WAR PICTURES IN TIME OF PEACE. 43 



right were open fields, crossed here and there by roads, and 

 dotted with clumps of trees and detached farms. In front, and 

 a little to my left, were the lines of the enemy and the large 

 farm just mentioned, and which. I could now see, was filled 

 with troops, lining the walls inside and lying in the ditches. 

 Wherever there was a gate or an opening they had thrown up 

 breastworks or constructed rifle-pits to protect themselves, and 

 I could see the white caps shining in the sunlight as the 

 owners peered over the little mounds of fresh earth. 



The plain on my right was covered by our troops, infantry 

 and artillery, all advancing by different roads, and beginning 

 to extend their lines across the fields. I saw our skirmishers 

 moving forward rapidly, and already up to the hill on which I 

 stood, and which was also occupied by the staff. 



As the masses of infantrv bes^an to show themselves from 

 behind the houses of the town, a heavy, distant boom, followed 

 quickly by another and another, showed that they had been 

 perceived by the enemy, as his artillery opened on them. But 

 our men were not long in replying, and the earth shook as three 

 six-gun batteries came rushing up the hill. The drivers crack- 

 ing their whips as they leaned forward, urging on their powerful 

 horses, straining and pulling as the heavy wheels sank in the 

 soft earth, the officers waving their sabres and shouting their 

 commands, buo^les soundinij, the scarlet guidons flvinfj in the 

 midst of the clouds of dust, the glints of light on the shining 

 tires of the wheels, the rush of air as these, the most terrible 

 engines of modern warfare, went tearing past me, presented a 

 most stirring and exciting episode. They reached the top of 

 the hill, unlimbered, and went into battery, and quick as thought, 

 almost before the oruns touched the 2:i'0und, the thunder of their 

 answer burst forth. Through the thick, steam -like powder- 

 smoke that now enveloped the whole mass I could see the 



