ON THE FALSE ESTIMATE OP THE MILITARY CHARACTER. 247 



hoofs on the wood, were less tractable, and some fell into the water, 

 among others that bearing the surgical equipment, which I had 

 taken pains to arrange as perfectly as possible, in anticipation of the 

 arduous duties of the day. Shortly after we crossed the river, a halt 

 was called near a small village. Wood was gathered ; kettles were 

 boiled ; breakfasts prepared ; and I applied myself to correcting any 

 mischief that the water might have occasioned to my surgical in- 

 struments. I found this less considerable than I had anticipated 

 indeed I had ample time during the halt, which lasted fully three 

 hours, to repair it all. The weather was beautiful ; the sun shone 

 brightly upon us ; the temperature, now that we had quitted the 

 Alpine height, was mild; and we spent the period of repose allowed 

 us in jocular prophecies of the events of the day. 



About ten A.M. we could see the British troops winding up the 

 base of the hill, which formed the northern extremity of the enemy's 

 position. If the reader has understood the description of the ground, 

 he will know that this point was occupied by the right of the enemy, 

 and consequently that the attack was begun by our left. The bri- 

 gade to which I belonged formed the right of our army ; conse- 

 quently the action commenced at the point most distant from us, in- 

 deed at the distance of nearly four miles. We could, nevertheless, 

 see the British troops advance up the hill in a winding course, so as 

 to elude its steepness, and in unbroken order, though under a brisk 

 fire from the enemy's sharp-shooters. The fire of our troops was 

 reserved till they formed on the top of the hill. One tremendous 

 volley, an irregular fire of a few minutes' duration, and those three 

 deep-toned hurras, which practised military ears recognise as the 

 prelude to a charge, settled the question : the enemy had fled, the 

 British were masters of the ground. Instantly another body of our 

 troops commenced the ascent of the second hill, which was similarly 

 assailed and won. Other hills were successively attacked and car- 

 ried, the army continuing to move to the attack in echelons (as the 

 military phrase is) from their left. About one o'clock our brigade 

 began to march rapidly from its halting ground to the scene of its 

 conflict and its triumph. On our way to the foot of the hill we 

 reached a farm-house, surrounded with ample gardens and enclo- 

 sures. These were filled with the enemy's light troops, and were 

 sharply contested. After a fire brisk, but of short duration, in 

 which we suffered little or nothing, we again advanced. In passing 

 through the enclosures to the foot of the hill, I was struck with the 

 superior effect of our fire, for several dead bodies lay extended on 

 the ground. Seeing that the house was just suited for a field hos- 

 pital, I halted the mule with the surgical equipment, leaving the 

 sergeant attached to the sick and two orderly men with it, and pro- 

 ceeded myself with the troops up the hill. They moved silently, 

 briskly, and steadily, without firing a gun, the enemy's shot rattling 

 among the trees with which the face of the hill was covered, but 

 with little other effect at first ; when, however, we gained the middle 



of the ascent our men began to fall. Major was killed on the 



spot, Colonel , the commanding officer, was wounded through 



the shoulder, and others were falling killed or wounded near me. 



