We found that two of these men had left the regiment for hospital on our retreat from Talavera, and had never shown themselves since, the others having been away in like manner for rather shorter periods. Now the whole had returned we were overstocked with sergeants, having two more than our complement, so our captain sent the two who had been longest absent to the colonel with a written request that they should be transferred somewhere else; the other five he allowed to remain, but only for as short a time as possible till he could get rid of them also, as he told them his company should not be disgraced by them longer than he could help. He likewise told them that many of his privates deserved the stripes more than they did; and indeed it was not long before he got them transferred, and their places filled up by some of the braver heroes from among such of the privates as had at all distinguished themselves in any conflict.
Embarkation of the troops -- Lawrence's regiment sent to Ireland -- He receives his pay for the war and promptly spends it -- Ordered on foreign service again to the West Indies -- Terrific storm which compels the fleet to put back into Cork -- Arrival at Barbadoes -- Death of a young captain from fever -- Jamaica -- Discovery of a female stowaway -- Lawrence told off to deposit her on shore -- The regiment proceeds to New Orleans -- A new kind of fortification to be stormed -- Doings in camp on Dolphin Isle -- Return to England -- News arriving of Napoleon's escape from Elba, the regiment is sent on at once to Flanders -- Ghent -- March to Brussels.
After remaining at Bordeaux for five or six weeks the army embarked on board ships bound for various parts of the British Isles. Our regiment was again despatched to Ireland, most of us being Irish. We were conveyed thither by the _Sultan_, a fine man-of-war with seventy-four guns. We had a very good passage, and amused ourselves very much with the sailors on board, who on their part had many a good laugh at our general ragged appearance. We landed in Ireland at Monkstown, near Cork, and marched thence to Fermoy, whence after lying two three days in the barracks there, we proceeded to Athlone in West Meath, where we were stationed for about two months.