276 Passages from a Military Journal. 



When the smoke intermitted, I could see that the walls of the con- 

 vent were crowded with French infantry soldiers. Their artillery was 

 still keeping up a deadly fire, cutting down the branches, and, in 

 some places, felling the trees. Leaves were flying about as if in a 

 tempest ; and cries and groans, issuing out of the smoke, plainly told 

 that the discharges of the enemy were as well maintained as they 

 were fatal. 



A strong fire of musketry now commenced upon our left. We 

 soon found that the ground on the right of the convent was occupied 

 with a strong body of grenadiers, who, if their fire was successful, 

 plainly intended to charge our left and drive it from the cover of the 

 trees. Our course was plain, and quickly adopted. An officer gal- 

 loped up to the head of our body of hussars and ordered the major 

 to charge instantly with the whole of his three troops. At the same 

 moment an aide shot by with directions for a battery of fresh guns to 

 be instantly brought up from the advanced guard, and a request to 

 the officer in command for immediate reinforcements. 



Loosing the reins, all the hussars threw themselves into column, 

 and, wheeling rapidly round the infantry, dashed into the smoke that 

 was rolling between our line of musketeers and that of the enemy. 

 The rattle of the small arms kept gloriously on, varied at intervals 

 with the bangs of the artillery. Our trumpets were sounding the 

 charge with a vivacity that had a strong effect upon our spirits. 

 Sabres were flashing around me, feathers streaming, accoutrements 

 clattering, and hoofs ringing. Oh, the excitement of a charge ! 

 Horses and horsemen sweeping on either side in all the pomp of 

 military pride ; plumes, pelisses, sabretaches, scabbards, embroidery, 

 shakoes flitting through the smoke, glittering of steel, snorting of 

 plunging chargers, the roll of the distant conflict, the thunder of can- 

 non, clouds of snowy smoke, whiz of shot, and tumble of tough and 

 splintered branch ! There is a fierce and intense delight in such a 

 scene as this that carries away all its horror, and stirs up the soul till 

 it transforms us into heroes. 



The smoke was driving so about us that we could hardly see our 

 enemy, but the swiftness of our charge soon brought us to their 

 faces. Our attack was so tempestuous, that they had not time to 

 throw themselves into squares. Quick as lightning thundering on 

 with the rapidity of the whirlwind we broke into their ranks, and 

 were treading them down before we could scarcely see that we were 

 intermixed, pell-mell, with them. Sabres were flashing over their 

 heads, and a number were cut down before they could discharge 

 their pieces, or plunge their bayonets into our chargers or ourselves. 

 Some empty saddles, too, I could see around me. Here and there 

 hussars were tumbling from their seats and adding to the number 

 of masterless horses that I could see prancing and plunging, gallop- 

 ing and reeling through the m&lee. Pistols were cracking bayonets 

 glancing. But our charge had literally ridden the enemy off. The 

 line had given way, and the greater part of the defeated soldiery 

 were flying in the most glorious route towards the rear of the 

 convent. 



Having broken up this position, and thoroughly dispersed the 



