The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer., 1862-08-09

uPou mO w dppOdi Always DOVhy lHtrcplu.
In half an hour the fire OF the enemy
sensibly increased, and we left our shelter
to attack the redoubt. Our regiment con-
sisted of three battalions. The second
had orders to charge upon the redoubt
from the valley side, the other two were
to make the first attack - 4waszin the
third battalion. AS we emerged from be-
hind the natural rampant that had protec-
ted us, we we're greeted with several dis
charges Of musketry, which however did
but little mischief in our ranks. The
whistling Of the balls surprised me; I
could not help turning my head, and thus
got laughed at by my companions, who had
become more familiar with the sound
On the whole, said I to myself, battle is
not so terrible, after all. We advanced
quickly, preceded by the artillery. Sud-
denly the Russians gave three shouts, and
then were silent and ceased firing. 'I
don't like that silence" said my Captain !;
'it bodies no good" I thought our troops
were somewhat too noisy, and could not
help comparing their tumultuous shouts
with the imposing silence of the enemy.
We soon reached the foot of the re-
doubt; the palisades had been broken,
and the earth blown up by our fire. The
soldiers rushed in over the ruins with
cries Of "viue = Emperor" louder than
could have been expected from men who
had shouted so much. | raised my eyes,
and shall never forget the spectacle which
met them. The smoke had risen, and
hung like canopy, twenty feet above the
redoubt. Through the blue vapor, I saw
behind the battered parapet, the Russian
grenadiers, with pieces raised, notionless
as statues. can still see those men
each with his left eye fastened upon us,
the other concealed by his musket. In
an embrasure few feet distance, stood
man close by cannon and holding a fire.
brand. I shuddered for thoug ght my
last hour had come. "The ball is going to
begin J" cried our Captain, "good night"
They weresthe last words I heard him
utter. The drums beat in the redoubt;
| saw the muskets lowered; l shut my
eyes, and heard horrible crash, followed
by cries and groans. I opened my eyes
astonished to find myself alive; the re-
doubt was again enveloped in smoke aud
| was surrounded by dead and wounded.
My captain lay at my feet; he had been
struck in the head by shot and | was
covered with his brains and blood. Of
all my company their remained but six
men besides myself.
A moment of stupor succeeded this
slaughter. The Colonel, waving his cha
peau on the point of his sword, was the
first to scale the parapet, shouting "oiiue
pEnaperev 2 P and was followed by all the
surviving soldiers. / have scarcely a
clear recollection of what ensued. We en-
tered the redoubt I know not how, and
fought hand to hand in smoke SO thick
that we could not see each other. / must
have struck some one, for found my sa-
bre all bloody. At last heard the shout
Of victory, and the smoke clearing, / saw
the heaps of dead bodies and the pools of
blood which covered the ground. The
cannon too were almost hidden by the
corpses of those who had fallen. About
two hundred men in French uniform we're
standing in disorder, some loading their
muskets, others wiping theiy bayonets,
and with them were eleven Russian pris-
oners. s+
I. The Colonel had thrown himself, pale
and bleeding, on broken caisson, near
the entrance. The soldiers pressed around
him; approached also. "Where Is the
senior Captain 7" he asked of a Sergeant.
The Sergeant shrugged his shoulders sig
ni6cantly. "And the senior Lieuten-
ant ?" This gentlemen who arrived yes
terday !" answered tho Sergeant with per-
feet coolness. The Colonel smiled bitter
lly. "Come, sir" said he to me, s.you are
commander-in-chief t; see that the entrance
Of the redoubt is promptly fortified with
these wagons, for the enemy is in force !;
however Gen. G. viii relieve US shortly"
"Colonel,' said /, '"you are grievously
hurt" s'Cut to pieces, my dear fellow,
but this redoubt is ours r