The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 361: what you’re looking at

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

THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. ee re ere ee ee eer ee 300 ———— rr rn a surprise, or mar the lustre of the day's doings, so that when we saw many of their transports moving up the river towards evening, and the gun- boats cleaning up and clearing decks, it seemed to indicate that powder and ball were intended for us in earnest. “As night closed in, none expected an engage- ment of any kind, but alarm-guns warned the gar- rison to be on the alert ; when sooner than expected, several vessels appeared before our batteries, and the engagethent opened with great fury. “While the bluff batteries were contending with most of the fleet, several of the Imperial squadron ran past, and opened with an awful roar upon the ‘Juarez,’ lying broadside to shore; while several boats from below engaged our guns south of the town, and such was the awful uproar and activity of gunners, both friend and foe, that although quite dark, everything could be plainly seen from the frequent and rapid flashes. ‘The noise was astounding. “The bluff batteries above and south batteries below the town seemed all on fire, while the ‘ Juaxez,’ engaged with several heavy gunboats and frigates was rocking from the immense weight of metal hurled at her every moment. “But as she was bound fast to shore, and the enemy could not remain stationary in the stream, their vessels slowly drifted past towards the lower batteries. “ Hor a long time this tnearthly noise was main- tained on both sides, and it was once supposed that the Imperial boats would grapple with the ‘Juarez,’ and take her. “But such was her steady and destructive fire, that they slunk off in the darkness to longer dis- tance, and never seemed inclined to try it again. “The woods facing Bagdad were literally blown down by enance shots from our side. “ While the river was all afoam with hundreds of water columns rising and falling every minute from the same cause. “And ’tis more than probable, had not our bat- teries concentrated their fire upon the enemy engaged-with our solitary iron-clad, it would have fallen into their hands. “ Bat such a shower of shot and shell ‘assailed them from three points, and so numerous were small shot pouring into their ports and decks, it was 1m- ossible for a human being to appear without instant loss of life. ‘So that after a fierce and obstinate engagement the enemy’s boats escaped down the river in a crip- pled condition, while the upper fleet moved up stream with great expedition amid the long and enthusiastic cheers of our garrison and citizens, who lined the works in great glée, making night hideous with their wild and defiant shrieks and shouts, “Thus ended the first bombardment of Bagdad, and although nought but glory can attach to all engaged, I am sorry to say not less than four or five were killed and some half-dozen wounded on board the gallant iron-clad, most of them receiving injuries in the night attack of the enemy’s gunboats. “But beyond these casualties I hear of none whatever throughout the garrison, for all are in high spirits, and desirous of meeting the enemy again at any time and in any number. “ After the affair of Pontsville, Juarez re-formed his army, and remained some short time where he was, but subsequently fell back, for it was known that Bazaine’s force of 4,000 were hurrying on to joih 8,000 strong, who were about to cross the river, and drive us by degrees into the Gulf of Mexico, or some other place. ‘He had already crossed the river as we fell back, and was camped at a place rejoicing in some dozen houses, and having Paxtillo for its name. “Juarez gathered every man he could, and marched out to give battle. ‘“We camped within five miles ‘of Paxtillo, and could plainly see the long line of camp fires. “Our cavalry had been closer for many days before our arrival, and were noticed by the enemy, but not molested. ‘““ Early next morning (Sunday), and long before dawn, our line of battle was quietly formed, and as we had no camp fires, our presence was not known. “Marching in three gratd divisions, we ap- proached nearer to the enemy's canips, deployed columns, and commenced the attack. “When about two miles distant from Paxtillo, the enemy had seen us, and a general alarm was raised—such drum beatings, trumpetings, signal guns, rockets, &c , you could never imagine. ‘But although this confusion might appear on one part of their line, Bazaine was informed of our vicinity the night before. *“As we approached nearer, sunlight began to appear. “Clouds of sharp-shooters fanned out in our front, and little puffs of smoke innumerable dotted the dark green landscape over which our dar lines were rapidly moving. Presently long curls of smoke from the wooded hillocks to our front were answered by screaming shells and loud reports, and artillery bugles were sounding up and down our line. “We galloped to the front, and opened a brisk fire, while to the extreme right and left we could faintly hear pattering vollies of musketry. “ The sun now rose in true Mexican brilliancy, and shortly became intensely warm. “ At all events, it so seemed to the artillery, for we pulled off coats and jackets, strapped them on to caissons, and, rolling up our sleeves, began to ‘roll into’ the Imperialists with great gusto. “Such @ noise yon never heard, and I am deaf even now. ‘But feeling determined to pay off old Bazaine for our scrape at Puebla, our onset was fierce and dashing, and the continual command was ‘ forward, boys, forward.’ “ Sometimes we moved up a few hundred yards, unlimbered and worked away awhile. “Then moved forward again and again, until at last we found ourselves blazing away among the tents of a division, having to withstand the fire of not less than twelve pieces. While a!l that remained was three out of our four, the fourth gun having been upset by a stray shell, and rendered unserviceable. ‘Ammunition was fast giving out, and supplies were far to the rear. “ And, as our infantry were now rushing through the camps, we stopped firing, and retired to a patch of wood to cool the guns. “© Hold on a while, boys,’ our brigajier said in passing, ‘the boys are hard at it in front, and we shall find some better guns for you in a few mo- ments,’ “Ty half-an-hour the musketry fire somewhat subsided to our front, “Orders came to unhitch teams, and select a set of guns from some twenty that had been captured. “We did so, and claimed for our use four splendid brass fellows—two six-pound rifles, and two twelve- ound howitzers. ae “Having found lots of ammunition, we were ordered in again, and went forward at a gallop, the EEE oO Comicboookks.c©