132 
CAPTAIN BOGUE AND THE ROCKET BRIGADE. 
On October 9th, 1814, two English merchants, Messrs. G. Holy and 
J. Drabble, who were in Leipsic daring the annual fair, visited the 
field of battle and the grave of Captain Bogue. The former, who 
spoke German fluently, said it was unseemly that an Englishman so 
worthy should be quite unnoticed, and that they proposed to erect a 
monument to him by national subscription. This visit was followed a 
week later, during the days when the anniversary of the battle of the 
previous year was being commemorated, by that of six other English 
gentlemen with the Leipsic merchant, Herr Wagner, After con¬ 
sultation, they selected from several submitted, a suitable design for a 
monument, and arranged for its erection. All present were charmed 
with the rare patriotism which is characteristic, in so great a degree 
perhaps, of only the English nation. A contract was eventually signed 
in August 1815, and the work was completed in the following 
November , te forming,” says the then rector of Taucha, Herr Oberpfarrer 
M. Johann A. Seyfast, “an especial ornament to our churchyard.” 1 
It may be of interest here to mention the names of the officers who 
are buried on either side of Captain Bogue, both of whom were killed 
on the same occasion. On one side there is a monument to Herr 
Gotthard Johann, Graf Manteuffel, Major-General in the Russian 
service, chief of the Petersburg Dragoon Regiment and knight of 
several Orders, who was killed by a cannon shot. And on the other 
side (though without a monument) is the grave of Herr Frederick 
Baron von Kleist, cornet in the Russian Polish Lancer Regiment, in 
the squadron of Count Luxemburg, a native of Kerklingen in Courland, 
who was killed (aged 21) by a grape shot wound in the thigh. 
During last summer, Captain Bogue's monument has been put in a 
state of thorough repair; taken to pieces, the stones re-pointed, and, 
without interfering with their colour, dressed with a solution to resist 
the effects of the weather, as well as being painted, while all chips have 
been filled up. The ground, which had sunk on one side, has been 
levelled and the monument slightly raised and brought forward. The 
following inscription has been added:—“ Restored by members of 
Captain Bogue's family and officers of the Royal Artillery, August 
1896.” 2 The accompanying sketch shews the monument as at the 
present time. 
The thanks of all who are interested in, and have contributed to the 
restoration are due to Colonel Shea and to Herr Oberpfarrer Kuhn, 
rector of Taucha, who have devoted much time and pains to the 
efficient execution of the work. 3 
1 Not including the marble slabs on the sides of the monument which came from England, the cost 
of its erection was £63. 
2 Subscriptions have also been received from Field-Marshal Sir Frederick Haines, Gr.C.B., and 
Colonel Horace Montague. The restoration has cost £15 5s. 
3 After all expenses were paid, Colonel Shea was glad to have a sufficient balance to enable him 
to send a little souvenir to Rector Kuhn and his son, for the trouble and interest they bad taken in 
superintending the restoration of the monument. On its receipt the former wrote as follows:— 
“ To my brief acknowledgment of the receipt of your parcel, I beg now to add a more full ex¬ 
pression of my thanks, which would have reached you long ago had I been able to find the necessary 
time for writing. Even to-day I am very much occupied, but I am most anxious to express my 
gratitude and so will no longer delay. 
