ard of their success down the river. Our men, who
had in various ways evinced their feelings--some in weeping, some in
swearing, some in mournful silence--now exhibit demoniac energy. The
heavy guns are loaded, traversed and fired, as if they were
field-pieces--too much hurry for precision. 'Take your time, men; don't
throw away your fire, my lads.' 'No, sir, but we will give it to them
hot and heavy.'

"All the guns were worked by the 49 men of my own company, and they
wished to avenge their beloved chief Brock, whom they knew and valued
with that correct appreciation peculiar to the British soldier. They had
all served under him in Holland and at Copenhagen.

"I had a very excellent reconnoitring-glass; and as I kept a sharp
look-out for the effect of our fire, and the movements of the enemy, I
observed that powder was being removed from a large wooden barrack into
ammunition waggons. The only man of the Royal Artillery I had with me
was a bombardier, Walker. I called his attention to the fact I had
observed, and directed him to lay a gun for that part of the building
wherein the powder was being taken. At my request he took a look through
my glass, and, having satisfied himself, he lay the gun as ordered. I,
with my glass, watched the spot aimed at. I saw one plank of the
building fall out, and at the same instant the whole fabric went up in a
pillar of black smoke, with but little noise, as it was no more.
Horses, waggons, men, and building all disappeared; not a vestige of any
was seen.

"Now was our turn to cheer; and we plied the enemy in a style so quick
and accurate, that we silenced all their guns just as a third dragoon
come galloping up to us, shouting 'Victory! Victory!' Then again we
cheered lustily; but no response from the other side. Night now hid the
enemy from our sight.

"The commissariat made its appearance with biscuit, pork, rum, and
potatoes; and we broke our fast for that day about nine p.m.

"How strange and unaccountable are the feelings induced by war! Here
were men of two nations, but of a common origin, speaking the same
language, of the same creed, intent on mutual destruction, rejoicing
with fiendish pleasure at their address in perpetrating murder by
wholesale, shouting for joy as disasters propagated by the chances of
war hurled death and agonizing wounds into the ranks of their opponents!
And yet the very same men, when chance gave them the opportunity, would
readily exchange, in