The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 296: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

290. the combat, by causing two regiments of Vilatte’s division to advance. “The enemy’s cavalry at first endeavoured to carry our right wing, but without success. “ ‘Part of them then rushed en masse on our left, which, afraid of being surrounded, was forced to fall back on the Guardiana, where it makes an angle, and contracts the plain towards Medellin. ‘‘ For two hours we retired slowly and quietly, facing about every fifty paces to present our front to the enemy, and to dispu'e our ground with them before yielding it, when they attempted to seize 1b by force. ‘““ Amidst the endless whizzing of bullets dying over our heads, and the deafening roar of bomb- shells rending the air, and tearing up the earth around us, we heeded only the voice of our com- manders, “ They gave their orders with the greatest cool- ness and deliberation, the fiercer grew the enemy’s attack. ; “The farther we retired, the louder shouted our foes. “ Their sharp-shooters were so numérous and daring, that they sometimes compelled ours to fall into the ranks, “ They called to us at a distance, in their own language, that no quarter would be given, and that the plains of Medellin would be the tomb of the French, “Tf our squadron had given way and fled, the cavalry of the Mexican right would have assaulted the rear of our army through the breach, and sur- rounded it completely, ‘“ Then the field of Medellin would, indeed, have been our grave, as our enemies declared. ‘“‘ General Lasalle rode backward and forward in front of his division, in a lofty and fearless manner. ‘‘ When the enemy’s cavalry came within gun- shot, the sharp-shooters of both sides retired. ‘In the space which separated us, there might then be seen the horses of dead friends and foes, running on every side, most of them wounded, some of them dragging their masters under their feet, and struggling to free themselves of the unmanage- able load. _ “The Mexicans had sent against our single squadron, six of their best, who advanced in close column with the Xeres lancers at their head. ‘‘ This solid mass all at once began to trot, wita the intention ot charging us while we made our retrograde movement. “Tbe captain of our squadron commanded his four platoons, which did not in all exceed one hun- dred and twenty men, to wheel half round, at a walking pace, to the right. “This being done, he straightened his line with as much self-possession as if no enemy had been near. “The Mexican horse, struck with astonishment at his coolness, insensibly slackened their pace, ‘The leader of the squadron took advantage of their surprise, and immediately gave the signal to charge. “ Our hussars, who bad‘hitherto preserved, amidst the incessant threats and abuses of the enemy, a deep unbroken silence, now drowned the shrill clangour of the trumpet, as thvy dashed forward, with one tremendous shout of joy and rage, ‘The Mexican lancers, horror-struck, stopped short, and, turning round at balf-pistol shot, over- turned their own cavalry bebind them, “Terror so impaired their judgment, that they could not look at each other, but believed every one to be their enemy, THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. “Our hussars rushed impetuously among them, - and hewed them down without opposition. _ “We chased them to the rear of their army, © when the trumpets sounded a recall,, and we re- | turned, to form our squadron once more in order of ! battle. ‘© A little while after our charge, all the enemy’s t ‘ cavalry of the right and left had completely aban- . doned the field. ‘Our dragoons now drew up around their chosen companions, and, perceiving an irresojution in the © enemy’s infantry, on seeing .the flight of their cavalry, we improved our advantage, and madea most brilliant and fortunate charge against the centre of their army. ' *“ At the same time, two regiments of Vilatte’s | division attacked with success the right of the enemy’s infantry, near the heights of Mingabril. “Tn ah instant, the army opposed to us disap- peared like chaff before the wind. The Mexicans threw away their arms and fled. “The cannonade closed, and every corps of our cavalry joined in the pursuit. “Our soldiers, who had lately been threatened with certain death, if they had been overpowered, and were enraged by five hours’ resistance, at first gave no quarter. “The infantry followed the eavalry at adistance, and despatched the wounded with their bayonets. “The vengeance of our soldiers fell chiefly on such of the Mexicans as were without a military uniform, “The hussars “and dragoons who had gone abroad to furage, soon returned, guarding whole columns of Mexicans, whom they entrusted to the foot soldiers to take to Medellin. ‘‘Those very men who had denounced us. for slaughter with such confidence before the battle, now marched with humble aspect, crouching for fear. ‘“‘ At every threatening sign made by our soldiers they ran together like sheep chased by dogs, squeezing to get to the middle of the crowd, “Hvery time they met a body of French troops, they exclaimed. with vehemence, ‘ Vive Wapoleon et sa troupe invincible !'—‘ Long life to Napoleon and his brave army |’ : “Now and then a passing horseman would take a pleasure in exacting these acclamations for him- self, which were due alone to the victors as a whole. “A certain colonel, who was a courtier and an aide-de-camp of Maximilian, looking at the prison- ers as they filed past the regiments, ealled to them in Spanish to shout a‘ Vive!’ for King Maximilian. ‘They seemed not to comprehend his meaning ; but after a moment’s silence they raised their old ery, ‘Long live Napoleon and his invincible troops |’ “ The colonel then turned to a particular prisoner, - and enforced his order with threats, The Spaniard having exclaimed ‘ Viva Mazi- nilian !’ an officer, who, as usual, had not been dis- armed, approached his country’s soldier, and ran his sword through his hody. ‘*Our enemies were willing enough to do homage to owr bravery ; but they would not, even in their humiliation, recognise the power of a master not of their uwn choice. « A little before night I returned to Medellin. | ‘Silence and peace had succeeded the turmoil of battle and the peals of victory. “In the plain alone there might be heard the wailings of the wounded, and ‘the low murmurings - ia} " ee GComicboo <SECOM