Herestretchthedowns，highandbreezyandgreen，absolutelyunchangedsincethoseeventfuldays。Aploughhasneverdisturbedtheturf，andthesodthatwasuppermostthenisuppermostnow。Herestoodthecamp；herearedistincttracesofthebanksthrownupforthehorsesofthecavalry，andspotswherethemidden-heapslayarestilltobeobserved。Atnight，whenIwalkacrossthelonelyplace，itisimpossibletoavoidhearing，amidthescouringsofthewindoverthegrass-bentsandthistles，theoldtrumpetandbuglecalls，therattleofthehalters；tohelpseeingrowsofspectraltentsandtheimpedimentaofthesoldiery。Fromwithinthecanvasescomegutturalsyllablesofforeigntongues，andbrokensongsofthefatherland；fortheyweremainlyregimentsoftheKing’sGermanLegionthatsleptroundthetent-poleshereaboutatthattime。
Itwasnearlyninetyyearsago。TheBritishuniformoftheperiod，withitsimmenseepaulettes，queercocked-hat，breeches，gaiters，ponderouscartridge-box，buckledshoes，andwhatnot，wouldlookstrangeandbarbarousnow。Ideashavechanged；inventionhasfollowedinvention。Soldiersweremonumentalobjectsthen。A
divinitystillhedgedkingshereandthere；andwarwasconsideredagloriousthing。
Secludedoldmanor-housesandhamletslieintheravinesandhollowsamongthesehills，whereastrangerhadhardlyeverbeenseentilltheKingchosetotakethebathsyearlyatthesea-sidewatering-
placeafewmilestothesouth；asaconsequenceofwhichbattalionsdescendedinacloudupontheopencountryaround。Isitnecessarytoaddthattheechoesofmanycharacteristictales，datingfromthatpicturesquetime，stilllingerabouthereinmoreorlessfragmentaryform，tobecaughtbytheattentiveear？SomeofthemIhaverepeated；mostofthemIhaveforgotten；oneIhaveneverrepeated，andassuredlycanneverforget。