Consequently, in
eight-and-forty hours Nigel Graheme had applications from a far
larger number than he could accept, and he was enabled to pick and
choose among the applicants. Many young men of good family were
among them, for in those days service in the ranks was regarded
as honourable, and great numbers of young men of good family and
education trailed a pike in the Scotch regiments in the service of
the various powers of Europe. Two young men whose property adjoined
his own, Herries and Farquhar, each of whom brought twenty of
his own tenants with him, were appointed lieutenants, while two
others, Leslie and Jamieson, were with Malcolm named as ensigns.
The noncommissioned officers were appointed from men who had served
before. Many of the men already possessed armour which was suitable,
for in those day's there was no strict uniformity of military
attire, and the armies of the various nationalities differed very
slightly from each other. Colonel Munro returned in the course of
a fortnight, Nigel Graheme's company completing the number of men
required to fill up the ranks of his regiment.
Captain Hume had proceeded further north. Colonel Munro stopped
for a week in Nithsdale, giving instructions to the officers and
noncommissioned officers as to the drill in use in the Swedish army.
Military manoeuvres were in these days very different to what they
have now become.
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