The Monitor., 1891-08-21

DaSeoAAOAS. / lit oSCOUu ilstu 10 Jake Lue
enemy in flank; the two others formed
the storming party. was in the third.
On issuing from behind the cover we
were received by several volleys, which
did but little harm. The whistling of
the balls amazed me. ''But after all"
thought, "a battle is less terrible than
expected"
We advanced at smart run, our mus
keteers in front.
All at once the Russians uttered three
hurrahs-three distinct hurrahs-and
then stood silent, without firing.
Il don't like that silence" said the
captain. ''It bodies no good
/ began to think our people We're too
eager. I could not help comparing,
mentally, their shouts and clamor with
the striking silence of the enemy.
We quickly reached the foot of the re-
doubt. The palisades were broken and
the earthworks shattered by our balls.
With roar of "Vive rempereurr' our
soldiers rushed across the ruins.
raised my eyes. Never shall forget
the sight which met my view. The
smoke had mostly lifted, and remained
suspended like canopy, at twenty feet
above the redoubt. Through a blush
mist could be perceived, behind their
shattered parapet, the Russian grena-
diers, with rifles lifted, as motionless as
statues. l can see them still-the left
eye of every soldier glaring at us, the
right hidden by his lifted gun. In an
embrasure at few feet distant, man
with fuse stood by cannon.
shuddered. I believed that my last
hour had come.
Now for the dance to openw cried
the captain. These were the last words
heard him speak.
There came from the redoubt roll Of
drums. / saw the muzzles lowered /
shut my eyes; heard most appalling
crash of sound, to which succeeded
groans and cries. Then l looked up,
amazed to find myself still living. The
redoubt was once more wrapped in
smoke. was surrounded by the dead
and wounded. The captain was extend
ed at my feet; ball had carried off his
head. and was covered with his blood.
OF all the company only six men, except
myself, remained erect
This carnage was succeeded by kind
of stupor. The next instant the colonel,
with his hat on his swords point. had
scaled the parapet with cry of .sYive
rempereuri'' The survivors followed
him. AL that succeeded is to me
kind of dream. We rushed into the re-
doubt I know not how. We fought
hand to hand in the midst of smoke SO
thick that no man could perceive his
enemy. I found my saber dripping
blood. heard shout of Victory" and
In the clearing smoke I saw the earth
works piled with dead and dying. The
cannOns were covered with a heap of
oorpses. About 200 men in the French
uniform We're standing without oB1ex,
loading their muskets or wiping their
bayonets Eleven Russian prisoners
were with them.
The colonel was lying, bathed in blood,
upon broken cannon. A group of sol
diers crowded round him. approached
them
"Who is the Oldest captain he was
asking of sergeant.
The sergeant shrugged his shoulders
most expressively.
who is the oldest Leutenant?'
This gentleman, who came last
night" replied the sergeant calmly.
The colonel smiled bitterly.
Come. sir" he said to me, "you are
now in chief command. Fortify the
gorge of the redoubt at once with
wagons, for the enemy is out in force.
But General c. is coming to support
you"
Colonel" asked him, ''are you badly
woundedT
''Pish, my dear fellow! The redoubt
is takenr'-Translated from the French
Of Prosper Merimee for Strand Magazine.