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terday! Released thus from regimental drudgery, I busied myself in seeing that due preparation was made, and found that orders had been given to treat my suggestions with every possible respect. About noon we were desired to raise the bridges a sign that the enemy was not far off. How it had fared with the unfortunate townsfolk during that alarming morn, I know not; but on my going into the ravelin to see the order regarding the bridges carried into effect, there I beheld assembled on the glacis troops of the unfortunate people endeavouring to effect an entrance for shelter, but refused admittance by the guard. The reception of such a crowd into the fort was, of course, incompatible with its proper defence; and I advanced to do sternly my unpleasant duty of informing them that their present position was the most dangerous they could possibly occupy, as being the field on which the whole force, both of the attack and the defence, would be exerted. What was my consternation, as well as delight, to behold among the foremost crowd the sweet face of Mary Passingham, and the face of her aged father. My intended stern denial died on my lips, and I thought only how I could except from the general exclusion those whom I so ardently desired to serve and protect. Mary's glance already rested on my face, no longer furtive or sarcastic, but soft, confiding, and irresistibly appealing, as she hung on the old man's arm. "One moment," said I, to the commander of the guard, "the bridge must be lowered again for a particular object." He hesitated an instant, but seemed to feel compelled to comply. As the ponderous mass swung creakingly to its horizontal position, a sign from me summoned my dear friends to the edge of the ditch, and they were speedily within the walls; but, alas, not without a number of others, whom it had been impossible to keep from rushing over. Among those to whom I had thus unintentionally afforded an entrance, I was mortified to see my

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squinting partner, Miss Congdon, whom her fright did not render a whit more captivating, and the tiresome old lady who had annoyed me so last night, looking more grotesque than ever. The former, with her usual effrontery, seized on my arm, and began to repeat her disgusting blandishments; but I was in no humour now for foolery, and in a manner as summary as politeness admitted of, I disengaged myself from her. Then devoting myself to the gentle Mary, who, amid all her alarm, blushed with conscious satisfaction at the course things were taking, I escorted her and her aged companion to the securest bomb-proof in the citadel. Shall I say how, in that short walk, our emancipated spirits perfectly comprehended each other, and what low accents of affection and sweet confidence my ears drank rapturously in! Nay, those sounds are too cherished, too holy, to be ever submitted to the public eye. The refuge which I chose for my sweet fugitive was but lowly-a soldier's casemated room,very dark and damp; but there was a grate in it, and a fire was speedily kindled. Seeing that at present I could do no more for my Mary's security, I began to address to her a few parting words of tender encouragement, when the odious Congdon interrupted me with

"La now, Nincome, dear! you are not going to leave us helpless females in this horrid den. You are going to stay and take care of us!"

And the creature came and hung upon my shoulder, attempting a sob. The queer old lady, too, began again to belabour me with questions touching the 57th and Mr Henry Button, whose appearance at that moment, from whatever part of the world they might be serving in, she thought particularly desirable. Longer delay was impossible, therefore, looking towards Mary the devoted feelings which I could not express, I once more sought the parade ground. A very storm of firing was by this time in progress. Muskets, rifles, and artillery, each contributed to the

Glacis-A smooth surface of ground sloping gently from the uttermost defensible line of a fortress towards the surrounding country.

din. They were bringing down wounded men from the ramparts and taking them to hospital. Missiles flew around me and over my head, tearing up the grass and battering the opposite buildings. Up I ran to the gun terreplein to examine into the state of matters; and jumping on to the banquette, or step, on which musketeers stand to fire over the parapet, looked on an astonishing scene. The bullets flew about so thickly that I was compelled to make with the utmost rapidity my observation of what was passing. It was clear that the enemy had determined to save time in his operations at any other expense; he had therefore selected for his principal attack the north side of the fortress, where the town approaches so closely to the works as to leave but an inconsiderable space to pass over. As he was evidently in immense force, he had not neglected other points, but along the whole exterior line of buildings, where gardens, stores, and dwellings afforded him a place of arms almost ready made, he had availed himself to the utmost of his opportunity. From hundreds of house-tops and windows which were within easy range was rattling a deadly fire of musketry. He had hoisted in some way a gun to the top of the church-tower, and, having knocked away the pinnacles, was using it with serious effect. The same expedient was resorted to wherever a high strong house afforded the chance. The Jews' burial-ground had been converted into a mortarbattery. In short, every sort of missile was being hurled in profusion against our devoted ramparts. Direct fire was tearing our parapets, disabling our gunners and marksmen, and spreading havoc along the interior. Ricochet batteries plunged hopping balls along our lines, dismounting ordnance and causing all manner of casualties; while bombs of every size were falling about, spreading death and confusion. Our gunners and small-arm men behaved like heroes, and opposed this overwhelming attack with the utmost devotion. Bullets flew thick through every embrasure, and made the service of the guns truly difficult. Be

