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Twelve years in the army: or, The incidents of a soldier's life

Name: Twelve years in the army: or, The incidents of a soldier's life
Author: John G. Gollan

by John G. Gollan

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Great Britain. Army. Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders

Public-domain ebook sourced from Project Gutenberg #78032.

About this book

The work is a first‑person memoir by John G. Gollan, a former private of the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders, who recounts twelve years of service from enlistment in Inverness through the Crimean campaign. It opens with a modest preface in which the author explains his humble origins, limited schooling, and desire to give “the public” a glimpse of a soldier’s life, even adding a few verses of poetry. The narrative then moves quickly into his youthful fascination with recruiting parties, his failed attempts to meet the height requirement, and the eventual successful enlistment at Edinburgh Castle. From there Gollan sketches the broader context of the Crimean War, mobilisation at Chobham, embarkation from Portsmouth, and the march through Scutari and Varna, setting the stage for the detailed battlefield episodes that follow.

Gollan’s voice is plain and earnest, reflecting the language of a mid‑nineteenth‑century infantryman who writes for “a generous people” rather than for literary acclaim. The style mixes straightforward reportage with occasional lyrical interludes, preserving the cadence of a soldier’s diary while offering vivid descriptions of camp life, disease, and the stark realities of combat. Readers interested in authentic military memoirs, Victorian-era British history, or the personal perspective of a Highland regiment during the Crimean War will find this account both informative and evocative.

Who appears in Twelve years in the army

John G. GollanYoung Scottish private in mid‑1800s, rough-faced, dark hair, wearing Cameron Highlanders tartan kilt and leather belt

The opening · free to read

I do not wish to enter into the genealogy of my family, notwithstanding I was asked to do so by some friends on several occasions when talking over the past few years of my life in the army. This I find to be rather a delicate subject, and one that I am not prepared for. It would matter but little to any of my readers, as I am of obscure and humble parentage. Had any of my forefathers shone in the busy scenes that take place amongst us from time to time, I would have every chance of being known and made known to many of my fellow-countrymen, and my late sufferings and many narrow escapes, which I endured while in the service of my Queen and country, would at times be felt with pain and pleasure. Suffice it, then, to say, that I am an Invernesian by birth--a true-born Clachnacuddin.

The most of my early days were spent in the capital of the Highlands. Often have I followed the sound of the pibroch, and went along with the recruiting parties, headed by their sergeant with his sword drawn, marching up one street and down another. What a gay life (I thought to myself) to be a soldier!--buckle, shoe, and sporan dazzling in the sun--also their head-dress, so soldier-like, and all arrayed in fine order. What a delusion! What a difference there is in the soldier’s life when in the camp and field--in front of the foe, surrounded on all sides with danger! Not so here at Inverness, where my young and ardent bosom became inflamed to be a soldier, buoyed up with the idea of thinking it quite a gentleman’s life. But it would be well for every man who wears a red coat to go on active service: it is there and only there he can get a thorough knowledge of his position. The party at Inverness would talk of battles, sieges, narrow escapes, and so on, which led me to believe that to be a soldier would open the way to fame and honour. At this time I was but fourteen years of age, and of course I was not as yet able to be a soldier; but I trusted that the time would soon come when I would stand five feet seven inches. Ah, yes! that day did come, and I have, by sad experience, undergone the trials of a soldier’s life.

I spent a good many of my early days with a relation--a gentleman of small estate, near Fort-George--who acted to me with the kindness of a father. When at this place I was in the habit of going to Fort-George, and my desire became strengthened of becoming a soldier. When I saw them going through their evolutions--large gun drill, firing salutes, and so on--it would often bring to my mind what the Inverness party used to say of a soldier’s life being all glory and honour. A Highland regiment, or part of a regiment, lay at this time at Fort-George. One morning, as I went down to the little village of Campbeltown for letters, I fell in with a sergeant who was residing at the Fort. (In after years, in the late Crimean war, I was standing by his side in the trenches in front of Sebastopol when he was struck by the splinter of a shell and killed on the spot; and little did I know when I saw him that morning at Campbeltown that I would be so close to him when he lost his life.) The first thing I asked him was if he thought I was height enough, as I wished very much to become a soldier. I recollect of his taking me to a public-house and measuring me, but I was one inch below the standard. This stung me a little, as my mind was now fully made up to join the army. However, I went home, and a few days after this little affair happened, my kind friend and benefactor, with whom I was at this time staying, sent me to a day-school at Nairn, always telling me that I must be diligent and learn at school, as he intended to do something for me. I soon tired of this work at Nairn. A field-day at Fort-George would always whisper, honour and fame is all I want.

After staying at Nairn for two summers, I left and went to Inverness, my native town. I was still below the standard, and the recruiting parties would often tell me I was too little for anything. I met in at this time with an old schoolmate, who told me he was going to Edinburgh, and that if I would go along with him he would pay my fare to that city. I agreed, and was ready in a week from that time. I kept my father and the rest of the family in the dark regarding this. The day arrived, and my friend and I left for Edinburgh. A few days after our arrival I went to visit the Castle. The Castle was garrisoned by the 79th Cameron Highlanders, and to this gallant corps I volunteered my services. They were accepted. I went through all the forms that a recruit has to go through when he enlists, and my name was enrolled in the 79th, and I became a Cameron Highlander.

