284 HEROES OF SCIENCE. 



they're coming on ; ' and when I took a peep to the 

 hills beyond on the right and south-west, I per- 

 ceived the glitter of columns coming out of a wood. 

 Scarcely had the colonel given the word to fall in, 

 when a tremendous fire opened from a battery of 

 seventeen to twenty pieces, under cover of which 

 the enemy was rolling down in dense columns from 

 the wooded hills upon our poor fellows, who were 

 in a hollow with their arms piled, like our own, 

 until they were assaulted. 



" For our cavalry was extinct, as the horses and 

 men, as well as most of our artillery, were embarked 

 on the 13th and 14th ; yet never since Englishmen 

 fought was there a more gallant fight than was 

 made by the 4th, 42nd, and 50th regiments (Lord 

 W. Bentinck's brigade), who rushed on with the 

 bayonet, and, supported by guards, held their own 

 against a terrific superiority, until General Paget 

 was ordered to move his brigade towards the 

 enemy's flank, and compelled them to withdraw ; 

 not, however, before poor Moore, galloping out 

 from the town, fell while encouraging the troops, 

 and Baird, who marched his division out of the 

 town, had lost his arm. My own brigade had 

 much less to do, our front line and picquets being 

 alone engaged. 



"As night fell, and after the firing had ceased, 

 the enemy having returned to his own ground, we 

 received the order to march into Corunna and 

 embark. Our fires were left burning to deceive 

 the enemy, and make him believe that he must 