sides, the enemy among the buildings was better screened almost than we were, and all our shots, whether or not they annoyed him, certainly took effect upon the good town of Plymouth. Even amid the roar of this dreadful struggle, the shrieks and groans of the miserable inhabitants were audible. Impatient of the least delay, our besieger was already beginning to push two saps across our glacis, malgré the vigorous fire we were able to maintain. Seeing this, and having noted other matters which appeared of moment, I was about to seek the Colonel, when, as I was passing a battery, there fell a live shell a few paces in front. The fuze appeared to have burnt very low, but Witherspoon, who, to do him justice, was a gallant fellow enough, ran like lightning from among his guns, and, lifting the deadly globe, had essayed to hurl it into the ditch. Another instant, a hair's-breadth more fuze, and his purpose would have been effected. The shell was leaving his hands when it exploded, and not a recognisable portion remained of what had been the elegant Witherspoon. Many others suffered by the accident, but I, fortunately, was not one of them. There was no time for emotion, and I hurried to tell Colonel S. of the incipient saps. At my suggestion, he ordered Captain Sefton to select some of the best shots in the garrison, and endeavour to stop the progress of these approaches. While arranging the matter, I happened to encounter my facetious friends, Gore and Chatterton, who were told off to the elevating duty of superintending the filling of sandbags, or sacks of earth used to stop holes and repair damages generally on the works. They were in a sheltered corner, looking utterly bewildered; but, on seeing me, they raised a shout of recognition very unlike their ancient derisive salutation. In most deferential accents one requested me to tell them "what it was all about?" and the other, "when we should have a shy at 'em?" I gave some evasive answer to quiet the poor mudlarks, and passed on. How the enemy achieved the celerity of his processes I can hardly explain according to

VOL. LXXXV.-NO. DXXIV.

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was. Having observed how eager anticipated a movement of his which our foe was to advance quickly, I I flattered myself that I might be

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natural means.

Certainly some of in an hour or less, would, in ordinary the operations which he performed cases, have occupied days-but so it

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E. B. Nincorne, delt.

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able to impede, if not wholly to frustrate. A sergeant of my company, whom I knew to be an intelligent fellow, was crossing the parade to another point of the defence. I stopped him, and began to give some instructions concerning the design which I had then in hand. Before I had said many words, a round-shot, just grazing the crest of the parapet, took the sergeant's head clean from his shoulders; the frightful trunk stood a moment erect in the attitude of attention, and then fell heavily on the gravel. Another non-commissioned officer, who had witnessed the casualty, ran down from the ramparts to examine the extent of it, and to assist, if assistance could be of avail, the wounded man. While standing over the body, he, too, was struck by a grape-shot in the thigh. The wound made him frantic with pain, and though a brave, phlegmatic man, he cried aloud in his agony. How could I doubt after this that I bore a charmed life, and was reserved for some great purpose! I got him removed, and then lost no time in repairing to a more sheltered spot, where I speedily mustered a handful of trusty men, with whom I passed through a sally-port, and into the north-east ravelin. The short afternoon had passed during the events which I have briefly related, and it was now pitch dark. The fuzes and rockets which shot across the winter sky, the flashes of the frequent artillery, and the lurid light from burning buildings, made night sublimely hideous.

In the ravelin, as I expected, the defence was languishing. The casualties were many, the parapets were sadly broken, and the little band remaining were losing heart under the impression that they were forgotten. Our arrival refreshed their spirits. The covertway of the outwork was already untenable; all the traverses were beaten down, and a constant fire of muskets and rifles streamed along its branches. This confirmed me in the opinion I had formed, viz.

