Page:A short account of the life and death of John Dillon..djvu/4



near us, who advanced in good order. We had thrown up a little breast work in our front the night before. From this we kept a constant fire, with grape-shot from our cannon, and small shot from our musketry : numbers of them were killed, but they continually supplied their places with fresh men, till coming up to our breast-work, they poured their fire all upon us at once. We were then obliged to make the best of our way, to a plain, where we expected to find our grand army. But they had marched the night before, near twelve miles, and had passed the river Mayne. Yet a few of us were enabled to overtake them ; tho’ when we came out of the field, the strongest company in our regiment could muster only eleven out of seventy men. Yet I continued in open rebellion against God, till the war broke out again.

It was on March 27, 1744, that I married at Preston in Lancashire. Some years after General Mountague, Lieutenant Colonel before, being prefered to a regiment, made me his Drum Major, but told me, unless I left off cards, he would send me about my business. I did leave them off ; but in other things was as bad as ever, till we were ordered for Ireland and stationed at Cork. But I was not easy. Fearful thoughts followed me. I often wished, that there was no God, or that I had no soul. Yet I went on in sin : altho’ frequently in the midst of my drinking and singing obscene songs, I have been suddenly struck ; my countenance changed, and I could not open my mouth. I then made fresh resolutions; but when fresh temptations came they vanished away. So I continued in sin, tho’ as weary of sin as the Israelites of their Egyptian bondage. I was in this state, when I had two fits of sickness, in each of which I vehemently promised amendment; but almost as soon as they were over, I returned as a dog to the vomit.