Page:Life of the honourable Col. James Gardiner (1).pdf/22

 country, and to neglect nothing that might have a tendency to prepare them for whatever event might happen. They seemed much affected with the address, and expressed a very ardent desire of attacking the enemy immediately; a desire, in which he and another gallant officer of distinguished character would gladly have gratified them, if it had been in the power of either; but they were over-ruled, and he spent the remainder of the day in making as good a disposition as circumstances would allow.

He continued all night under arms, wrapped up in his cloak, and sheltered under a rick of barley which happened to be in the field. About three in the morning, he called his domestic servants to him, of whom there were four in waiting. He dismissed three of them with the most affectionate christian advice, and such solemn charges relative to the performance of their duty, and care of their souls, as seemed plainly to intimate that he apprehended he was, probably, taking his last farewell of them. There is great reason to believe that he spent the little remainder of time, which could not be much above an hour, in those devout exercises of soul which had so long been habitual to him.

The army was alarmed by break of day, by the noise of the rebel’s approach, and the attack was made before sun rise. As soon as the enemy came within gun-shot they commenced a furious fire; and the dragoons, which constituted the left wing, immediately fled. The Colonel, at the beginning of the attack, which in the whole lasted but a few minutes, received a bullet in his left breast, which made him give a sudden spring in his saddle; upon which, his servant, who had led his horse, would have persuaded him to retreat; but he said it was only a wound in the flesh: and fought on, tho’ he presently received a wound on the right thigh. The Colonel was, for a few moments supported by his men, and particularly about fifteen dragoons, who stood by him to the last. But after a faint fire, the regiment in general was seized with a panic; and tho’ the