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that the enemy would attempt the ravelin by a coup-de-main. Having placed some picked shots behind palisades at the gorge, so that their fire could sweep the ditch, the rest of our party ascended to the interior, where strict silence was commanded, and we awaited the event. But a few moments had elapsed before we distinguished rows of dark figures on the edge of the counterscarp, each of whom threw a bundle (no doubt a bag of hay) into the ditch, and the whole party descended on the soft bed. My steady fellows at the palisades then gave them two telling volleys, every shot of which was well accounted for. Had the attack and defence been in any moderate proportion one to the other, this sudden flanking fire would have determined the failure of the attempt. But, alas! our foe had, it was clear, come prepared to effect his purpose at any expense of men. For every one shot down, three poured into the ditch, and ere long I heard the horns of their scaling-ladders scratching against the wall. I gave the signal to my party. The ladders touched the top of the masonry, and were immediately mounted by French soldiers five or six deep. We leaned in silence over the berm,+ seized the ladder-heads, and, amid every species of Gallic malediction, precipitated our assailants into the ditch. Twice did we thus thwart their aim, and hurl their foremost to destruction; but again their fatal numbers overbore us. Ladders more numerous than we could at once engage were at length planted, and a dozen of the enemy, the precursors of more than two hundred, scrambled on to the exterior slope of the parapet, and began to ascend it. Prominent even in the obscurity, strode a huge form of more almost than human dimensions. The dusky shade of his sabre loomed monstrous in the air, and I saw or felt the truculent rolling of two horrid eyes. Him I singled out as my antagonist in this hand-tohand encounter. "Hah!" he roared,

Covertway-a sunken passage all round the works, between the ditch and glacis. It is crossed at intervals by traverses, or mounds of earth, to prevent the enemy's projectiles from skimming from end to end of its long branches.

+ Berm-a narrow ledge between the top of the masonry and the foot of the earth-slopes.

seeing me advance, "leetel Angleish scorched parapets miserably patched. goddam, I shall feed you for my so- with sandbags, or by any means that pare." The blow he thereupon aimed could make them at all efficient. Frewas enough to have mowed down a quently a merlon was battered enregiment, but I was on the watch, tirely down, so that the two guns had and eluded it; then rushing within to be fought without cover. Blindhis guard, I thrust at him with the age-that is to say, temporary bombpoint, and inflicted the first wound. proof cover, formed of balks of thick Throughout the combat I observed timber, faggots, and earth-had been that conduct which, in the best ac- resorted to in the most important counts, is pursued by lithe and ener- places, but the paucity of our artigetic warriors, matched against un- ficers, and of our garrison generally, wieldy strength and fierceness, and prevented an extensive application of which always wins. I got one rather this useful but laborious auxiliary. severe shave on the side of the head, Three or four buildings flaming to and in return inflicted a second body- the sky showed others beaten open, wound, which brought to his knee unroofed, or in utter ruins. Groans this hero who would have supped and shrieks smote the ear, for the upon me. Then, springing vehemently few who could be spared to look against him, so as to destroy his ba- to the wounded could not bear away lance, I set my foot upon the huge the victims as fast as the casualtrunk, while, with my sword's point ties occurred. Two howitzers and a admonishing his jugular, I required rattling fire of musketry were openhim to beg his life. This he did in the ing upon the ravelin from which we most piteous terms, first making the had just been driven, to prevent mason's signal; and, yielding up his the enemy from establishing himself sword, he limped after me like another there. Attempts were being made to Orson. Our struggle had brought us quell the various fires. The garrison close to the gorge of the ravelin, performed prodigies. Their energy where all that remained of my little might succeed in making the place party were also collected; for, while good until succour should arrive, but was engaged in this death-conflict, that we could, without assistance, others had not been left idle; and, in beat off such a powerful enemy was truth, our glorious little band, over- impossible. I was ascending the ramp borne, but not dismayed, had inch by towards the terreplein of the battery inch been forced to yield their ground. whose guns had been turned on the It was but too true that the ravelins ravelin, with the intention of addresswere lost (for the north-west one was ing two persons whose figures showed untenable after the fall of the other dark against the sky as they stood and loss of the covertway), and the either observing or directing, when I next thing to be attended to was a felt a sudden pang in the neck. This quiet retreat into the body of the did not prostrate nor disable me, but place, without disclosing the position it seemed to stir up the wound in my of the sally-port, and bringing in the head which I had received from the enemy pêle-mêle with us through the sabre of the gigantic Gaul. A feeling, gate. The brave fellows recognised as if twenty devils within my brain my signal, and we descended in si- were rending the skull asunder, aclence to the main ditch, where the companied by a crushing feeling at few who had been posted at the pal- the chest, and a deadly sickness, overisades were all alive and fresh. To came me. But rousing all my enerthem we delivered our two or three gies I shook off the infirmity after a prisoners, including my gigantic ad- few seconds, and approached the two versary, and then, all stealing to the figures. They proved to be the comport, we regained the interior of the manding engineer and my colonel, fortress. The change in its condition, directing and encouraging the deeven during our short absence, was fence, and speaking words of hope heart-breaking. More than half our and comfort which they could hardly guns were silenced; our torn and feel.

A merlon is the portion of parapet between two gun embrasures or openings.

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