A VETERAN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 283, 6 December 1878, Page 4

A VETERAN.

"In these days of frequent changes and Iransfere," sojq the "Indian Weekly Review," it does not often fall to tbe lot of a regiment lo receive the farewells of a colonel who has served with its colors more than forty years. Tbis happened the other duy to the 3rd Queen's Own Bombay Light Cavalry, Neemueh ; and we do not remember ever to have read a more touching or more soul-stirring address than that which was made by Colonel Graves, C.8., on his leaving the regiment. 'I joined you,' said the veteran,' 'as a lad of 16, on tbe Ist of April, 1838, and leave you, an old man, on the 24;h of May, 1878. We have been together in peace and war, in plenty aud in scarcity, in cantonment and comp for more than 40 years ; and I am the oldest soldier — the father of the regiment.' Among the old colonel's boys there were grey-bearded warriors who baJ ridden with hira through Sindb, and above the passes into Afghanistan, in tho old time in 1840-41, when he was still a griff. Their sabres had gleamed with his throughout (he whole of theii advance ou Cabool with Notf, in 1842 ; they bad served together in every action from the retaking and blowing up of Gbuzoee to the re-Gccupation of Cabool and Kbilat-i-Ghilzai, and the ultimate rescue of Lady bale nnd the other prisoners. Many of them could remember a day loDg ago, wheu at Jellalabad, on the return of the avenging British army, tbe swarma of hill men came fiercely pressing on its rear ; how young Graves and a squadron of hiß beloved 3rd charged back into the jaws of death, into the mouth ot hell ; how the young hero's horse was shot under I im when in the very midst of the Alghan thousand ; how, on the horae of a fallen comrade he churged home again with nil that remained of ihst devoted band, and by this brilliant exploit preserved the army from further molestation for many days. Twice in Sindb, twice in Afghanistan, once in Persia, once io Abyssinia, those ' boya' had followed their father in many such a melee. And when, after all thiß, the old soldier Bpoke to them — of the pain and sorrow with which bw was leaving them, — * my regiment, so dear to me, my happy borne for so many years * — who ehail ecoff at these old veterans if their hearts rose in tbeir throats and unwonted mists dimmed their eyes as they bade farewell to their old Colomi ?"