ADVERTISEMENT [from the book]:

The following pages come before the Public, under circumstances which will, I trust, be accepted as a sufficient apology for their appearance as a separate work.

About four years ago, the hero of the narrative, George Farmer, formerly a private in the 11th Light Dragoons, came to me to complain, as many of his class are accustomed to do, of poverty. He told me, at the same time, that he had kept a journal of his proceedings during more than twenty years of a somewhat eventful life; and begged that I would take the trouble to read, and if possible, turn it for him to some account. I accordingly read his story. It seemed to me sufficiently interesting to warrant its insertion, as a series of papers, in a professional magazine; and with this view I rewrote the narrative and sent it to Mr. Colburn.

Mr. Colburn has remunerated the old soldier to his heart’s content, and more than compensated me for the trouble which I have had. He has likewise come to the conclusion, that the tale is not unworthy to be collected into the form which it has now assumed; and I shall be very glad to find that he is no loser by his liberality.

G. R. G.
Chelsea College,
Nov. 1843.

VOLUME I
 

	CHAPTER I How I enlisted, and what befel me then.
	CHAPTER II Service in Ireland, and Embarkation for Portugal.
	CHAPTER III Voyage to Lisbon--State of the City--March to the Front--Wounded Men--Camp at Elvas.
	CHAPTER IV The Light Dragoon and his Horse--The Guerillas--A Battle and its Results.
	CHAPTER V A March, long but not agreeable.
	CHAPTER VI Prisoners' Fare, and Spanish Flirtation.
	CHAPTER VII How Prisoners are sometimes treated on a March.
	CHAPTER VIII The darkest Hour is nearest the Dawn.
	CHAPTER IX I see more of the World, and fare better.
	CHAPTER X Forced Marches, and their Results.
	CHAPTER XI Burgos while occupied by the French.
	CHAPTER XII We return to France.
	CHAPTER XIII I pursue my Journey--Domestic Brawl--A Sutler--Germany--Dusseldorf--Changes of Fortune.

VOLUME II
 

	CHAPTER I Set out for England--Adventures by the Way--Embark at Helvoetsluys--Harwich-Sailors' Fun--March for London.
	CHAPTER II Home--Rejoin my Regiment--Rejoicings for Peace--Country Quarters--Fresh Alarms--Campaign in the Low Countries.
	CHAPTER III Signs of coming Strife--Sudden Route--The Field of Quatre Bras--Battle of Waterloo.
	CHAPTER IV The Field of Battle.
	CHAPTER V The Advance.
	CHAPTER VI Paris and its Environs.
	CHAPTER VII Quit Paris under peculiar Circumstances--Cambray ; Adventures there--The Suicide.
	CHAPTER VIII Change of Quarters--Adventures in Different Parts--Return to England.
	CHAPTER IX Voyage to India--Fort William--Sail up the Ganges.
	CHAPTER X Voyage up the Ganges continued--Scenes along its Course--Dinapore--The Stables--A Murder and Execution.
	CHAPTER XI Fever and Cholera--Hospital Scenes--Change of Quarters--Preparations for war.
	CHAPTER XII Meerut--Occupations there--Alarm of War with Bhurtpore--Multoa--The Baboons and Turtles--Meerut again--Second Advance--Bhurtpore invested.
	CHAPTER XIII Siege and Capture of Bhurtpore.
	CHAPTER XIV Changes of Quarters--Peaceable Adventures--Failing Health--Back to England, and Discharge.