The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-09-21

/ mlsherS had been sent out IN support Of
the cavalry, and soon after the enemy's
guns opened fire on. our columns Of infan-
| try Just topping the ridge above the villas
of Terrant Hinton. On this, the left of
our position, extra precautions had been
taken to prevent the enemy from turning
us. Our right rested on Chelterwood,
which was supposed to represent the inn
passable mOrass, and therefore we were
| tolerablY free from hanking movement
i'm that direction. Soon a battery Of our
artillery began to reply sullenly and at
long intervals 10 the enemy's guns. A
few rifle shots were exchanged in the
valley, and then we saw Glyn's brigade re-
tiring across the open, apparently retreat
ing from the enemy. But that could
hardly have been them, or if so, they
were taking their defeat with remarkable
coolness, never once turning round to have
a shot at the foe We watched the pro-
ceedings from distance with considerable
smazement and curiosity, until we saw
Prince Edwards Brigade Of Guards de-
ployed into line, and skirmishers sent out
TO relieve the rihemen. Was it that we
could not trust the fortunes Of the day
even to the splendid 4th of the Rifle
Brigade and the gallant but misguided
Southdowns and must we needs send the
magnificent Guards to be cut to pieces as
in 80 many a hard fought field, or to return
to US covered with the glory Of victory
The real tactics of the enemy now began
to develope themselves very rapidly. The
cleaning helmets Of his dragons could be
seen lowering threateningly on our left
flank. Down the slopes on our left front
his skirmishers came in thick swarm, but
only to be met with warm reception
from our first line Of skirmishers, hidden
behind the hedges in the valley. But
what does that thick flash of white cloud
mean then on our very flank Every
practiced eye has noticed it, and does not
need the dull boom which follows to tell
that our enemy has crept round and plac-
ed battery where he almost enhlades the
whole Of our position. 81 want bat
terry there to answer them, HOrsford says,
and almost before the words are uttered up
comes our little battery Of horse artillery
at swinging galIop the limbers are OF
and moving to the rear before the guns
have well stopped the men seize the
trails Of their handy little field pieces,
swing them round, and the guns are in
action 50 rapidly that one has hardly had
lllllc " lhc hOnuCNAuA bhCco VI
the men who handle them 80 well Mean
while, our skirmishers have kept to the
hedges on our left with within easy range
Of the enemy's gunners, and marksmen
began trying to pick them of. The sting
ing fire Of the rifles is to much to be
borne, 50 Sir T. M'Mahon sends his caval
ry at them. But he bas reckoned without
his host.
In hollow Just below we can see the
fluttering pennants of our Lancers, though
evidently they are hidden from the enemy's
view. We know what must come, and
everybody waits breathlessly for the i'm
pending charge. In minute the gallant
18th are seen cresting the ridge and rush
ing straight for the Oncoming squadrOns of
the enemy. There is momentary pause
as each line changed front in order to meet
| full tilt. Then they go at each other with
a swOOp which almost wrings a cheer from
every OnlOOker. II must be difficult 10
hold those troops in hand when the excite
ment Of the gallop il in them. Neverthe-
| less the thin lines are pulled up quickly,
and in splendid dressing, within hund-
red yards Of each other, and the umpires
are summoned 1t was somewhat difficult
tosay who had the best of the
charge, but the decision was ultimately
I given in favor Of the light horsemen, and
the dragons retired in rear of their guns.
Still these kept shelling our position with
\ a persistency which nothing could stop.
/ We must have those guns if possible, or
drive them from their position. So Womb
well takes his 18th, reinforced by several
/ squadrOns of hussars, once more ACROSS the
\ glen-this time opposed to a murderous
musketry fire. Nothing daunted his SPLEEN
did fellows ride straight for the battery,
the enemy's cavalry come down and try to
take him on the flank, but he wheels some
/ squadrons to meet them. and quickening
his pace rides down both cavalry and artil
Y lery, or rather he would have done 50 did
not the rules of this mimic warfare compel
( him to halt. However, the effect is the
same, and dragon, and artillery are placed
/ hOrs de combat Notwithstanding this
I brilliant feat, however, we have our hands
full enough. On our left center the enemy
/ is pressing us back inch by inch, and 1t is
question whether ne will not after all
force our left and get around us that way.
But suddenly the FIRE slackens there, and
as suddenly Hawley srifemen are seen be
hind hedges on our right, and in few
seconds the furze is swarming with them.
There is evidently whole brigade in sup
port, and we are likely to have heavy fight
ing before we can drive them back. 1t Is
a risky thing On Brovnriggs part, for with
such long front his line must he fearfully
attenuated at the centre. Nevertheless,
Horsford refrained from attacking him
there. In few minutes the enemy brings
up some guns to support the rifemen, who
then begin 70 advace, driving the Guards
before them. Our guns are as rapidly re-
versed and brought round to bear on this
position, but with every effort our chance
for a while looks desperate. We bring to-
gether a few sections Of cavalry, and send
them az the skirinishers to drive them into
squares that We may thus have a better
mark for our guns. At length Baker
brings up his hussars, and one Of the most
brilliant and successful charges Of the day
follows The Colonel is too wide awake to
take his men straight at Hawleys battal-
ion. He knows the metal Of which they
and their leader are made too well,
but he charged down the slope apparently
at the left, when the next brigade Just
showing his troops ON the crest found
enough to mislead the rifiemen, who fired
few parting volleys ut him and then turn
ed TO their steady fighting with the Guards
again. Baker has sent his Lancers To make
feint on the extreme and then draw Haw-
ley's attention. Meanwhile, he lets of
his own men concealed behind some trees
and forms them preparatory to charging.
Then he comes round full on Hawley'
flank and sweeps down like an avalanche,
the latter has barely time to throw his line
back little to meet the charge before the
Hussars are on him. There is no question
Of forming square, and the most that can
be done is TO fire few stray shots before
the cavalry pull up. The umpires, IN CIV
ing their decision against Colonel Hawley,
complimented him very highly ON the way
in which his men had been handled. This
virtually decided the battle. Genera
Brownrigg had been beaten back on both
fianks, and Horsford still stood mAster o.
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