which was full of holes. It had been set on fire at the
top by our howitzers, but the fire continued from the lower stories,
and we were obliged to avoid it.

In front of the church we were in force. We found the little square
filled with troops ready to march, and others were coming by the broad
street, which traversed the whole length of Ligny. Only the head of
the column was engaged at the little bridge. The Prussians tried hard
to repulse them. The discharges in file followed each other like
running water. The square was so filled with smoke that we could see
nothing but the bayonets, the front of the church, and the officers on
the steps giving their orders. Now and then a staff officer would set
off at a gallop, and the air round the old slated spire was full of
rooks whirling about affrighted with the noise. The cannon at St.
Amand roared incessantly.

Between the gables on the left, we could see on the hill, the long blue
lines of infantry and masses of cavalry coming from Sombref to turn our
columns. It was there in our rear that the desperate combats took
place between the Uhlans and our hussars. How many of these Uhlans we
saw next morning stretched dead on the plain!

Our battalion having suffered the most, we fell back to the second
rank. We soon found our own company commanded by Captain Florentin.
The guns were arriving by the same street on which we were; the horses
at full gallop foaming and shaking their heads furiously, while the
wheels crushed everything before them. All this produced a tremendous
uproar, but the thunder of cannon and the crash of musketry was all
that could be distinguished. The soldiers were all shouting and
singing, with their guns on their shoulders, but we knew this only by
seeing their open mouths.

I had just taken my place by the side of Buche and had begun to
breathe, when a forward movement began.

This time the plan was to cross the little stream, push the Prussians
out of Ligny, mount the hill behind and cut their line in two, and the
battle would be gained. Each one of us understood that, but with such
masses of troops as they held in reserve, it was no small affair.

Everything moved toward the bridge, but we could see nothing but the
five or six men before us, and I was well satisfied to know that the
head of the column was far in front.

But I was most delighted when Captain Florentin halted our company in
front of an old barn with the door broke