Page:Life of the honourable Col. James Gardiner (1).pdf/3

 than himself a wound in his right cheek, the scar of which was always very apparent. This false sense of honour might seem excusable in those unripened years, and considering the profession of his father; but he often mentioned it with regret. And after his conversion he declined accepting a challenge with this truly great reply, which in a man of his experienced bravery, was exceedingly graceful : “I fear sinning,” said he, “though you know I do not fear fighting.”

He served as a cadet very early; and, at 14 years old, he bore an ensign’s commission in a Scotch regiment in the Dutch service; in which he continued till 1702, when he received an ensign’s commission from Queen Anne, which he bore in the battle of Ramalies, in his 19th year.

On this occasion, our young officer was commanded on what seemed almost a desperate service, to disposess the French of the church-yard at Ramilies, where a considerable number of them were posted to remarkable advantage. They succeeded better than was expected, and Mr. G. was glad of such an opportunity of signalizing himself. Accordingly, he had planted his colours on an advanced ground, and while he was calling to the men, (probably in that horrid language which is so peculiar a disgrace to our soldiery,) he received a shot in his mouth, which, without beating out any of his teath, or touching the forepart of his tongue, went through his neck. Not feeling, at first, the pain of the stroke, he wondered what was become of the ball, and, in the wildness of his surprise, began to suspect be had swallowed it; but, dropping soon after, he traced the passage of it by his finger, when he could discover it no ether way.

This accident happened about five or six in the evening, on the 23d of May, in the year 1706; and the army pursuing its advantages against the French, without regarding the wounded, our young officer