The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 382: what you’re looking at

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

376 THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. Sanne nCEmnamS “Out poured the enemy. «“ And as they rushed across the open ground to the woods, then came our men through the opening in pursuit — reeling, bleeding, shouting, powder- blackened, and fainting—madly firing random shots, and sinking from fatigue. Quickly the line was formed in rear of the works —all joined in the final charge—cannon belched forth grape and cannister into the woods, tearing down limbs and trees, when one ringing shout passed along the line, “ Double quick” was the order given. ‘Our men fired at fifty yards, yelled, charged into the timber, and scattered them like chaff before the wind, “All was over ! “They hastily retreated through the wood, and our cavalry could not follow. ‘‘ Cannon, small arms, prisoners, and stores were the trophies of victory ; but wearied with several hours’ severe fighting and loss I took up the advance, while the others rested round the well-fought redoubt. ‘Our troops began to move in strong columns, shouting and yelling vigorously as they passed, and saw guns, prisoners and stores strewn on every side, with fatigued, dusty and ragged brigades, resting in the shade, ‘Haste was evidently an object with General Escobedo. He knew that Maximilian had en- deavoured to force his men into an energetic resist- ance thus far, so as to gain time to protect his main army inthe neighbourhood of Queretero, near the river. ‘Cavalry scouts were therefore rapidly pushed ahead, and infantry followed, batteries being at hand to withstand any sudden exhibition of force, and open the fight, should they feel desirous of try- ing the fortunes of war in any of the very large open farms intervening between us, “The advance, therefore, was prosecuted with vigour, and it was scarcely 9 a.m, ere the several divisions were rapidly approaching the enemy. In order the three columns proceeded through the country towards Queretero, but were frequently halted and formed in line to invite a combat with the enemy in fair open ground, “They would not accept our frequent challenges, however, but slowly retired through the woods, feeling confident,in the strength of their position at the city, ‘ Arriving at a plantation or ranche, one and a-half miles west of the city, General Escobedo took up temporary quarters there, while the columns halted in the open to await the arrival of others. Unacquainted as I was with the various roads, escapes were frequent from horse pickets stationed on the roads, through dense woods, so that having run the gauntlet of pistol shots more than once for intruding upon disputed territory, and not in- clined to be hurt through mere motives of curiosity, I returned to our lines, scattered through the woods, and hitched my horse among scores of others round the house, where Escobedo and a crowd of officers were gathered in council upon the doorsteps and grassy sward, I had never seen so many of our generals before, and amused myself by smoking a cigar. ‘‘Hscobedo’s temporary quarters were not far from the river, and I could distinctly see our batteries and troops on the south bank, and in a direct line across. “?Twas now about 1 p,m,, and ag we had full 12 AU67Z_ possession of both banks of the river thus far, several couriers rode over, and heavy batteries immediately opened upon the woods on the north bank, about a mile to our immediate front, 80 as to clear the way for our further advance. “ Our skirmishers were far in advance, popping away in the timber, and occasional discharges of field-pieces told us that we were gradually working towards Queretero, “The enemy had abandoned a fine field-work at the ranche, and several other important structures still closer to the river, which had frequently con- tended with our cannon. This house was badly shattered by our shot and shell, and seemed to be very shaky. In the upper room3 we saw large stains of blood near where a shell had entered, and prisoners said that Maximilian had used the place sometimes in his journeys along the lines, and that on one occasion, while all were abed, a shell came whizzing across, and cleared its way completely through the walls, killing one aide-de-camp and severely wound- ing another. “Be this as it may, some one was killed at this spot during our frequent artillery duels, for out- houses bore every evidence of being used for hospitals, while numerous mounds of earth spoke of sepulture. “The whole yard and orchard were now occupied by officers, aids, couriers, and prisoners. ‘“Escobedo sat in the south portico, buried in reflection, neatly dressed, his fine, calm, open countenance and grey hair being purely military in caste, and, as he leaned his head in thought, presented an excellent opportunity for an artist to sketch. ; Juarez sat in an old garden chair, at the foot of the steps, under shady trees, busily engaged in dis- posing of sandwiches, and his canteen of water, with feet thrown against a tree ; he presented atrue type of the hardy campaigner. His gay uniform had ckanged to brown, with many a button missing, his riding-boots were dusty and worn, but his pistols and sabre had a bright polish by his side, while his charger stood near, anxiously looking at him. With uniform buttoned up, though a very warm day, Juarez refreshed himself, and conversed freely with all, “ Maximilian’s position was admirably chosen, and well fortified. ‘“To defend it he had brought over many troops from the south bank of the river by bridges not more than a mile away, protected from all attack by a strongly fortified camp and hill in the south- eastern corner of the place, its foot being washed by the creek before mentioned, which empties here into the main stream. “When the divisions, therefore, debouched from the woods near Queretero, the Imperialists were plainly visible in battle array on the high grounds, while the glitter of bayonets in the blazing sun of a June afternoon was dazzling, ‘A few shells were sent, as compliments, at the head of our column, but missed ; but they never fired a shot from the belt of timber crowning the ascent from the centre, west, and north-western boundaries of their position, “ They wished to deceive and lead us to suppose the passage to the north-western quarter would be undisputed, and that all they desired was a fair, open fight, when we reached the plateau, GComichbooksco a EEE ee