Page:Narrative of the battles of Drumclog, and Bothwell Bridge (2).pdf/18

18 out the head of the vessel. Hackstone called his officers to him. We threw ourselves around him.--'What must be done?' said he in an agony of despair. 'Conquer or die,' we said, as if with one voice. 'We have our swords yet. Lead back the men to their places and let the ensign bear down the blue and scarlet colours. Our God and our country be the word.' Hackstone rushed forward. We ran to our respective corps--we cheered our men but they were languid and disspirited. Their ammnunition was nearly expended, and they seemed anxious to husband what remained. They fought only with their carabines. The cannons could no more be loaded. The enemy soon perceived this. We saw a troop of horse approach the bridge. It was that of the life-guards. I recognised the plumb of Clavers. They approached in rapid march. A solid column of infantry followed. I sent a request to Captain Nesbit to join his troop to mine. He was in an instant with me.--We charged the life-guards. Our swords rung on their steel caps.--Many of our brave lads fell on all sides of me. But we hewed down the foe. They began to reel.--The whole column was kept stationary on the bridge. Clavers' dreadful voice was heard--more like the yell of a savage, than the commanding voice of a soldier. He pushed forward his men, and again we hewed them down. A third mass was pushed up. Our exhausted dragoon fled.-Unsupported, I found myself by the brave Nesbit, and Paton, and Hackstone. We looked for a moment's space in silence on each other. We galloped in front of our retreating men. We rallied them. We pointed to the General almost alone. We pointed to the white and to the scarlet colours floating near him. We cried, 'God and our Country.' They faced about. We charged Clavers once more.--'Torfoot,' cried Nesbit, 'I dare you to the forefront of the battle.' We rushed up at full gallop. Our men seeing this followed also at full speed.--We broke down the enemy's line, bearing down those files which we encountered. We cut our way through