SOLDIERS LETTERS.

DURING the period that Prince Charles Edward attempted to recover for his father the throne of his ancestors, Sergeant Molloy, of the Sixth Foot, defended the small fort of Ruthven, and the following letter from the veteran, who had only a garrison of twelve men, is a curiosity of war. It was addressed to Lieutenant-General Sir John Cope, then commander-inchief in Scotland.

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"Ruthven Redoubt, 20th August, 1745. "HON. GENERAL,-This goes to acquaint you that yesterday there appeared in the little town of Ruthven about three hundred of the enemy, and sent proposals to me to surrender this redoubt upon condition that I should have liberty to carry off bag and baggage. My answer was, I was too old a soldier to surrender a garrison of such strength without bloody They threatened hanging me and my men for refusal. I told them I would take my chance. This morning they attacked me about twelve o'clock (by my information) with about a hundred and fifty men ; they attacked fore-gate and sally-port, and attempted to set sally-port on fire with some old barrels and other combustibles, which took place immediately, but the attempter lost his life by it. They drew off about half an hour after three. About two hours after they

sent word to me that two of their chiefs wanted to talk to me. I admitted and spoke to them from the parapet; they offered conditions, I refused; they desired liberty to carry off their dead men, I granted. There are two men since dead of their wounds in the town, and three more they took with them, as I am informed. They went off westward about eight o'clock this morning; they did the like march yesterday in the afternoon, but came back at nightfall. They took all the provisions the poor inhabitants had in the town, and Mrs. M'Pherson, the barrack-wife, and a merchant of the town, who spoke to me this moment, and who advised me to write to your honour, and told me there were above three thousand men, all lodged in the corn-fields west of the town, last night, and their grand camp is at Dalwhinnie. They have Cluny M'Pherson with them prisoner, as I have it by the same information. I lost one man, shot through the head by foolishly holding his head too high over the parapet. I expect another visit this night, I am informed, with their pateraroes, but I shall give them the warmest reception my weak party can afford. I shall hold out as long as possible. "I conclude, Honourable General, with great respect, "Your most humble servant,

"J. MOLLOY, Sergt. 6th."

The defence was successful, as it deserved to be, for the despatch is as modest as it is truthful, and is unique in military history.

In the Tatler, No. 87, October 29th, 1709, is a characteristic epistle from Sergeant Hall of the bat

talion of the Coldstream Guards, serving in Flanders, under the Duke of Marlborough, to his comrade Sergeant Cabe of the same corps. This may be considered as one of the first published communications of this nature; but modern times, and especially the late Russian war, have shown how interesting such letters are. "Voices from the Ranks" now form an interesting feature in military history.

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"From the Camp before Mons, Sept. 26. "COMRADE, I received yours, and am glad yourself and wife are in good health, with all the rest of friends. Our battalion suffered more than I could wish in the action. But who can withstand fate? Poor Richard Stevenson had his fate with a great many more. He was killed dead before we entered the trenches. We had above two hundred of our battalion killed and wounded. We lost ten sergeants, six are as followeth :-Jennings, Castles, Roach, Sherring, Meyrick, and my son Smith; the rest are not of your acquaintance. I have received a very bad shot in my head myself, but am in hopes, an't please God, I shall recover. I continue in the field, and lie in my colonel's quarters. Arthur is very well, but I can give you no account of Elms; he was in the hospital before I came into the field.

"I will not pretend to give you an account of the battle, knowing you have a better in the prints.

"Pray give my service to Mrs. Cook and her daughter; to Mr. Stoffet and his wife; and to Mr. Lyver and Thomas Hodsdon; and to Mr. Rogdell, and to all my friends and acquaintance in general, who do ask after me.