Recollections of Rifleman Harris, (Old 95th.) with anecdotes of his officers and his comrades

From the rolling downs of Dorset to the bustling barracks of Winchester, this memoir follows a young shepherd‑boy who is swept into the British Army in 1802. His plain‑spoken voice records the abrupt shift from tending sheep to marching in the 66th Regiment, the rough welcome from sergeants, and the first stark lesson when a fellow private deserts. The narrative paints the daily grind of drills, the camaraderie among the rank‑and‑file, and the stark contrasts between the countryside life he left behind and the regimented world of the line infantry.

In later chapters the soldier recounts vivid anecdotes about his officers, the harsh punishments for desertion, and the peculiar customs of comrades from different backgrounds. He does not shy away from exposing grievances, the strain of recruitment, and the moral questions that arise in the heat of campaign. Listeners will hear an unvarnished, firsthand picture of a period when British discipline was touted as the secret of victory, offering both historical detail and a humanizing look at the ordinary man behind the rifle.