246 THE FOREST AND THE FIELD. 



pickets had spread an alarm through the camp of 

 the second division, and both men and officers of 

 the different regiments rushed up, many half- 

 dressed, with their arms in their hands. It was an 

 anxious moment, and men looked askingly at each 

 other, as if they wondered what the distant hum 

 and sounds of strife might portend. In the front, 

 . towards the slope of the hill, every now and again 

 sharp cracks of the rifle were heard, followed by 

 the roll of musketry. Then red flashes were seen 

 through the dense fog which hung on the ground, 

 and the heavy measured tramp of masses of men 

 was now distinctly heard approaching. 



I cantered forward to reconnoitre, and met two 

 wounded men coming towards the camp, who 

 said that the whole Russian army was close 

 at hand. Almost immediately afterwards our 

 retreating pickets came in view, still keeping 

 up a straggling fire on the advancing foe, who 

 replied by heavy volleys. At this moment. Sir 

 William Codrington (then commanding a brigade 

 of the Light Division) rode hurriedly by, and 

 as bullets were whistling about rather sharply, 



