18 NOVEMBER 1911, Page 33

THE WORD "RAID."

[TO THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."]

SIR,—" Raid" on this side of the Atlantic seems to be of direct Scottish origin. It was commonly used in the civil war between the States from 1860 to 1865 of a rapid march into an enemy's country, particularly a cavalry ride, as in

the lines:— " They gave us three days' rations ; say That Richmond's threatened; away ! away ! And we rode all night, And we rode all day, And we rode all night, Two nights and a day. We charged in the morning and the Federals broke ; Some of the slumberers never more woke ; And then we rode back, for the raid was done, And Richmond saved, and a battle won ; But, out of a hundred and twenty-five, Our company numbered but ten alive."

Asheville, North Carolina.