[109] Just before the attack he had been twitted by a brother officer (Fitz-Maurice) with having dressed himself in a new pelisse for such a night’s work. ‘Never mind,’ he said, ‘I shall be the better worth taking.’ ‘Recollections of a Rifleman’s Wife.’
[110] The following nine non-commissioned officers of the 2nd Battalion volunteered for the forlorn hope:
| Sergeant Bowley, wounded | Sergeant Spencer |
| ” Comerford, ” | ” Tuite |
| ” Derby, killed | Corporal Larkins, wounded |
| ” Ecke, ” | ” Nesbitt, ” |
| ” Fairfoot, [111] wounded |
[111] Afterwards Quartermaster.
[112] This anecdote, which I had often heard in the 1st Battalion, was related to me with graphic distinctness by Colonel Smith. As may be imagined, his relation differed somewhat from the story, which, passing through many mouths, I had heard in the Battalion. It was strange to hear it from the lips of one of the actors in it, when the other had slept more than sixty years in the breach at Rodrigo.
[113] The following non-commissioned officers of the 2nd Battalion volunteered for the forlorn hope:
| Sergeant Cairns | Corporal Coward, wounded |
| ” Fairfoot, wounded | ” Derby, killed |
| ” Kennedy, ” | ” McCordell, wounded |
| ” Taggart, ” | ” Nesbitt. |
| ” Tuite |
[114] He was appointed to a second-lieutenancy in the Regiment May 9 following. He left it in 1814, and died at Sligo, March 1874.
[115] Book xvi. chap. v. This incident is also mentioned by Kincaid. It is to be regretted that the name of this heroic Rifleman has not been preserved.
[116] Kincaid, ‘Random Shots,’ p. 288.