the same author; and in the degrading epithets in the Senate-house.

The altered conditions are, first, in the implied object of the recent Enlistment Act, viz. to popularise the Army, so as to give it a political life. This is confirmed by the Secretary of State, who said, when introducing it, ' I look forward to seeing the broad line of demarcation between the Army and civil life in some way diminished.' This is but a repetition of the language of his mentor in Army reform — the author of the above-named pamphlet. Yet he has not the moral courage to propound such a comprehensive scheme as in Prussia, where the gentleman, the man of education and position, march side by side with the mechanic and the peasant, giving a lofty tone of patriotism to the whole. Nor dare he do so, as it would ruin the popularity of his party and his own individually. Nor dare he even say to the well-to-do classes, ' If you do not yourselves submit to instruction and discipline for a time, so as to fit you preface.

IX to redress your country's wrongs and to defend your hearth and all that you cherish, you must act liberally to those who do this for you.' Instead, he panders still more to the well-to-do classes by remitting a tax at the expense of the rank and file, and then mockingly appeals to the youth of that class from which the Army is recruited, to offer the highest sacrifice demanded by patriotism, whilst he gives back to others the superabundance of their mint and cummin. If our soldiers are to be imbued with politics, they will undoubtedly seek the franchise, and exercise it ; therefore it is to their interest to know that the Liberal party, to them, is the most illiberal, and consequently not their friend. But we may ask, is it wise, is it not rather suicidal, this removing of the line of demarcation, recruited as our army is and ever must be under the voluntary system ?

Secondly, the soldier is now deprived of the right or the privilege to re-engage after twelve years, so as to complete twenty-one years' service, and thus obtain a pension — the Secretary of State declaring that he has no claim to such re-engagement. This, too, with the full knowledge, through parliamentary and other returns, that a regiment arriving in India one thousand strong will in ten years — the allotted time to serve there — lose by death five hundred and fifty ; also that not more than one man in fourteen of those who enlist lives and serves twenty-one years so as to obtain it. Whilst claiming to be a rich, great, and generous people, we destroy the hope of all our soldiers, and deter men from enlisting for the sake of depriving each fourteenth man of a few pence a day in his old age.

The pension now paid preface. X and to which he would be entitled is, through the difference in the value of money and as compared with the shilling a day of his comrade of former years, only sixpence. Again, all men discharged at twenty-one years' service up to 1854 received one shilling a day ; from thence to 1867 only eiglirpence. Yet, notwithstanding this great reduction, there was no recognition of the soldier's services for recon quering India, as after Waterloo, by a gratuity of two years' service towards pension, or by extra pay. On the contrary, in the six years ending 1866, the seventy-nine thousand men serving within the United Kingdom paid for the common necessaries of life — over and above what it cost the army of 1844 — the enormous sum of one million, six hundred and twenty-nine thousand, three hundred, and eighty-two pounds .-* or two hundred and seventy-one thousand, five hundred and sixty-two pounds a year ; all of which went into the pockets of the general community.

Thirdly, the men are now enlisted for ' General Service, instead of being allowed to choose their regiments. The term 'general service' is an unfortunate one, as formerly a man was sentenced to general service by court martial, as a punishment. The general-service regiments, in contradis tinction to those serving within the United Kingdom, served almost, if not continuously, in the East or West Indies or some other foreign station, and were, by tradition at least, called condemned regiments • the incorrigibles of the home army being sent into them as a punishment. This tradition * Vide Lecture by the author in the Royal United Service Institution Journal, delivered February 1, 1867.

PREFACE.

. XI has apparently been handed down by the old veterans, as those ominous words have deterred many young men from enlisting, even after having made up their minds to do so and applying to the recruiting sergeant. Hence one cause of our late want of success in raising men. It will, however, bring its own cure. Every regiment has its history — the tradition of its fame. That of a few may be known in some districts far better than others, and young men naturally wish to join a corps of which they know something. Haply they have heard that the Royal Dragoons took a crescent at Tangiers, and an eagle at Waterloo ; that the 8th Hussars rode at Balaclava ; that the 32d bear 'Lucknow' on their colours for its gallan try; that the Fusiliers fought at Inkerman or the Alma; or they may have an acquaintance in the Rifles.

That they cannot join the regiment of their choice, is a sore disap pointment to many ; but the great hardship lies in this : that, after being attached to one regiment for twelve or four teen months, a man may be ordered off to another : thus wantonly outraging all friendly feelings, and destroying that historic pride which is the very life of a regiment. Young men on joining the army leave their homes and all those who are dear to them, and enter upon a new life where all are strangers. The recruits naturally draw to each other; some will be in the same squad and in the same class at drill, will mess together, and live and sleep in the same room. In a few months they will be dismissed to their duty, and be (or should be) allowed to choose their own comrade, that is, their particular friend. The two will then sleep in

PREFACE.

. adjoining berths, answer for each other's kits and interests during absence, lend a helping hand when pushed for time, share in joys and sorrows, counsel each other in difficulties, and in the absence of all home friends be as brothers. This is no exaggerated picture, as the Author, from his own know ledge and experience, can testify. Yet such friends are to be ruthlessly separated : the more heartless, as there is no necessity for such a measure, volunteers being always ready when called for. Fourthly, the bounty, or earnest-money in bargaining for life and limb, is no longer to be paid ; but, as an equivalent, the good-conduct pay, if merited, is to commence at two instead of three, and at six instead of eight years. To give the civilian reader some idea of the imbecility displayed in the conception of the good-conduct regulations, he is re ferred to the Appendix No. i. CONTENTS. partial gangs.

