248 ON THE FALSE ESTIMATE OF TUB MILITARY CHARACTER. 



Our adjutant cried out, " Doctor, this is no place for you," a remark 

 of which I felt the truth, for where I was I was useless ; therefore 

 gathering together, with the assistance of the band and drum-boys 

 (the regular auxiliaries of the surgeon on the field of battle), those 

 who had already fallen wounded, and directing those who should 

 subsequently fall to be conveyed to the farm-house, already selected 

 as a field-hospital, I proceeded thither, supporting with my arm 

 the colonel, who was able to walk, though faintly and feebly, fol- 

 lowed by my bleeding cortege. 



Of the scene at the hospital a technical description would be mis- 

 placed. From circumstances, I was the only medical officer with 

 the small brigade (for in the immediate attack on the enemy we 

 were separated from the larger body with which we originally 

 moved from Mayu), whose share of the day's conflict I am describ- 

 ing. It consisted of a strong regiment of infantry and of three or 

 four light companies of other regiments, and amounted to about a 

 thousand men. From this number, hotly and closely engaged for a 

 considerable time, the proportion of casualties was very great. The 

 duty I had to perform was arduous, and I felt it so ; but five years' 

 experience of fields of battle had rendered me familiar with the in- 

 juries which occur there, and endued me with that technical quality 

 termed tact, which practice alone bestows. Wounds were dressed, 

 balls were extracted, operations were performed, and some were for 

 an instant considered and omitted ; and it was afterwards satisfactory 

 to me to know that the accuracy of my prompt decisions was jus- 

 tified by the result of the cases. The deportment of the wounded 

 of all classes was, as I have ever observed it, characterised by an 

 absence of all selfishness : in battle, and immediately after it, the 

 well-being of a comrade is preferred to one's own. " An old sol- 

 dier " is a proverbial name in the service for a cunning, selfish man ; 

 and, I am afraid, like other proverbs, has a broad foundation of 

 truth ; but the field of battle is a scene of enthusiasm, the character 

 is raised above its ordinary level, and the baser feelings find there 

 no place. 



After between three and four hours of unremitting exertion my 

 office was completed. Waggons had been sent for to convey to the 

 village, near which we had halted in the morning, such of ,the 

 wounded as could bear immediate removal. Those, whose state 

 would not admit of this, were supplied for the night with straw to 

 repose upon, or such other materials of military comfort as the place 

 furnished. I had a moment to look around me. The sun was just 

 sinking in majesty behind the Pyrenees, and, as it sunk, dyeing their 

 snows with hues of exquisite beauty. The intervening country wore 

 that evening tint, approaching to " twilight gray," which softening 

 into harmony every harsher outline, gives such shadowy and indis- 

 tinct and the greater because shadowy and indistinct beauty to 

 the scene. The stillness was perfect, except when broken at inter- 

 vals by the echoing amid the hills of the British artillery cannonading 

 the rear of the flying enemy, and this sound, being now distant, 

 added to the solemnity of the scene. After enjoying for an instant 

 the distant landscape, 1 looked immediately around me. What a 