War Declared Against Russia--passage to Turkey

I have thought several times during my career as a soldier of bringing before a generous and loyal people the little incidents that took place during my life in the army; and I have been prompted to do this by a few of my surviving comrades, who, along with me, stood victorious on many a hard-contested field.

The past ten years of my life has been one scene of severe trial and great danger, and it is now, after exchanging the sword for the pruning-hook, that I venture to lay before my readers the many narrow escapes, severe hardships, and fatigues of the most trying nature. I cannot at present enter into, or give a full detail of every thing that took place in the Crimea, although I was present during the whole of that eventful struggle. The able pen of Mr Russell, of the Times, has already given to the world a true account of that ever memorable and never to be forgotten struggle. I will pass over the first two years of my life as a soldier, and come upon the stage at Chobham Camp in 1853, where an army of upwards of 10,000 were convened undergoing daily exercise, and where I myself got my first thorough and practical lesson in field movements, under the able generalship of his Royal Highness Prince George, Duke of Cambridge. At that time Russia was waging war against Turkey, and the Principalities was the great question of the day. It was evident at that time that Great Britain and France were to become actors in the great drama.

After the breaking up of the camp at Chobham, my regiment (the 79th Cameron Highlanders) was ordered to Portsmouth, and there we remained during the winter and spring of 1853-54. It was in the spring of 1854 that Great Britain and France proclaimed war against Russia. I recollect well that it caused a great sensation of joy amongst us. Regiment after regiment left Portsmouth for the seat of war, and amongst the last were the Cameron Highlanders. Never, I am sure, did a body of more efficient men leave the shores of old England than that called the Crimean army; but, alas! how few returned again to their native land. War is a great calamity, but still it cannot always be avoided. My regiment embarked at Portsmouth for Turkey on the 4th day of May, 1854, and disembarked at Scutari on the 27th of the same month. We could see the capital of Turkey on the opposite side of the Bosphorus, with the spires of the Mosque glittering in the sun. Constantinople appeared a beautiful city from a distance, but, on a closer inspection, this was found very far from being the case. The narrow and filthy streets showed at once the indolent disposition of the Turks. Give the Turk his cup of coffee, and let him smoke his chabook, and he will allow the streets to clean themselves. We lay a short time at Scutari, when we received orders to proceed to Varna. We steamed up the Bosphorus, and what a lovely sight we saw going up that river. The summer residence of some of our aristocratic countrymen were beautiful to behold. We landed at Varna after three days’ sailing, and pitched our camp about three miles distant from the town. Regiment after regiment landed, and we soon formed an army. We were told off into divisions. I belonged to the first or heavy division, composed of the following regiments:--Grenadier, Coldstream, and Scotch Fusilier Guards, 42d, 93d, and 79th Highlanders, under the command of his Royal Highness Prince George and Sir Colin Campbell. A body of better looking men, I believe, never took the field. At this time the Russians were hard pursuing the Turks at the siege of Silistria. I would give the Turks credit for their courage and daring at this place; but their garrison was kept alive by two brave and faithful Englishmen (Butler and Naysmith.) Their appearance and indefatigableness roused within the Turks a spirit of bravery. The Russians, after struggling for some time with the Turks, were obliged to raise the siege, and withdrew their forces. The Crimea was then the object of our attack, and we longed to try the strength of the Russians. Cholera broke out amongst us, and made great havoc in our ranks. We were therefore more eagre to shift our camp, and have a “go-in,” as we called it, at the Russian bears. Our wishes were soon to be realised; for it was whispered that we were to sail for the Crimea. We were very busy making fascines and gabions for siege works. We found ourselves often in company with Frenchmen and Turks--the former very spirited and gay, the latter very sedate and dull. Still, we managed to understand each other very well. With a salute from a Frenchman of Bona Engliterra, we returned Bona Franci; from the Turk, Bona Johny, and so on. Such were the civilities passed occasionally between us. We in this way amused ourselves for some time.

Landing in the Crimea

At last, on the 4th of August, we got orders to sail for the Crimea. A few days previously we were received by the Commander-in-chief, Lord Raglan, and he appeared to be very much pleased with our soldier-like bearing. The bay at Varna was at this time a busy scene--transport ships and men-of-war waiting to carry us to that place which was so soon to be the scene of so much bloodshed. It was a busy day at Varna on the 4th of August, men and provisions having been ordered on board on the shortest notice. After getting everything ready, we stood out to sea, to behold (and oh what a sight!) all arrayed on the mighty deep, in the order of battle, our noble fleet on either side of the transports, with that handful of brave and devoted Britons--Britons determined to uphold the honour of their country. Our motto was, “Our Queen and our Fatherland!”

During our voyage cholera again broke out, and made great havoc amongst us, especially in the ranks of our noble tars. It was indeed a sickening sight to behold so many dead bodies floating around us. We found the weather in the Black Sea very boisterous. A severe storm coming on separated us for some time, but we came in sight of each other again, and early on the morning of the 14th September could see at a distance that country which we were so soon to occupy. The Russian army could see us well; and what surprised me much was that they did not oppose our landing; had they done so, they would have greatly harassed us, but they had so much confidence in their entrenched position on the Alma, that they were sure of being successful in driving us into the sea. We shall see, however, as we proceed, whether their hopes were realised.

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