Page:Picture of war (1).pdf/7

 7 behind this a chevaux de frieze was chained at both ends across the breach; the beam of it about a foot square, with points on all. sides projecting about a yard from the centre, and behind that was a trench four feet wide and four deep. Covering all these, soldiers were planted eight deep, the two first ranks to fire as fast as they could, e and those behind to load for them. Thus prepared, he told the men, “if they stuck to their posts, all the troops in the world could not enter." Trenches were also dug about fifty yards round the breach in case: we did get in! In short the oldest officers say that no place has been defended with so. much science and resolution in our times. “On the march all was silent, except that our cannon kept up their fire at the breaches, till we got within a quarter of a mile of the town, when there were two or three fire- balls thrown from it in different directions, one of them falling close to us, we silently whispered to each other, “ Now it will begin !" ! As the first division of our troops approached the place, the whole town ap- peared as if it were one mine, every yard throwing out bombs, cannon-balls, &c. &c. grape-shot and musket balls flying also in every direction. On the fire-balls striking, near us, we moved out of the road to the greensward, but cannon-balls hissed by us