PAGE PAGE Don't care no Embarkation Hymn . . . 150 England's Confession . . . 155 England's Hymn (Thanksgiving). 152 Epitaph on Lord Hill . . . 195 Every Man has his mission . . 127 Epitaph on Mr. Secretary C. . 42 Fancy's Sketch . . . .43 Fired by the Story . . .117 Free Trade ..... 52 Free Trade Apostles . . . 219 Friendship 65 Funeral Hymn . . . .29 General Mackinnon . . . 196 God of the Battle-field . .112 God of the Soldier . . .189 Good Ale will make us jolly . 39 Half-yearly Inspection . . . 197 Have(ock's March . . .17 Health to the Soldier . . .210 Here am I for one day's spree . 253 He surely wears the cap-and-bells 24 Hey, boys, up go we . . . 27 Holy Bible 165 Hope on and hope ever . . 65 Hurrah, hurrah, my gallant Steed ! 125 Hurrah for the Rifle and Sword ! . 44 Hymn — Lord God of Hosts . . 38 Hymn — Lord, we know . . 138 Hymn of Praise (after Victory) . 246 Hymn of the Battle-eve . . 236 I am proud, Mothers, proud of my Dead 214 I live all alone with my Mother . 80 Inkerman 108 Is there a Chief ?. . . . 157 Is want a crime ? . . . .75 Again fill the glass . . . 245 A Horseman brave . . . 130 Artilleryman's Song . . . 131 Aldershot Camp . . . .63 Arm, arm for the strife . . 140 A Soldier's Life's the Life for me. 141 A Song about King Solomon . 136 Awake ! awake ! . . . . 178 Balaclava (Anniversary Song) . 228 Balaclava Charge . . . 229 Bear up . . . . .21 Begone, dull Care . . . 144 Britain's Queen ■*-.,. 3 Britannia rebuked by Fame . . 154 Britons, where now is your old generosity? . . . .48 Can I see a bleeding Foe ? . . 17 Can't love him enough . . 51 Captain of God's Host . . 169 Cardigan to the Light Brigade . 142 Civilians v. Soldiers . . .41 Civilians scorn the Soldier . . 121 Come back to die . . . 215 Come into the Canteen, Joe . 67 Come, Soldiers, be jolly . . 170 Come to me . . . . 83 Comrades, drink .... 240 Comrades, the world look round . 129 Consecration of the Sword . . 72 Contented wi' little . . . 44 Country Quarters v. Camp Life . 71 Dandy Jack's Song . . . 249 Dearest, 'tis a Soldier's duty . 18 Dear Harp, no martial strain . 79 Death of General Ponsonby . 6 Do justly and love mercy . . 43 Drink not .....

CONTENTS, PAGE Shall I be silent? . • ■ 95 Shame ! shame ! . . . • 227 Sir Colin Campbell and 93d Regt. 84 Skirmishing Song . . .85 Soldiers are merry boys . . 93 Song of the Spirits of the Slain . 237 There's not a word from flank to flank 2 There's pleasure round the social board .... 189 They want a better class . .113 They want us, Tom, to reengage 222 Thou God of Battle ... 87 Though you are poor, don't show it 167 Three stand-up toasts per annum 53 Throw wide the gate . . . 159 Tom Buffstick and the Norwich belle 262 To-morrow ..... 159 Tom Tobin and Marshal Massena 80 True glory . . . . .184 Truth 193 'Twas by the watchfires' light . 50 The Army Chaplain . . .99 Ballot 24 Barrack-room . . . 247 Barrack-room chorus . . 265 Bill, the Bow, and the Rifle . 176 Bivouac .... 233 Blue ribbon of our race . 60 Bold Lancer . . . .103 Brave can never hate the Brave .... 122 Britons' Land . . .77 Canteen .... 118 Chameleon . . . .48 Clean contrary way . 46, 96 Connaught Rangers . . 101 Corporal's Wife's Song . . 251 Cowardly Comrade . . 160 Cross and Crescent . . 59 Cross and Tricolor . . 54 Dashing Hussar . . .73 Days of other years . . 19 Dear old Rag . . .90 Dear ones at home . .241 Devil's agreement . . 147 PAGE It sounds — away ! . . . 263 I've wondering seen . . . 126 Jove and the British Soldier . 248 Kathleen Mavourneen . . 252 King Arthur's toast . . . 201 La Marchant's Brigade . . 33 Lecture on Pensions . . .22 Let them talk of home duty . 243 Love 146 Love, Wine, and Glory . . 69 Major Hodson, of Hodson's Horse 208 March, Erin's and Britain's Sons . 30 Medal v. Cotton Stripe . . 231 Moral command .... 182 Mordaunt and Royal Dragoons . 242 My duty I have done . . . 179 My first stripe . . . .66 My Friend says he's happy . . 45 My Harp 20 My heart's in the cold grave . 105 Ne'er wait to be commanded . 94 Nicholson before Delhi . . 13 No longer now as household word 86 Old familiar faces . . . 209 On those who fell in the Mutiny . 148 O say not woman's heart . . 58 O sing that merry song once more 18 O such a life as we have led . 220 Our country, my Comrades . . 175 Our country, right or wrong . 15 Our Napiers .... 163 O when in the sunshine of youth . 91 Philosophy of recruiting . . 100 Philosophers .... 171 Picton and the 28th Regiment . 128 Portuguese Song of Peace . . 68 Progress 6r Question and reply . . .87 Recruiting Tom's song . . 255 Relative rank . . . .28 Reply to the Frenchmen's Hymn. 102 Returned from War . . .181 Say, Comrade, why that silent tear 119 Siege of Badajos .... 191 Send round the wine-cup . . 26 Sentry, go! 120 Sergeant Ball ....