[465]. Subsequently became a sergeant, and was employed on special duty at Round Down Cliff, Dover, and in the drainage works at Windsor. After passing five terms at Sandhurst, he was rewarded for his intelligence and good service, with a case of drawing instruments; and in September, 1848, was promoted to the rank of staff-sergeant at the College. Several interesting models, made by himself, of military importance, he presented to that institution.
[466]. ‘Second Report, Army and Ordnance Expenditure,’ 1849, p. 617.
[467]. The ‘Bermudian,’ March, 1848.
[468]. Joined the corps from the military asylum at Chelsea. By his attainments and merits he was in time promoted to the rank of corporal. His career, however, was marked by occasional intemperance, which at length settled into confirmed drunkenness and mental eccentricity. Unable to control his propensity to intoxication, he became a useless soldier, and after twenty years' service was discharged without a pension. He is now a vagrant and a beggar.
[469]. ‘Professional Papers,’ viii., pp. 156-180, in which will be found an interesting detail of the operations.
[470]. The voyage was full of incident. On the freight-ship, ‘Gilbert Henderson,’ sailing from Woolwich, the crew mutinied and left her at the Nore. A fresh crew, chiefly foreigners, unable to speak English, was engaged, and soon after putting to sea, the ship took fire, but the exertions of the company soon extinguished it. Near Dungeness she ran on a sand-bank, but by working all night, she was got off. When about a fortnight’s sail from Port Elizabeth, she was overtaken by a heavy squall, which carried away the greater part of her gear, and her fore and main masts. To complete the chapter of accidents, the disembarkation took place in a heavy surf, and as boats refused to venture out, the men, women, and children were borne to land on the backs of nude blacks.
[471]. Became second-corporal, and after being pensioned in April, 1847, returned as a draughtsman to the ordnance map office at Southampton. He is, perhaps, the best man of his class in the department, and his drawings are always executed with fidelity and beauty. Frequently their neatness, and richness of colouring and ornament, give them an effect truly artistic and pictorial.
[472]. Made an etching of the ‘Adelaide Oak,’ in the Home Park, which, submitted by Sir Henry de la Beche to Lord Liverpool, obtained for him a complimentary introduction to Prince Albert. His Royal Highness accepted the etching, and expressed himself much pleased with the beauty and minuteness of the execution.—‘Morning Post,’ Saturday, August 19, 1843. The tree had a pretty seat hut nearly half round the bottom of its trunk, and in another part of it was a remarkable hollow occasioned by time. Her Majesty the Queen Dowager had been known frequently to sit reading under its ample shade, and on that account it was considered to be her favourite oak. Hogan afterwards presented, through Colonel Wylde, an etching of the ‘Victoria Oak,’ in the Green Park, to the Prince; and His Royal Highness, in thanking the giver, expressed the admiration he felt for his talents as an artist, and rewarded him with the sum of 5l. These handsome pair of etchings are now the property of Her Majesty. Hogan never received promotion in the corps, as he was unqualified for command; and being discharged, on the usual pension in January, 1845, soon afterwards emigrated to South Australia.
An anecdote, which is unique in its way, may be added of this good easy man. At Trinity College, Dublin, he had gained prizes as an artist, but when he enlisted, was as ignorant of the use of fire-arms as a child. Having fired blank cartridge in the usual routine of drill, he was considered to be ripe enough to enter upon the more advanced stage of firing ball. Accordingly, with others of his company, he was ordered to attend this instructional duty. When directed to prime and load, he was observed to separate the bullet from the cartridge and throw it away. Sergeant Hilton, who had charge of the party, picked up the discarded bullet; and on asking Hogan his reason for biting it off, he replied, “Sure, sir, I didn’t know that the knob was of any use!”
[473]. ‘Military Annual,’ 1844. ‘Corps Papers,’ i., p. 107.