Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/214

194 in the afternoon they opened fire with a perfect hail of shells and bombs. The former penetrated from twelve to eighteen inches into the soft coral walls, there to explode, "tearing out whole masses of stone, and in some instances rending the wall from base to top." Such results had not even been dreamed of by the astonished garrison; nevertheless they responded with great spirit, and forth over the gleaming water rolled the thunder from a hundred guns, the dense smoke encircling for a while the batteries. It was mainly bluster, however, for neither artillery nor gunners were capable of much precision, while the powder, most miserable stuff, barely brought the heavier balls within reach of the vessels. This lent fresh assurance to the French, who with more and more correct aim added to the execution, silencing one gun after another, and scattering destruction also within the batteries, now among the infantry ranged along the curtains in case of an assault, now among the handful of artillerists. For the first two hours the gaps in the latter ranks were filled, but after this no substitutes could be obtained, and the firing stopped at frequent intervals for lack of men. An hour after the first broadside a bomb struck the magazine of battery San Miguel, which exploded with a terrific detonation, belching forth in a volume of flames, stones, war material, and human remains torn into a thousand fragments. Shortly after the belvedere of the lofty Caballero sprang into the air with its load of soldiers, yet strange to say, the staff which here up held the flag remained intact, and as the smoke cleared from the mutilated summit, the colors fluttered a defiance to the foe, cheering the brave defenders to fresh efforts. But what availed mere spirit when hands were lacking for the enginery of war which here played