all my excuses insisted on carrying me off to
the guardhouse. The danger of such a thing at once struck me, and I
resisted manfully. The mob cheered me, at which the soldier only became
more angry; and ashamed, too, at being opposed by a mere boy, he seized
me rudely by the throat. My blood rose at this, and I struck boldly at
him; my fist met him in the face, and before he could recover himself
the crowd were upon him. Down he went, while a rush of the mob, escaping
from the dragoons, flowed over his body. At the same moment the shout,
"Guard, turn out!" was heard from the angle of the Bank, and the
clattering of arms and the roll of a drum followed. A cheer from the mob
seemed to accept the challenge, and every hand was employed tearing
up the pavement and preparing for the fray. Whether by my own
self-appointment, or by common consent, I cannot say, but I at once took
the leadership; and having formed the crowd into two parties,
directed them, if hard pressed, to retreat either by College Street or
Westmoreland Street. Thus one party could assist the other by enfilading
the attacking force, unless they were in sufficient strength to pursue
both together. We had not long to wait the order of battle. The soldiers
were formed in a second, and the word was given to advance at a charge.
The same instant I stepped forward and cried, "Fire!" Never was an
order so obeyed; a hundred paving stones showered down on the wretched
soldiers, who fell here and there in the ranks. "Again!" I shouted to my
second battalion, that stood waiting for the word; and down came another
hailstorm, that rattled upon their caps and muskets, and sent many
a stout fellow to the rear. A wild cheer from the mob proclaimed the
victory; but at the same instant a rattling of ramrods and a clank
of firelocks was heard in front, and from the rear of the soldiers a
company marched out in echelon, and drew up as if on parade. All was
stilled; not a man moved in the crowd,--indeed our tactics seemed now at
an end; when suddenly the word, "Make ready--present!" was called out,
and the same instant a ringing discharge of musketry tore through the
crowd. Never did I witness such a scene as followed. All attempts to
retreat were blocked up by the pressure from behind; and the sight of
the wounded who fell by the discharge of the soldiers seemed to paralyze
every effort of the mob. One terrified cry rose from the mass, as they
shrank from the muskets. Again the ra