Nothing can better describe it than this:--
________________________________
................................. A
.
.
.
.
--A is the enemy, and the dots represent the hundred and twenty pieces
of artillery which defended his line. He was, moreover, intrenched; and
a wide morass in his front gave him an additional security.
His Excellency for a moment surveyed the line, and then said, turning
round to one of his aides-de-camp, "Order up Major-General Tinkler and
the cavalry."
"HERE, does your Excellency mean?" said the aide-de-camp, surprised, for
the enemy had perceived us, and the cannon-balls were flying about as
thick as peas.
"HERE, sir!" said the old General, stamping with his foot in a passion,
and the A.D.C. shrugged his shoulders and galloped away. In five minutes
we heard the trumpets in our camp, and in twenty more the greater part
of the cavalry had joined us.
Up they came, five thousand men, their standards flapping in the air,
their long line of polished jack-boots gleaming in the golden sunlight.
"And now we are here," said Major-General Sir Theophilus Tinkler,
"what next?" "Oh, d--- it," said the Commander-in-Chief, "charge,
charge--nothing like charging--galloping--guns--rascally black
scoundrels--charge, charge!" And then turning round to me (perhaps he
was glad to change the conversation), he said, "Lieutenant Gahagan, you
will stay with me.
Pages:
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255