The family of Burnett of Leys, with collateral - Electric Scotland

326
THE FAMILY OF BURNETT OF LEYS.
on a Captain ... of the Coldstreams, accused by a private of misconduct
on picquet. He had an advanced picquet the night of the 8th, and upon an
alarm from some of his sentries, retreated to another picquet. It occasioned our
being under arms for about two hours after the long march. He, it seems, said
his men ran away ; they, I fancy, told another story, on which he demanded a
court martial. I have been there two days ; people seem to think he will be
acquitted. His accuser is a great rascal, but it is an awkward business, I think.
His defence is not yet begun. Captain Forbes arrived a few days ago.
Camp near Valenciennes,
5th July, 1793.
I EXPECTED before now to have dated my letter from Valenciennes, but that
does not come quite to hand yet, tho' we are now in the third parallel, and very
near the town, I assure you. Two nights ago they fired very much upon our
people at work, with small arms, and killed and wounded a good many Austrians
and some English. We have some killed or wounded every day, mostly by their
shells. Four of the Guards were wounded yesterday, and Lord Cavan slightly.
A cannon ball knocked up a stone, which hit him on the forehead. Our own
shells from the batteries behind us frequently burst over our heads and wound
our own people. I am on duty about every fourth day. When it's a working
party it's only for twelve hours, and when it's a covering party we are there for
twenty-four, which is very disagreeable. Many people think now the town will
stand a storm. The citadel may hold out after the town is taken. It is a very
odd thing they have never made a sortie ; about two hundred men came out one
day half drunk, I fancy made a great noise, fired and retired immediately. It
is a very fine country about here, but melancholy to see the villages burnt and
destroyed. In some there are a good many inhabitants. When I am not on
duty I ride about a good deal. We have a great covering army round us. I
rode very near Quesnay the other day, where the French are. It seems a pretty
little place, and, I am told, tolerably fortified. Our Chasseurs and Hussars are
advanced very near it. There is a strange corps with us called Hulans ; they are
something like Hussars, but every man carries a spear with a flag, which, I am
told, is to frighten the enemy's horses. We have some prodigious fine Hungarian
and Bohemian Grenadiers; indeed, the Austrians are all fine troops. The
Hanoverians are stout men, but seem to want discipline very much. Their
cavalry are very fine. I was in the trenches lately with your friend, Major Baird.