Page:Aristopia (1895).pdf/221

 could keep their breath and their place alongside of the musket-bearers. When the head of the column came near the American redoubt on Breed's Hill, the first regiment swung into line of battle and was halted, with the intention of waiting for the other regiments to come up and form on the left, the column being stretched out about a mile in length. But there was no time to wait. Already the British on their third charge had reached the redoubt. The powder of the American militia had given out, and they had no bayonets. The red-coats swarmed over the earth-works. The farmer-soldiers resisted a minute or two, using their rifles as clubs, and then fell back.

"Forward, march!" was the order that rang out to the Aristopian regiment; steadily forward went the long, blue-coat line of battle, as steadily as ever the red-coat line had come on. Opening their ranks in places to let the retiring militia through, and then quickly closing them again, they moved on to within less than a hundred steps of their enemy, when they halted. The long line of muskets came down to a level and a crashing volley followed. Then down went the musket breeches and up the bayonet points to a charge, and with an impetuous