ABSTRACT
An interesting incident is connected with the embarkation of the rifles [at Portsmouth]. One of the soldier’s wives, a young woman, not long married, whose husband is servant to a Captain in the battalion, being determined to “follow him to the wars” (he having proceeded with the two companies by railway for the Himalaya), put on his regimentals which he had left at home, and, having had her hair cut short, so far passed muster in quarters with the others that she marched through the streets to the dockyard, and actually embarked on board the Vulcan before her desperate ruse was discovered, and even yet we are misinformed as to whether she did not go out in the vessel. We believe that only nine or ten of the soldiers’ wives were allowed to accompany them, and no children, and that two hundred of them are consequently left behind, with no dependence but the consideration of the benevolent.
