The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 384: what you’re looking at

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

278 ar eet THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. of infantry who retired up the hill and kept up a deafening roar of musketry upon our further advance. “ The situation was critical. ‘‘ But while our skirmishers {fanned out’ in front, and from behind every tree fired into whole regi- ments before them, lines were reformed, and chcers told of our advancing again, “ Concealed in bushes their swarm of skirmishers disputed the ground inch by inch, while an un- broken line behind them on higher ground fired over the heads of their sharpshooters upon us. ‘In fact, there were thousands of combatants opposed to us; first, a dense body of skirmishers. ‘‘ Next, afew yards to the rear, and on higher ground, an unbroken line of battle. ‘Thirdly, still further behind, and on the edge of the unwooded plateau, a line of cannon, which, de- pressed as much as possible, fairly shaved our heads, blew off our caps, and broke bayonet points ! “¢ Warm work, this!’ one remarked, as he ran in our rear towards the right, with a regiment to meet a flanking foree entering the woods from the ncrth-eastern plateau. ‘Warm work, colonel, but push them hard, sir, for everything depends on us.’ ‘‘ This admonition was not necessary to stir up our men. ‘“ They knew that fewer would fall from rushing to ‘close quarters’ than by advancing slowly, and firing from ‘long taw.’ ‘¢ Accordingly, the word rang out from wing to to wing : ‘forward, march !’ ‘‘ With indescribable yells, the advance began. ‘‘The woods were soon completely filled with smoke, so much so that the position of the enemy could only be ascertained by a sudden flash of light across our front. “ Standing erect our men would reply with a deliberate volley, at fifty yards ; rush forward, crouch and load, while the return volley swept over our heads, cart-loads of leaves and branches falling, well-nigh burying us, “ Our men instantly aimed up hill, but sufficiently low, at the line of legs just visible under the smoke, “ And such was their precision, that as we steadily advanced, we had to stride over bodies which lay just as they had fallen, in regular line, but seldom with faces turned towards us. ‘‘ The destructiveness of our fire far surpassed anything I have ever witnessed ; but owing to the Indian style of fighting instinctively adopted by our men—viz, of standing erect, taking deliberate aim, and firing ; instantly bending low, or crawling several yards to the front ; rapidly loading, waiting for a “‘return; ’’ and judging distance by the line of legs visible under the dense vapour, which did not fall within two feet of the ground—our casualties were unaccountably few, and those mostly shot in the hand or arm, owing to the over- shooting of the enemy. ‘But while things were thus progressing with this portion of the field, with the enemy gradually falling back through the woods to the plateau, Escobedo was vigorously pushing the centre of the line, and some of his forces coming into action on the left, by a road approaching the field in the north-west. “ Being driven from the wood and up the hill on to the plateau by our right and centre, they fell back, and threw forward a heavy force of artillery which swept the open field and tore down the edge of the captured woods in which our forces were resting and reforming. “ Fatigued and torn as we were, the most difficult and desperate fighting was yet before us. ‘Hor in the north-east their heavy masses of in- fantry stood in admirable order, half a mile away. “And the array of shining bayonets, waving banners, and a perfect circle of artillery flame rapidly shelling north and south-west, plainly in- dicated that before we could advance through their still standing camps many thousauds would inevi- tably fall. The count attempted to move forward in the gentre, but his division, thoroughly exhausted by hard marching and constant fighting, was unequal to the task, and was drawn in favour of my own boys. ‘The troops succoured Casper on the left, and had been actively engaged since the combat opened, but the regiment of Frontier men was held in re- serve, and as this was the ‘ great fight’ in which they had participated, a desperate part was assigned them to act. “While dispositions were being made for the final struggle, the sun sank upon the scene, and - perhaps mistaking the causes for our inactivity, Maximilian moved wp heavy masses’ of infantry to drive us from the woods, “This was too much of a joke. “For our infantry, now fully rested and re- formed, ealmly remained in the edge of the forest, and awaited their approach, “Their advance was beautiful, and as they came om Wi unbroken line, with colours waving, and men cheering, a thrill of admiration was felt by all. “ When within a hundred yards our men lay close to the ground. ‘They received the volley, and rose to their feet at a ‘ready,’ “Imperial commanders jumped to the front, and led on their men to the ‘ charge.’ “They advanced a few yards in unbroken lines, “A few paces nearer their line began to waver, and swayed from wing to wing like a curving wave. ‘*‘ But ere they recovered from apparert indecision —while colours rushed to the front, and commanders pranced about and shouted—our whole line delivered an accurate and deadly volley, which seemed with- out end, and simultaneously yelling, dashed out from the edge of the woods, rushed headlong through their own smoke, and were upon the dis- organized masses of the enemy bayoneting, pistol- ling, and knifing, in the wildest manner, driving them in the utmost confusion through their camps, seizing many guns, and approaching within a few yards of cannon hastily thrown forward to cover the fugitive masses. ‘‘Much was gained by this charge, but as nota single piece of our artillery had yet been brought into action. ‘The lands were flat and open. “Their guns opened upon us with redoubled fury. “The left of their lines was still held by powerful earthworks, and our right exposed to a flank move- ment. . “ This latter they attempted to achieve, but the old count, in withdrawing from the centre, had marched by our rear, and lay in wait, under cover Eomicboo S co