44 HORSE, FOOT, AND DRAGOONS. 



figures of the cannoneers working like shadowy demons, and 

 now and then the silhouette of a gun as it was run forward 

 after the recoil, to again burst out in angry fire, blazing like 

 lightning in the sulphurous vapor. 



Our skirmishers crossed the road and directed their fire on 

 the defenders of the farm. At first these replied slowly, but 

 the supporting lines of our troops coming up, a continuous dis- 

 charge of small -arms was opened on them, and the walls and 

 ditches, the rifle-pits, seemed to be ablaze. Heavier and heavier 

 grew the fire from our side as line after line moved forward, 

 increasing the number of the attacking force until the fields in 

 front of the farm were alive with men. Kneeling to fire, and 

 taking advantage of every little break in the ground, every heap 

 of earth, every tree and bush, they had finally pushed up close 

 to the farm, when their bugles sounded a charge, and rushing 

 forward with a shout, they swarmed over the ditches and walls 

 and crowded into the enclosure, the enemy's soldiers as rapidly 

 retreating, but keeping up a sharp fire as they pursued their 

 way towards their main line. 



Here, so far, all had been quiet, save from the batteries on 

 their left, and only the white caps of their strong skirmish line, 

 dotting the rising^ [jround in front of the villas^es, were to be 

 seen, their main body being hid by the houses and trees. 



At this moment the artillery over on their right opened fire, 

 as our left winGf, that had been forming; under cover of the 

 town, showed itself on the plain. Sharp skirmishing followed, 

 increasing in volume as it rolled towards our right, blazing out 

 from the farm just taken, and flashing all along the enemy's 

 line, as our whole force began to advance, preceded by lines 

 of skirmishers and bristling with a fringe of spouting flame 

 and smoke. The roar of musketry became deafening, and the 

 fire of the enemy grew hotter and hotter, as the masses of the 



