owing that any neglect on my part would lose me everything. I was on
good terms with every officer and man in the regiment, and made it my
study to be the first on parade, and the last off. I had risen through
the several gradations of lance-corporal to full--lance-sergeant to
full--drill-corporal--drill-sergeant--pay-sergeant--and
troop-sergeant-major--without being once confined, or on any occasion
reprimanded by a superior officer.

In the year 1813, another sergeant-major made a retrograde movement, and
tumbled into his grave; but I still could not make up my mind to solicit
the appointment of my commanding officer, although I saw several other
sergeants running down to ask for it. Notwithstanding this, I kept at
home, where I dressed, expecting every moment to receive a summons from
the colonel, who, I thought, surely would not again pass me over. Here I
waited, looking every now and then out of my barrack-room window, but
neither messenger nor orders arrived. I began to think it had been given
away a second time, and a dreadful struggle ensued between pride and
interest; the former said, "Don't go;" the latter, "Go, or you get
nothing." After a long contest, pride succeeded, and I remained where I
was. At evening drill I was early at my post, and was going through my
regular course of evolutions, when the adjutant rode up to me, and said,
"Why don't you go and ask the commanding officer to give you the
vacancy?" I replied, "Sir, I should deem myself unworthy of such a
situation, did I beg or cringe for it. If my commanding officer deemed
me deserving of such an appointment, he would give it me without
hesitation; and, should he be so kind, he may rely upon my strictly
performing the duties intrusted to me, and thus proving my gratitude;
but ask it I never can." After this fine speech, I went on with my
drill; when the adjutant, after pausing a few seconds, said, "Well, if
you are too proud to ask for it, I am not;" and off he gallopped. In a
quarter of an hour he returned, and said, "You are appointed
sergeant-major." I thanked him most cordially, and assured him he should
never have cause to regret his kindness. He replied, "Shipp, to be
candid with you, I admire your proper spirit in not begging the
situation, nor does your commanding officer think the worse of you for
it: you will immediately move into the sergeant-major's bungalow, and
assume the duties of that office. I need not, I am sure, inform you what
th