Military Memoirs of Capt. George Carleton by Daniel Defoe
page 39 of 250 (15%)
page 39 of 250 (15%)
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think my self to blame should I omit: Seeing his Colours on the other
Side the Hedge, in the Hands of the Enemy, he leap'd over, slew the Officer that had them, and then threw them over the Hedge to his Company; redeeming his Colours at the Expense of his Life. Thus the _Scotch_ Commander improv'd upon the _Roman_ General; for the brave _Posthumius_ cast his Standard in the Middle of the Enemy for his Soldiers to retrieve, but _Douglas_ retriev'd his from the Middle of the Enemy, without any Assistance, and cast it back to his Soldiers to retain, after he had so bravely rescued it out of the Hands of the Enemy. From hence our Regiment receiv'd Orders to march to _Dixmuyd_, where we lay some time employ'd in fortifying that Place. While we were there, I had one Morning stedfastly fix'd my Eyes upon some Ducks, that were swimming in a large Water before me; when all on a sudden, in the Midst of a perfect Calm, I observ'd such a strange and strong Agitation in the Waters, that prodigiously surpriz'd me. I was at the same Moment seiz'd with such a Giddiness in my Head, that, for a Minute or two, I was scarce sensible, and had much a-do to keep on my Legs. I had never felt any thing of an Earthquake before, which, as I soon after understood from others, this was; and it left, indeed, very apparent Marks of its Force in a great Rent in the Body of the great Church, which remains to this Day. Having brought the intended Fortifications into some tolerable Order, we receiv'd a Command out of hand to reimbarque for _England_. And, upon our Landing, Directions met us to march for _Ipswich_, where we had our Quarters all that Winter. From thence we were order'd up to _London_, to do Duty in the _Tower_. I had not been there long, before an Accident happen'd, as little to be accounted for, without a divine Providence, as |
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